1
of
1
SPAM
A Global History
Series: Edible
Brief Description
A cultural history of the celebrated (and derided) canned protein. 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, a conflict that solidified SPAM's place in global food culture. Created by Hormel Foods in 1937 to utilise surplus pork during the Great Depression,...
Read More
Format: Hardback
$3299
Unit price
/
Unavailable
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER
Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks
Found a better price? Request a price match
SPAM
$3299
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Latest News
A Little Bit Spooky: Board Games for Halloween
Halloween is the perfect excuse for a spooky board game night! From adorable ghost cats...
100 Years of Winnie the Pooh
100 years ago the Hundred Acre Wood and a cast of beloved friends was published...
The Book Briefing - 14/10/2026
It's time for another edition of 'The Book Briefing'! Sacha's back with all the latest...
TV Show Review on: Carrie
Liam's Review Carrie 26βCarrie has been on my radar for a while now, probably my...
The Struggle of Working Somewhere That Sells Beautiful Books
The problem isβ¦I work in the cutest little (I said what I said) bookshop and...
See moreA cultural history of the celebrated (and derided) canned protein.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
A cultural history of the celebrated (and derided) canned protein.
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, a conflict that solidified SPAM's place in global food culture. Created by Hormel Foods in 1937 to utilise surplus pork during the Great Depression, SPAM became an essential resource (and marker of American food culture) during the war. This book explores SPAM's complex history, highlighting its enduring legacy in places like Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, Okinawa, and South Korea.
Kelly A. Spring demonstrates how the enduring proteins in SPAM played a crucial role during wartime and continues to influence global diets.
Series: Edible
View all-
Liqueur
Liqueur is a guide to the cultural history of liqueurs from a celebrated spirits journalist. The original recreational spirit, liqueurs travelled the Silk Road, awaited travellers at the Fountain of Youth, and traversed the globe from ancient times through the industrial revolution and beyond. In this thrilling exploration of liqueur's global history, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson describes how a bitter, medicinal...Hardback$3299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Hummus
This is a global history of hummus bi-tahina, the delicious combination of chickpeas, tahini, lemon, and garlic that we know and love as hummus. The story begins in the medieval kitchens of the Near and Middle East and ends with its rise in popularity in the Western world at the end of the twentieth century. This book also addresses the...Hardback$2999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Champagne
'This short volume, wittily illustrated and beautifully designed, is a pleasure both to look at and to consume. Which, given the subject matter, seems fitting.' The Spectator 'A sparkling history of the world's greatest wine. Stories, pictures and mouth-watering cocktails.' The Lady Champagne signals celebration, fun and camaraderie, embodying luxury and decadence as the preferred drink for any toast. Now...Hardback$3299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Coconut
From curries to creamy pina coladas, enjoy a delectable global history of the many culinary incarnations of the coconut. The flavour and image of the coconut are universally recognisable, conjuring up sweet, exotic pleasures. Often called the "Swiss army knife" of the plant world, the versatile coconut can be an essential ingredient in savoury curries, or a sacred element in...Hardback$3299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Gin
The story begins with the aromatic juniper berry, originally used by the Dutch to flavour the whisky-like genever. The drink then made its way to Britain, where cheap imitations laced with turpentine and other caustic fillers made it the drink of choice for poor eighteenth-century Londoners. Eventually replaced by the sweetened Old Tom style and then by London Dry, gin...Hardback$3499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Coffee
Coffee is a global beverage: it is grown commercially on four continents, and consumed enthusiastically in all seven. There is even an Italian espresso machine on the International Space Station. Coffee's journey has taken it from the forests of Ethiopia to the fincas of Latin America, from Ottoman coffee houses to 'Third Wave' cafes, and from the simple coffee pot...Hardback$2999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Mango
This beautifully illustrated book takes us on a tour through the rich world of mangoes, which inspire fervent devotion across the world. In South Asia, mangoes boast a history steeped in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, even earning a mention in the Kama Sutra. Beyond myth, the authors show us that mangoes hold literary significance as a potent metaphor. While mango-flavoured...Hardback$3299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Melon
