Sweet and Low by Rich Cohen

Have you ever wondered about the history behind the company that made (makes) the “Sweet ‘n Low” sugar substitute? Me neither. But, this was a surprisingly interesting story about a Jewish family in Brooklyn who discovered this money-making substance and invented a way to package it. I really enjoyed the memoir portions about the Eisenstadt family and the way the author’s mother was disinherited from the Cumberland Packing Company fortune. It also touches on the history of sugar, the dieting craze in America, FDA involvement and a mafia scandal that almost put the company out of business. This was definitely an entertaining and informative bit of non-fiction. Favorite Quote: “Marvin is a man telling a joke that he himself does not get.”