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Microhistories

By:

afictionado

Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi

Community-created list

A list of microhistories that I've either already read and enjoyed or sound interesting and hope to read in the future. A Staff Pickles list.

By:

afictionado

Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi

23 items

23 items

Fifty Things That Made the Modern Economy

Fifty Things That Made the Modern Economy

by Harford, Tim, 1973-

Book - 2017

From the tally-stick to Bitcoin, the canal lock to the jumbo jet, each invention in Tim Harford's fascinating new book has its own curious, surprising and...Show more From the tally-stick to Bitcoin, the canal lock to the jumbo jet, each invention in Tim Harford's fascinating new book has its own curious, surprising and memorable story, a vignette against a grand backdrop. Step by step, readers will start to understand where we are, how we got here, and where we might be going next. Show less

From the tally-stick to Bitcoin, the canal lock to the jumbo jet, each invention in Tim Harford's fascinating new book has its own curious, surprising and...Show more From the tally-stick to Bitcoin, the canal lock to the jumbo jet, each invention in Tim Harford's fascinating new book has its own curious, surprising and memorable story, a vignette against a grand backdrop. Step by step, readers will start to understand where we are, how we got here, and where we might be going next. Show less

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Swindled

Swindled

From Poison Sweets to Counterfeit Coffee : the Dark History of the Food Cheats

by Wilson, Bee, 1974-

Book - 2008

Bad food has a history. Swindled tells it. Through a fascinating mixture of cultural and scientific history, food politics, and culinary detective work, B...Show more Bad food has a history. Swindled tells it. Through a fascinating mixture of cultural and scientific history, food politics, and culinary detective work, Bee Wilson uncovers the many ways swindlers have cheapened, falsified, and even poisoned our food throughout history. Show less

Bad food has a history. Swindled tells it. Through a fascinating mixture of cultural and scientific history, food politics, and culinary detective work, B...Show more Bad food has a history. Swindled tells it. Through a fascinating mixture of cultural and scientific history, food politics, and culinary detective work, Bee Wilson uncovers the many ways swindlers have cheapened, falsified, and even poisoned our food throughout history. Show less

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Gulp

Gulp

Adventures on the Alimentary Canal

by Roach, Mary

Book - 2013

Few of us realize what strange wet miracles of science operate inside us after every meal. In her trademark style, Mary Roach investigates the beginning, ...Show more Few of us realize what strange wet miracles of science operate inside us after every meal. In her trademark style, Mary Roach investigates the beginning, and end, of our food, addressing such questions as why crunchy food is so appealing, how much we can eat before our stomachs burst, and whether constipation killed Elvis. Show less

Few of us realize what strange wet miracles of science operate inside us after every meal. In her trademark style, Mary Roach investigates the beginning, ...Show more Few of us realize what strange wet miracles of science operate inside us after every meal. In her trademark style, Mary Roach investigates the beginning, and end, of our food, addressing such questions as why crunchy food is so appealing, how much we can eat before our stomachs burst, and whether constipation killed Elvis. Show less

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The Disappearing Spoon

The Disappearing Spoon

And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World From the Periodic Table of the Elements

by Kean, Sam

Book - 2010

The Periodic Table is one of man's crowning scientific achievements. But it's also a treasure trove of stories of passion, adventure, betrayal and obsessi...Show more The Periodic Table is one of man's crowning scientific achievements. But it's also a treasure trove of stories of passion, adventure, betrayal and obsession. The infectious tales and astounding details in THE DISAPPEARING SPOON follow carbon, neon, silicon and gold as they play out their parts in human history, finance, mythology, war, the arts, poison and the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. Show less

The Periodic Table is one of man's crowning scientific achievements. But it's also a treasure trove of stories of passion, adventure, betrayal and obsessi...Show more The Periodic Table is one of man's crowning scientific achievements. But it's also a treasure trove of stories of passion, adventure, betrayal and obsession. The infectious tales and astounding details in THE DISAPPEARING SPOON follow carbon, neon, silicon and gold as they play out their parts in human history, finance, mythology, war, the arts, poison and the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. Show less

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

A History of the World in 100 Objects

by MacGregor, Neil, 1946-

Book - 2010

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At Home

At Home

A Short History of Private Life

by Bryson, Bill, 1951-

Book - 2010

In "At Home", Bill Bryson applies the same irrepressible curiosity, irresistible wit, stylish prose and masterful storytelling that made "A...Show more In "At Home", Bill Bryson applies the same irrepressible curiosity, irresistible wit, stylish prose and masterful storytelling that made "A Short History of Nearly Everything" one of the most lauded books of the last decade, and delivers one of the most entertaining and illuminating books ever written about the history of the way we live. Show less

