But a Facebook comment made me realize, that most people don't know these stories at all! The History Channel has featured some of them as articles on their website, but I thought, why not put together a bibliography for folks who wanted a deeper dive?
Here are some of the books by authors featured in the show, as well as a couple of others that give great context to the period. (Please note that I am an Amazon Affiliate and will receive a small commission from any books published from these links.)
The Kelloggs: The Battling Brothers of Battle Creek by Howard Markel (featured talking head).
For God, Country, and Coca-Cola by Mark Pendergrast (featured talking head).
The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars by Joël Glenn Brenner (featured talking head).
H is for Hershey by Heather Paterno (featured talking head).
Selling 'em by the Sack: White Castle and the Creation of American Food by David G. Hogan (featured talking head).
Revolution at the Table: The Transformation of the American Diet by Harvey Levenstein. Essential reading for understanding American food at the turn of the 20th century.
Swindled: The Dark History of Food Fraud, from Poisoned Candy to Counterfeit Coffee by Bee Swinson. An eye-opening look at food before regulation.
Birdseye: The Adventures of a Curious Man by Mark Kurlansky.
Hershey: Milton S. Hershey's Extraordinary Life of Wealth, Empire, and Utopian Dreams Paperback by Michael D'Antonio
American Empress: The Life and Times of Marjorie Merriweather Post by Nancy Rubin Stuart
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but I thought it would be fun to compile a few "further reading" options for those who loved the show.
Enjoy!