My prime example is “Salt: A World History” by Mark Kurlansky (2003)

I exchanged books with a good friend of mine years ago. We said this one exchange would be non-fiction/and or historical. , I gave him “Guns, Germs and Steel” by Jared Diamond. He gave me the Salt book. I didn’t think I would find it interesting at all, but boy was I wrong. You can never look at a salt shaker the same again after it.

Have you ever heard the expression that someone is worth their salt? This expression originates from an ancient practice in the 19th century where Roman soldiers were paid in the form of salt as wages. For many years, salt was considered as a very rare and priceless entity. Wars, intrigue, murders, the book had it all. Fascinating. All about salt.

“Is there someone you love?”

“Yes”

“A woman?”

“Yes”

“Then go home to her.”

“And who will remember her?”

“No one. That’s just the point. You must take care of all of that now.”

From Mark Helprin’s “Winters Tale”