All Consuming, by Ruby Tandoh is extremely readable; the words just flow across the page, making it such a compelling read. It’s clearly very well researched and absolutely fascinating. I loved learning about how recipe sourcing has evolved over the years, along with the shifts in our eating habits and food trends. There's a brilliant analysis of food history, recipe books, food critics, influencers, TikTok trends, and so much more.

I kept stopping to tell my husband all the interesting facts I was learning! It really made me think about what we eat, why we eat it, and how that’s changed over time. I found myself smiling at the start of lots of chapters as familiar foods and themes were explored. It’s also well structured, and I was really pleased to see suggested further reading and recipe books in the epilogue.  I’ve really enjoyed this book and now want to read more by Ruby Tandoh. Fully recommend!

All Consuming is a book about the history of how we choose what to eat, as Ruby Tandoh investigates how over the past century many forces have changed what influences what we eat, especially in Britain and the US. The sections explore things like the changing face of recipes and cookbooks, the role of the critic before and into the social media age, and how trends like bubble tea and burgers took off in the UK.

If you have any interest in food culture in the UK (and the US), this book provides an interesting look into what influences our food choices, whether that is through celebrities, critics, recipes, supermarkets, or more. As someone who enjoys watching videos online of people trying different food, I liked this chance to reflect on what some of the food trends mean, and look into the history of certain areas. I particularly liked the part where Tandoh picks out some big name cookbooks in the UK and discusses what they say about cookbook and recipe culture.

I found myself wanting to share her thoughts with other people (I particularly liked her point about how if you start queuing for some hyped food, you cannot actually queue ironically, you are just part of that hyped queue) and the book covers something I've not seen other books or videos discuss, making it feel original and fresh. The book is an exploration rather than arguing a particular point and I like the space it offers to think about why we choose food, as well as a lot of suggested follow up reading if you want to keep exploring.

Eat Up truly altered something in my brain so I was incredibly excited to get my hands on this. It's a very different angle but has Ruby's signature style. It gives so much insight into food culture, from how recipes used to pass from person-to-person to food magazines to today's tiktokification of food. It got me thinking about my own food choices. And it's the same for her, that question of what you're trying because you enjoy it and what's the culture of abundance. Thoroughly recommend.

Being a child of the sixties and seventies and growing up in family that grew their veg, baked, bottled, pickled , preserved - out of necessity rather than fad or fashion , I've always loved food, sharing food and talking about food with family and friends. I don't think we'd ver had called ourselves foodies - just inane desire to find pleasure from food.

Over the years food has changed, the veggies grown in the garden have changed and the dialogue has changed...the world of consuming food, buying food, connecting to food has dramatically moved on... ( but I guess it always has over the decades/centuries)

What drew me to this book ... a feeling of needing to connect and understand the paths that eating and drinking has taken.... I am an older demographic and I have had bubble tea, eaten a variety of 'street food"( good and very bad) and for a short period tried to engage with insta reels..but still have felt bewildered and a bit isolated or maybe left out of what is happening ...or does it not even matter when things disappear in the flick of a influencer's eyes or tastebuds?? But trying to understand the changes occurring is fascinating ( is it needed is another question - especially if you don't live in a metropolis?)

Ruby Tandoh's ' All Consuming' is a brilliant read- a very personal discourse on the world of food and its evolution in relation to certain aspects.
This is a book that is written from the heart; it's informative; it opens questions; it broadens understanding and also leaves you wondering whether the connection to food and its origins and the fashionable ever-evolving love of food is getting wider and wider.

The range of exploration and questioning ranges from cookery bookies, online recipes, the dinner party, food critics, the world of fizzy drinks, the world of Viennettas and Magnums and even the good old Wimpy.

Ruby's style is instantly engaging and this book was devoured ( no pun intended) over a few days- it could be a book to dip into and then come back to- each theme stands alone. I was hooked and the flow and pace had me hooked.

There is a wonderful sense of curiosity and exploration in the prose- sometimes tongue in cheek, sometimes a sense of annoyance, sometimes just a beautiful acknowledgement that good food is good food regardless of it being home made, supermarket purchased or eaten after queuing for an age.

There are many other themes that could have been explored that open up the discourse further and wider . This is primarily an anglophile or English speaking/focus - UK/USA exploration as how to food is consumed and has developed- it would be intriguing to know what has happened / is happening in other cultures but in an ever increasingly homogenised - phone addicted world the stories may well ( albeit sadly) end up with similar outcomes in future years .- one big global feast! The impact of food consumerism and climate change is another chapter in the making for all of us.

But " All Consuming" is fantastic read - for food lovers ( not just foodies) and is highly recommended. I dare you not to learn at least three or facts to share at your next "dinner party "!!