Gastrophysics

The New Science of Eating

By Charles Spence | Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

About the book

The science behind a good meal: all the sounds, sights, and tastes that make us like what we're eating—and want to eat more.

Why do we consume 35 percent more food when eating with one other person, and 75 percent more when dining with three? How do we explain the fact that people who like strong coffee drink more of it under bright lighting? And why does green ketchup just not work?

The answer is gastrophysics, the new area of sensory science pioneered by Oxford professor Charles Spence. Now he's stepping out of his lab to lift the lid on the entire eating experience—how the taste, the aroma, and our overall enjoyment of food are influenced by all of our senses, as well as by our mood and expectations.

The pleasures of food lie mostly in the mind, not in the mouth. Get that straight and you can start to understand what really makes food enjoyable, stimulating, and, most important, memorable. Spence reveals in amusing detail the importance of all the “off the plate” elements of a meal: the weight of cutlery, the color of the plate, the background music, and much more. Whether we’re dining alone or at a dinner party, on a plane or in front of the TV, he reveals how to understand what we’re tasting and influence what others experience.

This is accessible science at its best, fascinating to anyone in possession of an appetite. Crammed with discoveries about our everyday sensory lives, Gastrophysics is a book guaranteed to make you look at your plate in a whole new way.

Editions of Gastrophysics

Hardcover
ISBN 9780735223462
Hardcover
ISBN 9780241270080
Paperback
ISBN 9780241270097
Paperback
ISBN 9780735223479
EBook
ISBN 9780735223486
AudioStreaming
ISBN 9781524778101
AudioStreaming
ISBN 9781524778118

Read an Excerpt

The science behind a good meal: all the sounds, sights, and tastes that make us like what we're eating—and want to eat more.

Why do we consume 35 percent more food when eating with one other person, and 75 percent more when dining with three? How do we explain the fact that people who like strong coffee drink more of it under bright lighting? And why does green ketchup just not work?

The answer is gastrophysics, the new area of sensory science pioneered by Oxford professor Charles Spence. Now he's stepping out of his lab to lift the lid on the entire eating experience—how the taste, the aroma, and our overall enjoyment of food are influenced by all of our senses, as well as by our mood and expectations.

The pleasures of food lie mostly in the mind, not in the mouth. Get that straight and you can start to understand what really makes food enjoyable, stimulating, and, most important, memorable. Spence reveals in amusing detail the importance of all the “off the plate” elements of a meal: the weight of cutlery, the color of the plate, the background music, and much more. Whether we’re dining alone or at a dinner party, on a plane or in front of the TV, he reveals how to understand what we’re tasting and influence what others experience.

This is accessible science at its best, fascinating to anyone in possession of an appetite. Crammed with discoveries about our everyday sensory lives, Gastrophysics is a book guaranteed to make you look at your plate in a whole new way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gastrophysics about?

The science behind a good meal: all the sounds, sights, and tastes that make us like what we're eating—and want to eat more.

Why do we consume 35 percent more food when eating with one other person, and 75 percent more when dining with three? How do we explain the fact that people who like strong coffee drink more of it under bright lighting? And why does green ketchup just not work?

The answer is gastrophysics, the new area of sensory science pioneered by Oxford professor Charles Spence. Now he's stepping out of his lab to lift the lid on the entire eating experience—how the taste, the aroma, and our overall enjoyment of food are influenced by all of our senses, as well as by our mood and expectations.

The pleasures of food lie mostly in the mind, not in the mouth. Get that straight and you can start to understand what really makes food enjoyable, stimulating, and, most important, memorable. Spence reveals in amusing detail the importance of all the “off the plate” elements of a meal: the weight of cutlery, the color of the plate, the background music, and much more. Whether we’re dining alone or at a dinner party, on a plane or in front of the TV, he reveals how to understand what we’re tasting and influence what others experience.

This is accessible science at its best, fascinating to anyone in possession of an appetite. Crammed with discoveries about our everyday sensory lives, Gastrophysics is a book guaranteed to make you look at your plate in a whole new way.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Gastrophysics?

Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, Industrial processes > Industrial chemistry and manufacturing technologies > Industrial chemistry and chemical engineering > Food and beverage technology

Where can I read a sample of Gastrophysics?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780735223462

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Gastrophysics?

Charles Spence

Who is the Publisher of the book Gastrophysics?

Penguin Publishing Group

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Gastrophysics is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780735223462) and hardcover(ISBN 9780241270080) and paperback(ISBN 9780241270097) and paperback(ISBN 9780735223479) and ebook(ISBN 9780735223486) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9781524778101) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9781524778118)

Where can I buy Gastrophysics online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Gastrophysics from below

Where can I buy Gastrophysics?