Barbecue: A History examines barbecue's history and place in American society using both historical and contemporary sources. The book examines all aspects of barbecue:

Outdoor grilling and traditional slow cooking

Restaurant and home cooking

International forms of barbecue

The specific foods involved in a barbecue

The concept of the barbecue as a gathering

Historical and contemporary recipes for main and side dishes

Readers are treated here to a delightful and thorough history of barbecue, including its appearance in music, television, and film, and a consideration of how we think of and enjoy barbecue today.