{"product_id":"9781504011693","title":"The Rituals of Dinner: The Origins, Evolution, Eccentricities, and Meaning of Table Manners","description":"\u003cb\u003eA New York Times Notable Book: A renowned scholar explores the way we eat across cultures and throughout history. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e From the wild parties of ancient Greece to the strictures of an Upper East Side meal to the ritualistic feasts of cannibals, Margaret Visser takes us on a fascinating journey through the diverse practices, customs, and taboos that define how and why we prepare and consume food the way we do.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e With keen insights into small details we take for granted, such as the origins of forks and chopsticks or why tablecloths exist, and examinations of broader issues like the economic implications of dining etiquette, Visser scrutinizes table manners across eras and oceans, offering an intimate new understanding of eating both as a biological necessity and a cultural phenomenon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Witty and impeccably researched, \u003ci\u003eThe Rituals of Dinner\u003c\/i\u003e is a captivating blend of folklore, sociology, history, and humor. In the words of the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e, “Read it, because you’ll never look at a table knife the same way again.”\u003cbr\u003e  ","brand":"Open Road Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47163249885424,"sku":"9781504011693","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781504011693_p0.jpg?v=1763709567","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781504011693","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}