Magic Bean

By Matthew Roth,

Book cover of Magic Bean: The Rise of Soy in America

Book description

At the turn of the twentieth century, soybeans grew on so little of America's land that nobody bothered to track the total. By the year 2000, they covered upward of 70 million acres, second only to corn, and had become the nation's largest cash crop. How this little-known Chinese transplant,…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Magic Bean as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Livestock eat a lot of corn and soy, and Matthew David Roth shares the detailed history of how industry fueled that rise over only a few decades.

I found the primary documents and deep research Roth cites to be illuminating. I write about how monoculture, like commodity soy, has had devastating impacts on the soil and waterways across the U.S. This book is key because it’s so important to understand how we got here.

From Chloe's list on the meat industry.

If you love Magic Bean...

Ad

Book cover of Who Is a Worthy Mother?: An Intimate History of Adoption

Who Is a Worthy Mother? By Rebecca Wellington,

I grew up thinking that being adopted didn’t matter. I was wrong. This book is my journey uncovering the significance and true history of adoption practices in America. Now, in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, the renewed debate over women’s reproductive rights places…

Want books like Magic Bean?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 98 books like Magic Bean.

Browse books like Magic Bean

Book cover of Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
Book cover of The Meat Racket: The Secret Takeover of America's Food Business
Book cover of Slow Cooked: An Unexpected Life in Food Politics

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,593

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

📚 If you like Magic Bean, you might also like...

Book cover of We Had Fun and Nobody Died: Adventures of a Milwaukee Music Promoter

We Had Fun and Nobody Died By Amy T. Waldman, Peter Jest,

This irreverent biography provides a rare window into the music industry from a promoter’s perspective. From a young age, Peter Jest was determined to make a career in live music, and despite naysayers and obstacles, he did just that, bringing national acts to his college campus atUW-Milwaukee, booking thousands of…

Book cover of Uniting the States of America: A Self-Care Plan for a Wounded Nation

Uniting the States of America By Lyle Greenfield,

We’ve all experienced the overwhelming level of political and social divisiveness in our country. This invisible “virus” of negativity is, in part, the result of the name-calling and heated rhetoric that has become commonplace among commentators and elected leaders alike. 

My book provides a clear perspective on the historical and…

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in agriculture, presidential biography, and sustainable agriculture?

Agriculture 88 books