Book Review: Chocolate: The Consuming Passion by Sandra Boyton

Chocolate: The Consuming Passion written, illustrated, and overresearched* by Sandra Boynton

In this cute, quick book Sandra Boyton covers a bit of history, a bit of amateur psychology, a bit of culinary styles, and a couple of recipes all about chocolate. The book is very light hearted and has plenty of illustrations that are classic Boynton (like her classics Moo, Baa, La La La and The Going to Bed Book). The book debunks myths about chocolate and provides both shopping advice (grocery stores are not as fun or satisfying as a gourmet shop) and cooking tips (including advice on repurposing failed desserts). She also provides handy translations of the phrase "Excuse me, where is the nearest chocolate?" into eleven different languages, including Klingon and Pig Latin.

Highly recommended for a fun time!

Sample quote: from the author's note at the back of the book...

So why did I decide to take on this difficult project [i.e. writing the book]? It was probably for a lot of noble and idealistic reasons. It certainly wasn't that I was somehow luted by the giddy prospect of being able to cliam all of my chocolate-related expenditures as actual business expenses. Oh, wait. Yes it was. [inside back cover]

*That is a direct quote from the cover of the book--check out the jpeg!