A really good book, the first that I've liked in the “Noun” title category.

I read it a few months ago, so of course don't remember much of the details — however, I do remember that it covered an amazing swath of knowledge, from the history of the term “red herring” to the importance of La Rochelle in France, back when how much cod you could catch and how much salt you needed to make salt cod mattered. Last tidbit I remember: something like 45% of salt usage is now due to de-icing of roads.