The Rise of Yeast

How the sugar fungus shaped civilisation

By: Nicholas P. Money

Write A Review

Hardcover | 22 February 2018

At a Glance

Hardcover
240 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
22.4 x 14.2 x 2.4

Hardcover

$50.25

or 4 interest-free payments of $12.56 with

Aims to ship in 10 to 15 business days

From breakfast toast to evening wine, yeast is the microscopic thing that we cannot live without. We knew what yeast did as an invisible brewer and baker long before we had a clue about the existence of microorganisms. Ten thousand years ago, our ancestors abandoned bush meat and wild fruit in favor of farming animals and cultivating grain. Leaving the forests and grasslands, our desire for beer and wine produced by the fungus was a major stimulus for agricultural settlement. It takes a village to run a brewery or tend a vineyard. We domesticated wild yeast and yeast domesticated us. With the inevitable escape of the fungus from beer vats into bread dough, our marriage with yeast was secured by an appetite for fresh loaves of leavened bread.

Over the millennia, we have adapted the technologies of brewing, winemaking, and baking and have come to rely on yeast more and more. Yeast produces corn ethanol and other biofuels and has become the genetically-modified darling of the pharmaceutical business as a source of human insulin and a range of life-saving medicines. These practical uses of yeast have been made possible by advances in our understanding of its biology, and the power of genetic engineering has been used to modify the fungus to do just about anything we wish. We know more about yeast than any other organism built from complex cells like our own. To understand yeast is to understand life. In this book Nicholas P. Money offers a celebration of our favorite microorganism.

Industry Reviews

`A great book about a seemingly simple fungus that has changed the course of human history, and yet another example of how the littlest organisms in life can make the biggest differences. I highly recommend this essential book for the general public and microbiologists alike.' Paul Stamets, author of Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save The World `A fascinating book. I couldn't put it down. As a sixth generation family brewer nothing sounds better than "brewing and drinking are defining features of our species" -- I completely agree!' Alex Arkell, Head Brewer, Arkell's Brewery

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.