Beans: A History

I just read Ken Albala's book, Beans: A History. It was a timely read for me because I've been thinking a lot about the relative value we attach to certain foods, and lamenting the fact that we'd have fewer food security issues if we could only learn to use and appreciate more of what's available.

Beans have traditionally been thought of as "poor man's meat" because they offer an alternative source of protein for folks who can't afford to eat meat regularly. They have a long shelf life and they're relatively inexpensive to produce, but unfortunately these qualities make them less valued in class conscious societies where resource-intensive foods are typically thought of as status symbols.