Debra Bendis's Christmas list

To give

Whether read as a companion to formal studies of early Christianity or for pleasure, Peter Brown’s Through the Eye of the Needle is a valuable and rewarding investment (530 pages plus notes). I read it last year, then took a class on early Christianity. Now I look forward to rereading Brown because he adds context, covering economy, politics, religion, and more—all in one riveting narrative.

The news is not good: we’ve depleted the earth of many vegetables and fruits by breeding out nutrients and breeding in good looks and/or a longer shelf life. But Jo Robinson doesn’t leave us in despair. In Eating on the Wild Side she strikes a pleasurable balance between telling the story of the artichoke, blueberry, or carrot, guiding the reader in what to plant or what to buy (try purple carrots), and how to prepare the produce (a dozen recipes are included).