Milk – Matthew Evans

If you’re into deep-dive non-fiction, you’ll be jumping at the chance to read Milk, an exploration of the science, history, and politics of dairy by chef and food-critic-turned-farmer-activist Matthew Evans. The publishing team at Murdoch Books were kind enough to send me a copy for review.

It turns out that milk is much, much more than a beverage. It’s a biological function that connects every mammal on earth, it’s a multi-billion dollar industry, it’s a political battleground, and it’s a symbolic identity marker. “From the origins of life to the froth on your coffee”, it turns out Milk is a lot less niche than you might think.

Evans is admittedly biased towards milk and the dairy industry, but he does do his due diligence in presenting alternative views. He acknowledges and gives an overview of the environmental concerns around dairy farming, animal welfare protests, and the rise of alternative plant milks. I was particularly interested in his discussion of the development of infant formula as a replacement and supplement for human breast milk (currently a $70+ billion industry).

Milk is a little uneven – some of the science can be skimmed, and I would’ve liked to see more on the politics and economics, but that’s just my personal preference. It’s an interesting read, full of ‘fun facts’ you’ll likely be sharing with your loved ones for days.

Read Milk on audiobook via Libro.fm here. (affiliate link)