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.