Editorial Reviews
Book Description:
A gripping biological detective story that uncovers the myth, mystery, and endangered fate of the worldÂ’s most humble fruit
To most people, a banana is a banana: a simple yellow fruit. Americans eat more bananas than apples and oranges combined. In others parts of the world, bananas are what keep millions of people alive. But for all its ubiquity, the banana is surprisingly mysterious; nobody knows how bananas evolved or exactly where they originated. Rich cultural lore surrounds the fruit: In ancient translations of the Bible, the “apple” consumed by Eve is actually a banana (it makes sense, doesn’t it?). Entire Central American nations have been said to rise and fall over the banana.
But the biggest mystery about the banana today is whether it will survive. A seedless fruit with a unique reproductive system, every banana is a genetic duplicate of the next, and therefore susceptible to the same blights. Today’s yellow banana, the Cavendish, is increasingly threatened by such a blight—and there’s no cure in sight.
Banana combines a pop-science journey around the globe, a fascinating tale of an iconic American business enterprise, and a look into the alternately tragic and hilarious banana subculture (one does exist)—ultimately taking us to the high-tech labs where new bananas are literally being built in test tubes, in a race to save the world’s most beloved fruit.
Customer Reviews
 Intriguing! by Dyanne Khalaf
How much could there possibly be to say about bananas? Who knew? Dan Koeppel knew. His book “Banana, The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World” is absolutely fascinating! The book is an intriguing mix of science, history, geography, greed, murder and mystery. Will the banana survive the Panama Disease and remain a food staple for future generations or will it become only a fond memory? After reading Mr. Koeppel’s book, I have new-found respect for the banana. I also have respect for Dan Koeppel for his ability to create an intelligent, informative and interesting book about the plight of the banana. Bravo and 3 cheers for “Banana, The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World” and 3 cheers for the banana!
I love this book by Jocelyn Heaney
Everything you’ve read is true. “Banana” is a smart, ambitious and lively book. It has as much heart as it does brains. Dan Koeppel constantly surprises the reader with the amazing connections he makes between the story of the banana and art, science, geography and politics. These disparate threads come together in unexpected ways, enlarging our view of such a simple food. By revealing the history behind this ubiquitous commodity, Dan Koeppel helps us examine the ramifications of our consumer choices, what our consumption means, without ever being didactic. This book changed the way I thought about the food I ate, the countries where it comes from, and the stories behind so many of the things we use every day and take for granted.
I highly recommend it.
10 star awesome book by MotherLodeBeth
Read all the other 5 star reviews because I don’t want to repeat what they have already said. I am a person who eats organic foods, and tries really hard to eat from the one hundred mile rule (foods grown within 100 miles of where I live).
Sp I really appreciate writers like Dan Koeppel because they not only educate people on how gluttonous and selfish we westerners are when it comes to food, but the damage our way of life is having on people on the other side of the world.
What we see as a fruit to enjoy brought from across the world is in fact a food the people on the other side of the world where bananas are grown, is more of a staple and an endangered one at that.
Solid Read by Amos McLean
I picked this up on a lark, having enjoyed another micro history work on cotton. I never imagined I would be so interested in a book on bananas, but just a few pages in and I was hooked.
Nice work.
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