Michael Pollan: "Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation" | Talks at Google

In “Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation,” Michael Pollan explores the previously uncharted territory of his own kitchen. Here, he discovers the enduring power of the four classical elements—fire, water, air, and earth— to transform the stuff of nature into delicious things to eat and drink. Apprenticing himself to a succession of culinary masters, Pollan learns how to grill with fire, cook with liquid, bake bread, and ferment everything from cheese to beer. In the course of his journey, he discovers that the cook occupies a special place in the world, standing squarely between nature and culture. Both realms are transformed by cooking, and so, in the process, is the cook.

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Comment (29)

  1. that's the problem our immune systems need practice other wise when the time comes (infection) our immune systems can not cope. its a double edge sword. but yes we need bacteria.

  2. yes the in the high attic they will catch returning little auk's put them in to a seal skin and bury it for it to ferment then dig it up in 3 6 months later and eat the hole thing they do not even skin the birds. they call it kiviat.

  3. hi Micheal just read your new book (How To Change Your Mind) bang on loved it had a lot of experience with drugs and drink but bean clean now for 6 years 7 months and will never go back. i did not get the look of an education i had to do it my self. self educated in evolution and science just read Richard Dawkins new book Science In The Soul. but are you not misleading people about food all food we eat is not natural it is all G.Modified. the last time we ate natural food was 8.000 200 years ago when we in Britain had to go back to hunter gathering farming only began 10.000 years ago that's when we started to change food and g. modified it so no one eats natural food all fruit and veg is G.M. but yes we should eat as healthy as we can for the good of the planet and us all human and none human. we are the only species that works to destroy the planet all other species work for the good of the planet. they (none human) animals used to eat all natural food now they are eating plastic P.S.Bs DDTs CBCs. if a whale washes up we have now got to treat it as toxic wast. we are destroying our self's and with the planet it breaks my heart after all we are part of nature. you can always find me on facebook. take care. great book.

  4. This intro is so long that I lost interest by the time he’s ready to speak, maybe you could have cut your intro for you tube viewers or if you want to talk some more get it all out in your car

  5. Love Michael Pollan – he is always so engaging, personable, and open-minded. His research is thorough, his writing both clear and poetic, and his advice sensible. He just seems like a super-intelligent guy who is also down-to-earth and humane. I wish he was my neighbor and I could hang out with him!

  6. Micheal Pollan is such a great guy and so interesting to listen to! I lived in China and he's right, stinky tofu tastes pretty awful but they seem to like it. The Chinese also seem to think cheese is horrible, except on pizza which they tend to like.

    In my native country of Iceland we have rotten shark and many people like it, but I've never seen a foreigner like it hehe 🙂

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