I borrowed this book off a friend (after borrowing another book called Leviathan: Or, The Whale by Philip Hoare) and I have to say I enjoyed it jsut as much despite the subject matter not appearing as dramatic. Kurlansky not only brings the cod to life in all its glory but also takes the reader on a journey from the moment that cod entered the diet of man on a local, national and ultimately international level. Kurlansky includes throughout the book quotes from various fictional and factual sources the relate the various stages of the relationship between cod and man as well as including a number of recipes of various ages that show the changing attitudes to the many species of fish the term cod can encompass. This book also goes beyond the cod and looks at the fishing industry as a whole and how the ever depleting fish stocks affected and still does affect international politics. An epic but very readable book about a fish that has indeed changed the world.