ICE From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks--a Cool History of a Hot Commodity

Jennifer Aquino's slightly rough voice grows on the listener. Her delivery has a storyteller's style, and her pace is right for this jam-packed audiobook on the history of ice in the U.S. Author Brady shares her deep immersion into all things ice--from Popsicles to cryotherapy--in a text that works well aurally. She includes details about how ice was once harvested and stored and talks about how ice now made by machines is used for purposes that range from skating to cooling fancy drinks. A realist, she points out the environmental cost of making frozen water and thoughtfully introduces research on its potential in energy creation. She never loses sight of how dependent we Americans are on air-conditioned comfort and the delights of frozen desserts. A.D.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2023]