What if the most influential substance in human history is sitting on your dinner table? Before oil, before even gold, the quest for salt drove economies, built cities, and decided the fate of empires. Mark Kurlansky’s Salt: A World History uncovers the epic, forgotten story of how this essential crystal dictated the rise and fall of nations, fueled exploration, and fundamentally shaped society. Prepare to see the world—and your food—in an entirely new light.