• High on the Hog

  • A Culinary Journey from Africa to America
  • By: Jessica B. Harris
  • Narrated by: Jessica Harris
  • Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (234 ratings)

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High on the Hog  By  cover art

High on the Hog

By: Jessica B. Harris
Narrated by: Jessica Harris
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Editorial reviews

American cuisine has deep African roots. When we discuss American food, the troublesome history attached to these roots is only mentioned in brief. The focus tends to be on the end product, the delicious food that helps to distinguish American culture. In this book author Harris undertakes to trace the food from Africa across the Atlantic to America. She views slavery through the lens of native food. Food is proof of the voyage; it remains with its people, sustaining them as they endure en route to freedom. Along the way the food marries multiple worlds and is reborn in many delicious guises. Harris has a resonant, dignified voice. She relays with authority her profound understanding of how this cuisine evolved and what its survival means.

Publisher's summary

Winner of the IACP Award for Culinary History.

Acclaimed cookbook author Jessica B. Harris weaves an utterly engaging history of African American cuisine, taking the listener on a harrowing journey from Africa across the Atlantic to America, and tracking the trials that the people and the food have undergone along the way. From chitlins and ham hocks to fried chicken and vegan soul, Harris celebrates the delicious and restorative foods of the African American experience and details how each came to form an important part of African American culture, history, and identity. Although the story of African cuisine in America begins with slavery, High on the Hog ultimately chronicles a thrilling history of triumph and survival. The work of a masterful storyteller and an acclaimed scholar, Jessica B. Harris's High on the Hog fills an important gap in our culinary history.

©2011 Jessica B. Harris (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

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What listeners say about High on the Hog

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educational and enlightening

I learned so much about not only the history of African American food but of African zericans especially the slave trade.

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Good information

I enjoyed the book. Thank for sharing your journey. As long as I can remember food and family are the core of our family!

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A great history lesson

Thank you for assembling this incredible history lesson and a barometer for beginning to understand the origin, role, and continuing food apartheid.
wish the author had put in more effort to pronounce other non English words as she did the French ones.

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Excellent

Very Interesting story and i enjoyed the reader.
Might need to listen to it again.

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Just wow…

Watching the a Netflix documentary led me
To buying the book. Unfortunately, with my work schedule, I hadn’t found the time to really sit and read it. I bought the audiobook so I could listen while I work and I’m glad I did. The documentary, while excellent, doesn’t even scratch the surface of what the book covers. The author doesn’t even sound like she’s reading. Rather, she sounds like she’s sitting in front of you telling you this very rich history. I’ll more than likely listen to this again since there’s so much to absorb. I can’t wait for the second season of the show on Netflix.

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An important story

Absolutely loved the important history of African -Americans as she wove it into the culinary story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

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A MUST read!

This book is absolutely fantastic, and what an experience hearing it from Jessica B. Harris herself! She takes you on a journey through the history of black people in the US and, before that, Africa through food.

There are times I felt rage and grief. Yet others where I laughed and felt pride. She has laid the truth bare while ensuring the versatility, resilience, resourcefulness, and so much more of our people. An incredible book that I plan to return to.

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So glad I listened to the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Netflix series and listening to the book shed so much more information and charm. Ms. Harris’s writing is a delight and her voice is like a warm hug. This is definitely worth the time listening and more. It is a gift.

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High on my list!

High on the Hog provides an in depth view of the impact of Africa food over centuries of time up unto today. At the same time it tells the story of the impact of slavery over the same time period. High on the Hog tells the truth about our past and the untold story of the attributes bright to America from Africa.

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An entire university course in one enjoyable book.

I absolutely loved this book! I saw the series on Netflix and thought the book would contain the recipes, ordered the book and was rewarded with an education. Enjoyable from beginning to end, even when discussing difficult topics, the author's sense of paloma and decorum won out. I highly recommend this book to bayonet tht really desires to understand soul food and the history pertaining to the foods it contains.

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