Grocery activism: the radical history of food cooperatives in Minnesota: by Craig B. Upright, Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 2020, 256 pp., ISBN 978-1-5179-0073-1

Abstract

see the pluralism of cultural interests and intellectualism that informs the making of culinary texts. With highlighting the American fascination with French cooking, Cookbook Politics shows how food writing is imbricated deeply with human desires for the tastes of faraway cultures. To develop this argument, Ferguson weaves in the transnationalist perspectives of key scholars such as Inderpal Grewal and delineates how sensate bodies are drawn to internationally-oriented cookbooks like Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Regarding this famous cookbook, Ferguson explains, “For Child cooking could be re-presented as an activity for the self, aimed at individual pleasure” (69). Such aims of cooking for the self – instead of the family unit – is rightly regarded by Ferguson as a provocative move beyond the demands of “domestic femininity” and thus aligns with the politics of 1960s social movements. Ultimately, Ferguson succeeds in offering a set of perspectives that create a balanced and creative book. The book evinces a praiseworthy breadth of examples that brings into dialogue an eclectic mix of texts and voices. Covering a rich mix of cultural and philosophical dimensions, Ferguson leads readers to ponder how cookbooks are interwoven with unexpected societal phenomena including capitalism and colonialism. At the same time, Ferguson’s objects of study typically are composed mostly of recipes; hence, some readers will wonder if this book could benefit from a substantive discussion of the recipes’ particulars. Illustrations are absent from this monograph; however, the notes section in the book provides helpful details to create a clear picture of the material. Concerning the potential readership of Ferguson’s study, Cookbook Politics will be of use to advanced undergraduates, graduates, doctoral students, and scholars in a range of fields including Cultural History, Food Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, and Popular Culture Studies.