Perfumed, sweet, succulent, cooling; a ripe melon can be one of the most delicious of fruits. Sylvia Lovegren untangles the melon's long and complex history and follows the journeys of the varied fruits known as melons from the sandy wastes of the Kalahari Desert, to the ancient kingdom of Ur in Mesopotamia, to the exotic oases of the Silk Road,...Hardback$2999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Vodka
Vodka is the most versatile of spirits. While people in Eastern Europe and the Baltic often drink it neat, swallowing it in one gulp, others use it in cocktails ranging from the Bloody Mary to the vodka Martini, or mix it with tonic water or ginger beer to create a refreshing drink. Vodka manufacturers even infuse it with flavours ranging...Hardback$3499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Rum
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! A favourite of pirates, the molasses-coloured liquid brings to mind clear blue seas and weatherbeaten sailors. But enjoyment of rum spread far beyond the scallywags of the Caribbean. Charles Dickens savoured it in punch, George Washington served it at campaign rallies, Queen Victoria sipped it in the British Navy's grog, and Kamehameha...Hardback$3499Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Tequila
The ancient Mayans, Olmecs and Aztecs made pulque from the fermented sap of the agave plant, and later the Mexicans distilled tequila from agaves. Once described as like swallowing a 'yard of barbed wire', tequila has improved beyond recognition and exploded in popularity, and is now consumed in bars and homes worldwide. Featuring recipes for tequila-based cocktails, and offering advice...Hardback$2999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Breakfast Cereal
Simple, healthy, and comforting, breakfast cereals are a perennially popular way to start the day around the world. They have a long, distinguished, and surprising historyβaround 10,000 years ago, with the advent of agriculture, people began breaking their fast with porridges made from wheat, rice, corn, and other grains. It was only in the second half of the nineteenth century,...Hardback$3299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781836390664
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 01 June 2025
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Reaktion Books
Illustration: 57 illustrations. 35 in colour
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 120.0mm
Height: 197.0mm
Weight: 600g
Pages: 152
About the Author
Kelly A. Spring, owner of The Fork Front and convenor of the Ihr Food History Seminar, is a food history researcher. Her work examines the history of global food systems.
More from Cooking & Food
View all-
New ReleaseAlways Delicious
The bestselling Vanya Insull, one of our favourite foodies and the creator of VJ Cooks, returns with her fourth cookbookβher best and tastiest collection yet. Packed full of the approachable, reliable recipes she's famous for, Always Delicious covers every occasion with Vanya's signature laidback style. Begin with some light bites, perfect for sharing platters, relaxed lunches, and easy entertaining. Fire...Paperback$3999Elsewhere:$4500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseOttolenghi SIMPLE TOO
For the three million home cooks around the world who lovedΒ Simple, Ottolenghi brings us 135 brand-new easy recipes that are full of flavour, intensity and creativity For the millions of home cooks who loved Ottolenghi SIMPLE, discover the pleasure of keeping things SIMPLE TOO.Itβs a noisy world out there, so stop, take a minute or two, listen to the soup...Hardback$5999Elsewhere:$7500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Thyme to Cook
Thyme to Cook is a practical guide to growing, harvesting and cooking real food at home to nourish our bodies and minds! From successful cookery writer Emma Galloway. 'A treasure trove of a book - an approachable and very beautiful guide to growing your own food and easy and original ways to cook and eat it.' Anna Jones, author of...Hardback$4699Elsewhere:$6000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseHow We Cook
Welcome to How We Cook: The Two Raw Sisters' best cookbook yet, with more than 100 ridiculously good recipes that will help you cook with confidence. The Two Raw Sisters are here to make healthy eating feel easy and genuinely achievable. Inside, you'll find adaptable base recipes, from granola and smoothies to salads and soups, to muffins and rocky road,...Hardback$4299Elsewhere:$4999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New Release20 Minute Meals
Fast food is good food in 20 minutes or less with Jamie . . . 20-Minute Meals solves all your dinner dilemmas, giving you quick, tasty meals every night of the week. These incredible recipes will be on the table in just 20 minutes or less. With a maximum of ten ingredients in each recipe and 70% hitting daily nutritional...Hardback$5599Elsewhere:$7000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Free GiftNew ReleaseSaint Peter
