Breakfast: A History

According to author Arndt Anderson, J.R.R. Tolkien's hobbits had it right all along when it comes to breakfast. Their lives in the shire afforded them six meals a day, "three of which [occurred] before lunch: breakfast, second breakfast, and elevenses%E2%80%A6" In this literary paean to the morning meal, Anderson provides historical, social, and cultural perspectives on breakfast consumption. She occasionally references foods traditionally eaten in other countries, looking at jook (rice porridge) in China, for example, and platters of feta, olives, figs, and cucumbers or fresh flatbread with labneh (spreadable yogurt cheese) in the Middle East. For the most part, however, the author focuses on matutinal meals in the United States and by extension England. She gives beverages such as coffee, tea and orange juice their due and provides significant background on the major players in the cold-cereal industry like Kellogg and Post. Further exploration of the physical spaces where people eat breakfast%E2%80%94coffeehouses, diners, mess halls and school cafeterias%E2%80%94enliven the narrative as well. Though Arndt Anderson's writing has pop culture undertones and the subject may appeal to a wide market, the price and format of the book suggest it's best suited in a specialized setting. Photos. (July)