Skip to content

Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World Paperback - 2008

by Dan Koeppel

Growing out of a "Popular Science" feature article, this work combines a pop-science journey around the globe with a fascinating tale of an iconic American business enterprise that takes readers into the high-tech labs where new bananas are literally being built in test tubes.


Summary



Read Dan Koeppel's posts on the Penguin Blog.

In the vein of the bestselling Salt and Cod, a gripping chronicle of the myth, mystery, and uncertain fate of the world’s most popular fruit

In this fascinating and surprising exploration of the banana’s history, cultural significance, and endangered future, award-winning journalist Dan Koeppel gives readers plenty of food for thought. Fast-paced and highly entertaining, Banana takes us from jungle to supermarket, from corporate boardrooms to kitchen tables around the world. We begin in the Garden of Eden—examining scholars’ belief that Eve’s “apple” was actually a banana— and travel to early-twentieth-century Central America, where aptly named “banana republics” rose and fell over the crop, while the companies now known as Chiquita and Dole conquered the marketplace. Koeppel then chronicles the banana’s path to the present, ultimately—and most alarmingly—taking us to banana plantations across the globe that are being destroyed by a fast-moving blight, with no cure in sight—and to the high-tech labs where new bananas are literally being built in test tubes, in a race to save the world’s most beloved fruit.

From the publisher

In the vein of Mark Kurlansky's bestselling Salt and Cod, a gripping chronicle of the myth, mystery, and uncertain fate of the world's most popular fruit In this fascinating and surprising exploration of the banana's history, cultural significance, and endangered future, award-winning journalist Dan Koeppel gives readers plenty of food for thought. Fast-paced and highly entertaining, Banana takes us from jungle to supermarket, from corporate boardrooms to kitchen tables around the world. We begin in the Garden of Eden--examining scholars' belief that Eve's "apple" was actually a banana-- and travel to early-twentieth-century Central America, where aptly named "banana republics" rose and fell over the crop, while the companies now known as Chiquita and Dole conquered the marketplace. Koeppel then chronicles the banana's path to the present, ultimately--and most alarmingly--taking us to banana plantations across the globe that are being destroyed by a fast-moving blight, with no cure in sight--and to the high-tech labs where new bananas are literally being built in test tubes, in a race to save the world's most beloved fruit.

Details

  • Title Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
  • Author Dan Koeppel
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Reprint
  • Pages 304
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Plume Books, NYC
  • Date 2008-12-30
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Bibliography, Illustrated, Index, Price on Product - Canadian, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9780452290082 / 0452290082
  • Weight 0.55 lbs (0.25 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7 in (20.07 x 13.46 x 1.78 cm)
  • Ages 18 to UP years
  • Grade levels 13 - UP
  • Library of Congress subjects Bananas
  • Dewey Decimal Code 634.772

Media reviews

"Clear, engaging...admirable...part historical narrative and partpop-science adventure."
-San Francisco Chronicle

Citations

  • Entertainment Weekly, 03/20/2015, Page 105

About the author

Dan Koeppel, a 2011 James Beard Award winner, is a science and nature writer who has written for National Geographic, Outside, Scientific American, Wired, and other national publications. He has discussed bananas on NPR's Fresh Air and Science Friday.
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World

by Koeppel, Dan

  • Used
Condition
UsedVeryGood There are handwriting on the inside front cover. May have been personalized.
ISBN 13
9780452290082
ISBN 10
0452290082
Quantity Available
1
Seller
South San Francisco, California, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$2.49
$4.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedVeryGood There are handwriting on the inside front cover. May have been personalized. .
Item Price
$2.49
$4.99 shipping to USA
Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World

by Koeppel, Dan

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9780452290082
ISBN 10
0452290082
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Frederick, Maryland, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$5.99
$3.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Plume. Used - Very Good. Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner’s name, short gifter’s inscription or light stamp.
Item Price
$5.99
$3.99 shipping to USA
Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World

by Dan Koeppel

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used: Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780452290082
ISBN 10
0452290082
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$8.40
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Plume, 2008-12-30. Paperback. Used: Good.
Item Price
$8.40
FREE shipping to USA
Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World

Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World

by Koeppel, Dan

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780452290082
ISBN 10
0452290082
Quantity Available
1
Seller
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$12.55
$10.80 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Paperback. Good.
Item Price
$12.55
$10.80 shipping to USA
Banana : The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Banana : The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World

by Koeppel, Dan

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9780452290082
ISBN 10
0452290082
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$10.43
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
$10.43
FREE shipping to USA
Banana : The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Banana : The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World

by Koeppel, Dan

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780452290082
ISBN 10
0452290082
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$10.43
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
$10.43
FREE shipping to USA
Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World

by Koeppel, Dan

  • New
Condition
New
ISBN 13
9780452290082
ISBN 10
0452290082
Quantity Available
5
Seller
Benton Harbor, Michigan, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$10.62
$3.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Plume. New. BRAND NEW, GIFT QUALITY! NOT OVERSTOCKS OR MARKED UP REMAINDERS! DIRECT FROM THE PUBLISHER!
Item Price
$10.62
$3.99 shipping to USA
Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World

by Koeppel, Dan

  • New
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780452290082
ISBN 10
0452290082
Quantity Available
777
Seller
Fairfax Station, Virginia, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$11.76
$3.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Plume, 2008-12-30. Paperback. New.
Item Price
$11.76
$3.99 shipping to USA
Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World

by Koeppel, Dan

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Like New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780452290082
ISBN 10
0452290082
Quantity Available
777
Seller
Fairfax Station, Virginia, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 2 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$14.94
$3.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Plume, 2008-12-30. Paperback. Like New.
Item Price
$14.94
$3.99 shipping to USA
Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World

Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World

by Koeppel, Dan (Author)

  • New
  • Paperback
Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780452290082
ISBN 10
0452290082
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$19.34
$12.60 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Plume, 2008. Paperback. New. reprint edition. 304 pages. 8.00x5.50x0.75 inches.
Item Price
$19.34
$12.60 shipping to USA