When he sought out various local 'boutique' candy makers and visited their production lines to see, smell and taste first-hand their creations, I wanted to call him up and BEG him to take me along on a return visit. When he was describing the black market that developed as the demand for pop rocks exploded beyond the suppliers' ability to supply them, I was engaged. When he was listing the favorite candies and trinkets of his childhood, I was right there. It was rather difficult to believe that a book about candy could keep me entertained for hours since, even though I do enjoy my sweets, I would definitely not classify myself anywhere in the realm of Steve Almond, Candy freak, but this one did - for the MOST part. This was like a romp down memory lane as the author reminisced about Pop Rocks, Lick-a-Sticks and discovering the joys of Goo-Goo Clusters, a southern specialty that my Mississippi-born mother-in-law used to purchase by the case. I have to start by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed most of this book. But, if you are a passive fan of candy or even an emotional overeater that needs to confront candy issues, this book might help you to understand how candy lures you in, time and time again. If you are on a strict diet or diabetic and are trying to avoid just this type of thing, then skip this book. The only cautions I have for this book are that some groups of people are going to be more sensitive to the material because this guy really made me want to eat candy while listening to the book.

The reader is easy to listen to and has better verbal inflection than your average reader. He has considered it so much that he is credible to write a book on the matter which covers a breadth of issues here are my favorites: globalization of candy-producing markets, why he uses candy as an emotional crutch, and what to do when your favorite confection gets pulled off the market.

I've never heard anyone verbally describe candy with such lust and consideration this guy thinks about candy more than once an hour.

Candyfreak by steve almond