A remarkable book I read a few years ago is  “Cod: A Biography of the Fish Than Changed The World”  by Mark Kurlansky    From the point of the familiar cod being an important commodity popular world wide, the study of this fish and its exploitation is woven through with history, international wars, national diets, economies, maritime exploration and continental discovery, folklore, livelihoods, linguistics and general health.  I think Kurlansky must also be something of a foodie (one of his other rivetting books is “Salt” ) as in addition this book also contains recipes and uses for all kinds of cod. When you’ve read “Cod” I strongly recommend reading “Salt”