Just the Facts - December 19, 2019

Here we are, less than a week until Christmas and even closer to Hanukkah.  Many thanks to the eight people who passed on tree-trimming, eggnog and latkes to attend the book discussion last night.  Their presence, as always, was much appreciated.

Our book last night was Milk:  a 10,000 year food fracas by Mark Kurlansky.  The author has previously written about the effects of cod and salt on human history and has now turned his attention to milk and its byproducts cream, cheese and butter.  And let’s not forget my favorite, ice cream.  Milk is one of the oldest food products used by human beings, going back thousands of years.  Early human extracted milk from many animals including sheep, goats and camels before concluding that cows were the most practical source.  But there were problems.  Humans are mostly lactose intolerant and we had to learn to overcome that over the centuries.  Once that intolerance was overcome, people began to use milk not just as a beverage, but in foods, cheese, sauces, desserts and much more.  Our conversation was interesting and varied, covering many topics related to milk including breast versus bottle feeding, health benefits versus dangers of raw milk, the work of Louis Pasteur, the problems of cows’ production of both methane and manure, the Jewish prohibition of mixing meat and dairy, the late lamented passing of the milk man and of glass bottles and much more.  It was an evening filled with the milk of human kindness.  (Sorry.)

Our next meeting will be on January 23rd, 2020 at 7:00 pm.  The book to be discussed, Spying on the South: an odyssey across the American divide by Tony Horwitz, is available at the Circulation Desk.  All are welcome.

Happy holidays to all.