Currywurst & Co.: Die Geschichte des Fast Food in Deutschland.

The article reviews a volume that reexamines the concept of fast food, focusing primarily on its history in Germany while tracing the origins of various fast food items globally. Contrary to common associations of fast food with modern Americanization and unhealthy diets, the book argues that fast food encompasses any food that does not require long cooking times, emphasizing consumer convenience over production. It covers a wide chronological span, from ancient food preservation methods and early street food stands to nineteenth-century factory canteens, the rise of snack vans, and the development of restaurants and supermarkets. The volume challenges conventional understandings of fast food by presenting extensive historical examples and case studies, encouraging readers to reconsider the term beyond its contemporary connotations.