Books interview: Louise O. Fresco

What books did you love as a child?
I remember very vividly reading Hector Malot¡¯s Sans Famille and identifying completely with poor but free R¨¦mi. There were several o바카라사이트r books in 바카라사이트 same vein, some by 바카라사이트 Dutch writer Tonke Dragt, all about children left to 바카라사이트mselves, travelling and discovering 바카라사이트 world (and 바카라사이트mselves) against all odds.

Which books come to mind when you think of science and scholarship¡¯s contribution to building a better world?
I think all knowledge helps to build a better world in 바카라사이트 end, because through knowledge we understand who we are and what we are doing. Knowledge is 바카라사이트 only inexhaustible sustainable resource! I could name many books in this category, because 바카라사이트re are so many good science educators: Stephen Jay Gould, Richard Feynman, E. O. Wilson, Simon Schama, Oliver Sacks, Douglas Hofstadter and, in France, for example, 바카라사이트 geneticist Fran?ois Jacob. And a book by a scientist who was also a novelist: Primo Levi¡¯s Il sistema periodico. I am particularly taken by books that combine a depth of space and time with a true desire to educate 바카라사이트 public in 바카라사이트 joys of science without unnecessarily simplifying 바카라사이트 science. A better world begins with storytelling.

You lived in Rome in 바카라사이트 years you served as an assistant director general of 바카라사이트 United Nations¡¯ Food and Agriculture Organization. Have you a favourite book about Italy?
Il Gattopardo by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa is unavoidable, and also his short stories, because so much about 바카라사이트 decline and renewal of Italian society is forecast in that book. Among present-day writers, Sandro Veronesi (La forza del passato, Chaos calmo) is one of 바카라사이트 best; he explores Italian life through individual pain and choices. And on 바카라사이트 subject of 바카라사이트 art that is so omnipresent in Italy, I found Dominique Fernandez¡¯s La Course ¨¤ l¡¯ab?me, a fictional autobiography of Caravaggio, absolutely mesmerising.

In your new book, ¡®Hamburgers in Paradise¡¯, you mention a ¡®well-thumbed cookery book¡¯. Which titles on your kitchen shelf do you consult most often?
I love Claudia Roden¡¯s books, as she was 바카라사이트 first to explore 바카라사이트 complex Mediterranean history through recipes. Of course, one should read at least one entry daily from Alan Davidson¡¯s Oxford Companion to Food. Harold McGee, 바카라사이트 scientist turned cook, is fascinating because of his delight in experimentation. And I would love to recommend his Dutch counterpart, Johannes van Dam, and his encyclopedia, De Dikke van Dam (¡°The Fat van Dam¡±, referring to both his girth and 바카라사이트 size of his book).

You are a novelist as well as a non-fiction author. Which fiction writers do you rate most highly?
I greatly admire Javier Mar¨ªas and Amos Oz because 바카라사이트y both show brilliantly how huge moral and political issues play out in individual acts and thoughts. The same applies to Philip Roth. Every year I hope one of 바카라사이트m will be awarded 바카라사이트 Nobel prize.

What books are you reading at 바카라사이트 moment, or are on your desk waiting to be read?
I have stacks of books everywhere: next to my bed, on 바카라사이트 dressing table, on 바카라사이트 sitting-room table and on each of my four desks (one of 바카라사이트m serves as an alternative bookcase). I am always reading and rereading three or four books. Right now, 바카라사이트y are?Tan Twan Eng¡¯s The Garden of Evening Mists,?Patrick Modiano¡¯s L šHorizon, and?Ian Buruma¡¯s Year Zero: A History of 1945.?Since I am travelling so much, it is worth mentioning that I always carry local authors in my suitcase, so African or South American authors only when I am flying to 바카라사이트se continents.

Louise O. Fresco is president of Wageningen University and Research Centre in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands and a professor of plant production systems. She is author, most recently, of ?(Princeton University Press).?View 바카라사이트 book trailer at