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Grub

Why We Eat, Why It Matters, and the Seven Forces That Shape Our Food

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Pub Date 30 Jun 2026 | Archive Date 25 May 2026

Globe Pequot | Prometheus Books


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Description

We eat multiple times a day, yet most of us have no idea what food actually is, where it comes from, or what forces will shape our meals in the future.

What is food? Why do we eat what we eat? And what kind of food will nourish us in the future? Grub: Why We Eat, Why it Matters, and the Seven Forces that Shape our Food is a deep dive into the cultural and scientific influences that shape our food, probing the past, present, and future of what, how, and why we eat. Told from an industry insider’s perspective, Grub explores the science, history, and technologies that have defined our relationship with food. With the lived experience building an insect protein start-up as a backdrop, this book dives deep into the real nature of food, thoughtfully examining what it really is and how food connects people and life on Earth. Grub unearths the roots of the modern food industry and the innovations that are changing how we’ll eat and understand food in the future.
We eat multiple times a day, yet most of us have no idea what food actually is, where it comes from, or what forces will shape our meals in the future.

What is food? Why do we eat what we eat? And...

Advance Praise

“At a time when debates about food are too often driven by underinformed personalities and opinions, Lee Cadesky brings us back to the facts. Part Margaret Visser and part Ms. Frizzle, she’s a lively guide through the history of food innovation—and a voice who just might help us embrace change with more clarity and less confusion.”

~Dana McCauley, CEO, Canadian Food Innovation Network, chef, and author of Noodles Express, Pantry Raid, and Last Dinner on the Titanic

“I thought I understood food—after all, I’ve been eating it my whole life. Then I read Grub and realized I knew little more than a handful of buzzwords like carbs and protein. Lee Cadesky peels back the science in a way that’s smart, funny, and way more satisfying than whatever your algorithm is cooking up. If you actually want to know what you’re eating, start here.”

~Jacob Samuel, Juno Award-winning comedian, cartoonist, and author of Slinky Hell

“With a background in biochemistry and years spent pioneering alternative proteins, Lee combines serious science with a gift for fun and compelling storytelling. In Grub, Lee brings together research, history, and personal experience to uncover the forces that shape what we eat and imagine the future of food in ways that are both thought provoking and full of possibility. A great read, incredibly engaging.”

~Jonny Bingham, chef and founder at Bingham and Jones

“Lee Cadesky brings us a tour de force study of the world of food, thoroughly unearthing some of its most majestic, mystifying aspects through the lens of science, culture, psychology, and society. In this fascinating work, Lee poses the question: What exactly is food?’ and follows through with her own philosophical insights drawn from personal and professional experience. Grub is a much-needed work of inquiry and knowledge in today’s vast compendium of food as we forge ahead into the future through uncharted territory to rediscover what truly is food.”

~Bryan Le Quoc, PhD, founder and CEO at Mendocino Food Consulting and author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered

“If you’ve ever wondered what food really is, this book will change how you see every bite. Grub connects the dots between biology, culture, and technology with curiosity, humor, and heart. Lee Cadesky brings the thinking we all need to tackle the biggest question of all: how to feed ourselves—and why it matters.”

~Christine Gould, founder and CEO of Thought for Food and author of The Changemaker’s Guide to Feeding the Planet

Grub is a sharp, heartfelt exploration of how history, science, and cuisine shape what we eat today and will in the future. Lee Cadesky brings real passion and clarity to the page, revealing the stories behind our food and why they matter more than ever.”

~Moira Murray, chef and Top Chef Canada finalist

“My entire life has been connected to food as an industry. I have lived the realities and emotions of sustenance, nutrition, culture, connection, and economic well-being, and there is no topic more impassioned than food. In Grub, Lee Cadesky captures all dimensions of this and applies the lens of history, science, and innovation to bring it all together. It is a wonderful read for those interested in the long arc of this most important topic in our existence.”

~Michael McCain, executive chair and former CEO of Maple Leaf Foods

“At a time when debates about food are too often driven by underinformed personalities and opinions, Lee Cadesky brings us back to the facts. Part Margaret Visser and part Ms. Frizzle, she’s a lively...


Marketing Plan

National Media: Pitch to all the national TV talk shows (CBS This Morning, NBC Today, ABC Good Morning America, ABC's The View, ABC's Live w/Kelly & Mark, CBS's Drew Barrymore Show, Kelly Clarkson Show).

The author's wide-ranging depth of knowledge on all things food science-related is such that we can pitch her on the strength of that expertise to:

Health / Science / Food editors across a variety of media outlets (newspapers / magazines / radio talk shows / podcasts / websites / blogs / social media influencers) in both the US and Canada.

Alternative health practitioners (both for publicity coverage but also for “special sales” opportunities at medical offices – to be coordinated through Simon & Schuster's sales reps in this area).

NewsMax (and/or its other affiliated and more niche-oriented site, HealthMax) - strong audience and market share across North America, 4.6M viewers/readers

National Media: Pitch to all the national TV talk shows (CBS This Morning, NBC Today, ABC Good Morning America, ABC's The View, ABC's Live w/Kelly & Mark, CBS's Drew Barrymore Show, Kelly Clarkson...


Available Editions

EDITION Hardcover
ISBN 9781493093359
PRICE $29.95 (USD)
PAGES 256

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