In 2026, Saint Peter marks a decade at the forefront of global dining β a restaurant that has quietly but decisively reshaped the way we think about fish. In Saint Peter: Chapter & Verse, Josh Niland brings that world to the page for the first time: a landmark work that captures the philosophy, precision and daily rhythm of one of...Hardback$7299Elsewhere:$9000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Soph's Plant Kitchen 30 in 30: 30g of protein, 30 minutes or less
An essential cookbook for anyone looking to increase the amount of plant protein and fibre they eat without spending hours in the kitchen. Instagram sensation and Sunday Times bestselling author @Sophsplantkitchen has created her very best plant-based, high fibre recipes: all with at least 30 grammes of protein, all on the table in 30 minutes or less and all mouth-wateringly...Hardback$4800Elsewhere:$6000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Lunchbox Bible
From the team behind the bestselling sensation Baby Food Bible, Lunchbox Bible is your go-to recipe book for feeding children healthy, allergen-friendly, and nutritionist-approved food thatβs guaranteed to please. With 75 recipes and a visual library containing 75 different lunchboxes, this comprehensive guide has been carefully created with time-poor parents in mind. The recipes are simple, quick, nutrient-dense, and get...Hardback$4700Elsewhere:$5999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far youβll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...Hardback$4499Elsewhere:$5299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Fitwaffle's Easy 6
Discover how simple cooking can be every day with over 100 easy, tasty recipes using only 6 ingredients. "My mission is simple. I want to help people feel more confident in the kitchen and show that baking and cooking don't need to be complicated. Whether you're brand new in the kitchen or you've been doing it for years, my goal...Hardback$4199Elsewhere:$5000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
So Good Express
Simple, nutritious recipes for when time is of the essence. Bringing together delicious and easy-to-follow recipes with the sound advice of a fully qualified nutritionist, number one bestselling author Emily English shows us that good food can make you feel amazing and bring you joy, every single day. Blending her nutrition expertise with a love of simple, fresh food, Emily...Hardback$4799Elsewhere:$6000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
BBQ
Britain's best-selling chef shares his BBQ passion and secrets. We all love a good BBQ, but too often they centre around some slightly burnt sausages and burgers. Not anymore! Jamie's got 90 recipes to show us just how brilliant and versatile barbecuing can be, whatever the season. With recipes suitable for both charcoal and gas BBQs, Jamie shares his key...Hardback$5499Elsewhere:$7000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
Cooking & Food lists from the team
Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listCooking & Food
Sunita's Baking Besties
Sunita is one of our incredible customers that are more like family. She's created this list and says about it: "Because we...View the list -
![The Official Pumpkin Spice CafΓ© Cookbook]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listCooking & Food
Fiction Inspired Cookbooks
From fantasy to romance, games to manga, we have a whole range of cookbooks inspired by stories and the worlds they live...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Shirl's listCooking & Food
Family Meals Made Easy
Deciding what to have for dinner can be a struggle so weβve rounded up some cookbooks to help take the stress out...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listCooking & Food
Books for Foodies
From fresh-tasting fiction to non-fiction that will make you hungry, we've collected some of our favourite books together for foodies. We've even...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listCooking & Food
Cookbooks for the WhΔnau
These are the cookbooks that make feeding a busy whΔnau feel slightly easier, the ones I reach for for lunchtime snacks, easy...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listCooking & Food
Cookbooks for Kids!
I love that there are such an amazing range of cookbooks for tamariki to get involved with making food and learning the...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listCooking & Food
Cookbooks for Eating Plant Based
I (Lizzy) used to be vegan for a few years, and my husband still is. Now I eat vegetarian, he eats vegan,...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listCooking & Food
Lizzy's Top 10 Favourite Cookbooks
As a bit of a cookbook collector here are some of my absolute favourites including the ones I gift to others, the...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![Gluten Free Bakes]()
Lizzy's listCooking & Food
The Best Gluten Free Cookbooks
I got diagnosed as Coeliac last year which came as a big surprise! Finding amazing Gluten Free cookbooks has really helped me...View the list
