24 years after its publication, 500-page tome on history of salt is a huge hit

It was first published in 2002. Twenty-four years later, the 500-page essay "Salt: A World History" by American writer Mark Kurlansky is enjoying a surprising resurgence in popularity. And, as is often the case with this kind of story, social media is never far away.

It all began on July 10, 2026, when Wyatt Derman, a content creator specializing in books, shared his enthusiasm on Instagram. While he thought he was tackling the most boring subject imaginable with "Salt: A World History", he has instead just discovered “the secret history of the world.” And in front of the camera, the 28-year-old influencer doesn’t hesitate to use powerful words: “I am now unable to pass by salt without feeling the weight of human civilization.”

On Amazon, his video—viewed and shared hundreds of thousands of times—has propelled the book to the top of the culinary bestseller list. In the United States, publisher Bloomsbury was quick to respond to the buzz by announcing an anniversary edition for October. For his part, author Mark Kurlansky, delighted by this unlikely resurgence—which he had so hoped for while writing the book—has begun posting more frequently on Instagram.

When social media gets involved

A meteoric success that crossed the Atlantic to take France by storm. Independent publisher Hozoni told 20 Minutes that it had been “overwhelmed with orders” for the translation of "The Great Salt Epic: A History of the World", which is now out of print.

The spectacular rise perfectly illustrates the power of BookTok and Bookstagram—influential platforms capable of transforming a seemingly dusty history tome into a true cultural phenomenon.