List
Interesting Ingredients
The experiential learning team is fascinated by all sorts of ingredients, from those found in food to makeup to medicine and more.
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Sawbones: The Horrifying, Hilarious Road to Modern Medicine
2018 by McElroy, SydneeGet this itemSawbones is one of my favorite podcasts, so I was excited to read this book, which covers popular topics from the show. Learn why people used to do things like eat mummies, wear radioactive underwear, and drill holes in their heads in the name of medicine. Recommended by Eli O.
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Ingredients: The Strange Chemistry of What We Put in Us and on Us
2020 by Zaidan, GeorgeGet this itemThis book tackles the ingredients of everything from snacks to smoking to sunscreen. It strikes a really good balance of covering the science behind the products we consume while remaining engaging and entertaining. Recommended by Eli O.
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The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
2016 by Pollan, MichaelGet this itemDid you know that corn is in nearly everything we eat and use? I didn’t, but this book explains why so much corn is grown in Illinois. I found this book to be a fascinating exploration of the history, culture and context behind the different ingredients we add to our meals. Recommended by Michelle.
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Grocery: The Buying and Selling of Food in America
2017 by Ruhlman, MichaelGet this itemHow did we go from general stores to Whole Foods? Why are stores laid out the way they are? Everything you never knew you wanted to know about groceries. Recommended by Eli O.
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Devoured: From Chicken Wings to Kale Smoothies-- How What We Eat Defines Who We Are
2016 by Egan, SophieGet this itemYou probably don't think much about your sad desk salad, but author Sophie Egan certainly has. Learn how American values brought us the office candy bowl and Chipotle. Recommended by Eli O.
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Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us
2013 by Moss, MichaelGet this itemThis book is stuffed with info on the tasty trio, but what I found most interesting were the stories behind the marketing strategies that make us pick up unhealthy foods. Recommended by Eli O.
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Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live
2018 by Dunn, Rob R.Get this itemIf you’ve always been curious about what’s in the walls, the drains, your showerhead--basically all the things that surround you on a daily basis--this book is for you. It is not for the faint of science. Recommended by Amy H.
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Ingredients: A Visual Exploration of 75 Additives & 25 Food Products
2015 by Ettlinger, SteveGet this itemSee what's inside your food. This book is definitely harder science than some of the other suggestions on this list, but even if you don't want all the molecular details, you'll be fascinated by the images and the breakdowns of some of our favorite processed foods. Recommended by Eli O.
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