I'd been meaning to read this for years, and finally got to it this summer. I can understand why this book has done so well, and is loved by many. It's a very engaging global history of the impact salt, salt mining and production, and salt trading has had on the history of human development. It's full of the most extraordinary facts and information; Kurlansky has obviously dome enormous research, but this is far from a dry recital of facts. He's a great storyteller, and a colourful writer. I recommend this book very highly.