What determines what we eat today? Who decides what ends up on our dinner tables tomorrow? And what are the real origins of our favorite foods? Tom Hillenbrand takes readers on a fast-paced journey through the culinary history of the world—from the campfires of many thousands of years ago to the invention of corn to the hamburgers of the future. Filled with astonishing insights and surprising connections, Hillenbrand's essay is a highly entertaining and thought-provoking portrayal of what lies behind the food we consume every day.

Tom Hillenbrand is a German writer. His critically acclaimed scifi thriller "Drohnenland" deals with mass surveillance. His culinary mystery novels revolve around Xavier Kieffer, chef and accidental detective from Luxembourg. Tom's latest book "Der Kaffeedieb" recounts how the Dutch broke the Ottomans' coffee monopoly. The author lives in Munich without any cats.