In "At Home", Bill Bryson applies the same irrepressible curiosity, irresistible wit, stylish prose and masterful storytelling that made "A...Show more In "At Home", Bill Bryson applies the same irrepressible curiosity, irresistible wit, stylish prose and masterful storytelling that made "A Short History of Nearly Everything" one of the most lauded books of the last decade, and delivers one of the most entertaining and illuminating books ever written about the history of the way we live. Show less

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The Art of the English Murder

The Art of the English Murder

by Worsley, Lucy

Book - 2014

Murder -- a dark, shameful deed, the last resort of the desperate or a vile tool of the greedy. And a very strange, very English obsession. But where did this fixation develop? And what does it tell us about ourselves? Murder -- a dark, shameful deed, the last resort of the desperate or a vile tool of the greedy. And a very strange, very English obsession. But where did this fixation develop? And what does it tell us about ourselves? Show less

Murder -- a dark, shameful deed, the last resort of the desperate or a vile tool of the greedy. And a very strange, very English obsession. But where did this fixation develop? And what does it tell us about ourselves? Murder -- a dark, shameful deed, the last resort of the desperate or a vile tool of the greedy. And a very strange, very English obsession. But where did this fixation develop? And what does it tell us about ourselves? Show less

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A History of the First World War in 100 Objects

A History of the First World War in 100 Objects

by Hughes-Wilson, John

Book - 2014

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Floodlights and Touchlines

Floodlights and Touchlines

A History of Spectator Sport

by Steen, Rob, 1957-

Book - 2014

Focusing on spectator sports and their accompanying issues, tracing their origins, evolution and impact, inside the lines and beyond the boundary, this bo...Show more Focusing on spectator sports and their accompanying issues, tracing their origins, evolution and impact, inside the lines and beyond the boundary, this book offers a thematic history of professional sport and the ingredients that magnetise millions around the globe. Show less

Focusing on spectator sports and their accompanying issues, tracing their origins, evolution and impact, inside the lines and beyond the boundary, this bo...Show more Focusing on spectator sports and their accompanying issues, tracing their origins, evolution and impact, inside the lines and beyond the boundary, this book offers a thematic history of professional sport and the ingredients that magnetise millions around the globe. Show less

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Eat Me

Eat Me

A Natural and Unnatural History of Cannibalism

by Schutt, Bill

Book - 2017

Dark, fascinating and endlessly curious, Eat Me delves into human and animal cannibalism to find a story of colonialism, religion, anthropology, dinosaurs...Show more Dark, fascinating and endlessly curious, Eat Me delves into human and animal cannibalism to find a story of colonialism, religion, anthropology, dinosaurs, ancient humans and modern consequences, from the terrible 'laughing death' disease kuru to the BSE crisis. Show less

Dark, fascinating and endlessly curious, Eat Me delves into human and animal cannibalism to find a story of colonialism, religion, anthropology, dinosaurs...Show more Dark, fascinating and endlessly curious, Eat Me delves into human and animal cannibalism to find a story of colonialism, religion, anthropology, dinosaurs, ancient humans and modern consequences, from the terrible 'laughing death' disease kuru to the BSE crisis. Show less

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Holy Sh*t

Holy Sh*t

A Brief History of Swearing

by Mohr, Melissa

Book - 2013

Holy Sh*t tells the story of two kinds of swearing--obscenities and oaths--from ancient Rome and the Bible to today. Holy Sh*t tells the story of two kinds of swearing--obscenities and oaths--from ancient Rome and the Bible to today. Show less

Holy Sh*t tells the story of two kinds of swearing--obscenities and oaths--from ancient Rome and the Bible to today. Holy Sh*t tells the story of two kinds of swearing--obscenities and oaths--from ancient Rome and the Bible to today. Show less

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Maps That Changed the World

Maps That Changed the World

Book - 2015

Maps That Changed the World features some of the world's most famous maps, stretching back to a time when cartography was in its infancy and the 'edge of the world' was a barrier to exploration. Maps That Changed the World features some of the world's most famous maps, stretching back to a time when cartography was in its infancy and the 'edge of the world' was a barrier to exploration. Show less

Maps That Changed the World features some of the world's most famous maps, stretching back to a time when cartography was in its infancy and the 'edge of the world' was a barrier to exploration. Maps That Changed the World features some of the world's most famous maps, stretching back to a time when cartography was in its infancy and the 'edge of the world' was a barrier to exploration. Show less

