Apple (Reaktion Books - Botanical) by Marcia Reiss (2015) Hardcover | Botanical History, Apple Varieties & Cultural Significance | Perfect for Gardeners, Botanists & Nature Enthusiasts

I am a fan of Reaktion Books and their many series--no, I am not on the payroll, and no, they have not sent me books to review. I happened on some in my local university library, and got hooked. This is from the "Botanical" series and may be the best. I am interested in crops and foods, and while there are a number of books on apples, this is really the best overall.It is nicely written and excellently illustrated. The variety of apples is amazing. Reiss notes that the apple genome has 57,000 genes, twice as many as we humans. One theme in this book is the manipulation of apple genes--long done in terms of grafting, it now includes gene manipulation. A gene from the cecropia moth has been inserted into some variety of apples, to resist fire blight, whatever that is. Me, I want nothing but apple genes in my apple, apparently a sentiment Reiss has also.Reiss sees apple marketing as a problem. Marketing focuses on a few widely recognized varieties, and she says this has resulted in the loss of taste and perhaps also the loss of nutrients. She is optimistic about the lively interest in heirloom apples, and sees that as potentially becoming important enough so that nutritious and tasty apples will return to the grocery.There are chapters on domestication of the fruit, of how varieties have developed and on how apples have been depicted in the arts. The book also has an intriguing list of varieties--it actually got me wanting to sample some. The book is entertaining and informative. If you like apples, read the book.