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Banana

Banana

A Global History

by Piatti-Farnell, Lorna, 1980-

Book - 2016

Banana: A Global History takes us from the agricultural beginnings of the banana in New Guinea to its almost ubiquitous presence in culinary repertoires a...Show more Banana: A Global History takes us from the agricultural beginnings of the banana in New Guinea to its almost ubiquitous presence in culinary repertoires around the globe, from the United States to the Caribbean, from regions of Africa to the heart of Southeast Asia. Show less

Banana: A Global History takes us from the agricultural beginnings of the banana in New Guinea to its almost ubiquitous presence in culinary repertoires a...Show more Banana: A Global History takes us from the agricultural beginnings of the banana in New Guinea to its almost ubiquitous presence in culinary repertoires around the globe, from the United States to the Caribbean, from regions of Africa to the heart of Southeast Asia. Show less

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Plucked

Plucked

A History of Hair Removal

by Herzig, Rebecca M., 1971-

Book - 2015

From the clamshell razors and homemade lye depilatories used in colonial America to the diode lasers and prescription pharmaceuticals available today, Ame...Show more From the clamshell razors and homemade lye depilatories used in colonial America to the diode lasers and prescription pharmaceuticals available today, Americans have used a staggering array of tools to remove hair deemed unsightly, unnatural, or excessive. This is true especially for women and girls; conservative estimates indicate that 99% of American women have tried hair removal, and at least 85% regularly remove hair from their faces, armpits, legs, and bikini lines. How and when does hair become a problem--what makes some growth "excessive"? Who or what separates the necessary from the superfluous? In Plucked, historian Rebecca Herzig addresses these questions about hair removal. Show less

From the clamshell razors and homemade lye depilatories used in colonial America to the diode lasers and prescription pharmaceuticals available today, Ame...Show more From the clamshell razors and homemade lye depilatories used in colonial America to the diode lasers and prescription pharmaceuticals available today, Americans have used a staggering array of tools to remove hair deemed unsightly, unnatural, or excessive. This is true especially for women and girls; conservative estimates indicate that 99% of American women have tried hair removal, and at least 85% regularly remove hair from their faces, armpits, legs, and bikini lines. How and when does hair become a problem--what makes some growth "excessive"? Who or what separates the necessary from the superfluous? In Plucked, historian Rebecca Herzig addresses these questions about hair removal. Show less

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Severed

Severed

A History of Heads Lost and Heads Found

by Larson, Frances, 1976-

Book - 2014

From the western colonialists whose demand for shrunken heads spurred brutal massacres to the troops in the Second World War who sent the remains of Japan...Show more From the western colonialists whose demand for shrunken heads spurred brutal massacres to the troops in the Second World War who sent the remains of Japanese soldiers home to their girlfriends; from the memento mori in Romantic portraits to Damien Hirst's With Dead Head; from grave-robbing phrenologists to enterprising cryonicists, Larson explores the bizarre, often gruesome and confounding history of the severed head. Its story is our story. Show less

From the western colonialists whose demand for shrunken heads spurred brutal massacres to the troops in the Second World War who sent the remains of Japan...Show more From the western colonialists whose demand for shrunken heads spurred brutal massacres to the troops in the Second World War who sent the remains of Japanese soldiers home to their girlfriends; from the memento mori in Romantic portraits to Damien Hirst's With Dead Head; from grave-robbing phrenologists to enterprising cryonicists, Larson explores the bizarre, often gruesome and confounding history of the severed head. Its story is our story. Show less

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Seven Flowers and How They Changed the World

Seven Flowers and How They Changed the World

by Potter, Jennifer, 1949-

Book - 2013

The lotus, lily, sunflower, opium poppy, rose, tulip and orchid. Seven flowers: seven stories full of surprise and secrets. Where and when did these flowe...Show more The lotus, lily, sunflower, opium poppy, rose, tulip and orchid. Seven flowers: seven stories full of surprise and secrets. Where and when did these flowers originate? What is the nature of their power and how was it acquired? What use has been made of them in gardens, literature and art? Show less

The lotus, lily, sunflower, opium poppy, rose, tulip and orchid. Seven flowers: seven stories full of surprise and secrets. Where and when did these flowe...Show more The lotus, lily, sunflower, opium poppy, rose, tulip and orchid. Seven flowers: seven stories full of surprise and secrets. Where and when did these flowers originate? What is the nature of their power and how was it acquired? What use has been made of them in gardens, literature and art? Show less

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An Edible History of Humanity

An Edible History of Humanity

by Standage, Tom

Book - 2009

The bestselling author of "A History of the World in 6 Glasses" brilliantly charts how foods have transformed human culture through the ages. The bestselling author of "A History of the World in 6 Glasses" brilliantly charts how foods have transformed human culture through the ages. Show less

The bestselling author of "A History of the World in 6 Glasses" brilliantly charts how foods have transformed human culture through the ages. The bestselling author of "A History of the World in 6 Glasses" brilliantly charts how foods have transformed human culture through the ages. Show less

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The Big Necessity

The Big Necessity

Adventures in the World of Human Waste

by George, Rose, 1969-

Book - 2008

An utterly original exploration of the world of human waste that will surprise, outrage--and entertain. An utterly original exploration of the world of human waste that will surprise, outrage--and entertain. Show less

An utterly original exploration of the world of human waste that will surprise, outrage--and entertain. An utterly original exploration of the world of human waste that will surprise, outrage--and entertain. Show less

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Coal

Coal

A Human History

by Freese, Barbara

Book - 2003

Prized as "the best stone in Britain" by Roman invaders who carved jewellery out of it, coal has transformed societies, powered navies, fueled e...Show more Prized as "the best stone in Britain" by Roman invaders who carved jewellery out of it, coal has transformed societies, powered navies, fueled economies and expanded frontiers. This text presents a narrative about an ordinary substance that has done extraordinary things. Show less

Prized as "the best stone in Britain" by Roman invaders who carved jewellery out of it, coal has transformed societies, powered navies, fueled e...Show more Prized as "the best stone in Britain" by Roman invaders who carved jewellery out of it, coal has transformed societies, powered navies, fueled economies and expanded frontiers. This text presents a narrative about an ordinary substance that has done extraordinary things. Show less

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Seeds of Change

Seeds of Change

Five Plants That Transformed Mankind

by Hobhouse, Henry, 1924-2016

Book - 1985

Traces the history of five commercial plants - sugar, tea, cotton, potatoes and quinine - and seeks to illustrate how man's need, or greed, for these prod...Show more Traces the history of five commercial plants - sugar, tea, cotton, potatoes and quinine - and seeks to illustrate how man's need, or greed, for these products has shaped human development. This edition includes a chapter on the coca plant, demonstrating its social, political and economic effect. Show less

Traces the history of five commercial plants - sugar, tea, cotton, potatoes and quinine - and seeks to illustrate how man's need, or greed, for these prod...Show more Traces the history of five commercial plants - sugar, tea, cotton, potatoes and quinine - and seeks to illustrate how man's need, or greed, for these products has shaped human development. This edition includes a chapter on the coca plant, demonstrating its social, political and economic effect. Show less

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Vanilla

Vanilla

The Cultural History of the World's Most Popular Flavor and Fragrance

by Rain, Patricia, 1943-

Book - 2004

Part culinary history, part cultural commentary, Vanilla tells the remarkable story of the world's most popular flavor and scent. Part culinary history, part cultural commentary, Vanilla tells the remarkable story of the world's most popular flavor and scent. Show less

Part culinary history, part cultural commentary, Vanilla tells the remarkable story of the world's most popular flavor and scent. Part culinary history, part cultural commentary, Vanilla tells the remarkable story of the world's most popular flavor and scent. Show less

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Milk

Milk

The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages : With 120 Adventurous Recipes That Explore the Riches of Our First Food

by Mendelson, Anne

Book - 2008

Part cookbook--with more than 120 enticing recipes--part culinary history, part inquiry into the evolution of an industry, "Milk" is a one-of-a-kind book that will change forever the way people think about milk. Part cookbook--with more than 120 enticing recipes--part culinary history, part inquiry into the evolution of an industry, "Milk" is a one-of-a-kind book that will change forever the way people think about milk. Show less

Part cookbook--with more than 120 enticing recipes--part culinary history, part inquiry into the evolution of an industry, "Milk" is a one-of-a-kind book that will change forever the way people think about milk. Part cookbook--with more than 120 enticing recipes--part culinary history, part inquiry into the evolution of an industry, "Milk" is a one-of-a-kind book that will change forever the way people think about milk. Show less

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The Brontë Cabinet

The Brontë Cabinet

Three Lives in Nine Objects

by Lutz, Deborah

Book - 2015

Victorian literature scholar Deborah Lutz illuminates the complex and fascinating lives of the Brontes through the things they wore, stitched, wrote on, and inscribed. Victorian literature scholar Deborah Lutz illuminates the complex and fascinating lives of the Brontes through the things they wore, stitched, wrote on, and inscribed. Show less

Victorian literature scholar Deborah Lutz illuminates the complex and fascinating lives of the Brontes through the things they wore, stitched, wrote on, and inscribed. Victorian literature scholar Deborah Lutz illuminates the complex and fascinating lives of the Brontes through the things they wore, stitched, wrote on, and inscribed. Show less

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