There are a few key things that unite mankind, one of which is the need to eat. Whether the act itself is one of indulgence or subsistence is largely a cultural and geographic, and not just economic, issue. It's this dichotomy that forms the theme for a fascinating new addition to the food and travel book genre.

What I Eat: Around the World in 80 Diets is the work of photographer Peter Menzel and writer Faith d'Aluisio. The duo traveled to 30 countries to profile 80 vastly different people and the "food that fuels them over the course of a single day." Each profile features extreme examples of the subject's diet and caloric intake, rather than a daily average, and provides a window into world foods we might not otherwise be aware of.

The authors also note on their website, "While we have been diligent about providing cultural context and geographic relevance in each of our stories, the people profiled represent only themselves and no one person, or even five, can represent an entire country. Please use this work to further your exploration and understanding of the world."

Profiles include a Maasai herder in an extreme drought in Kenya's Great Rift Valley, a Bangladeshi seamstress, a Latvian beekeeper, a Minnesotan teen who works in a mall, a Mexican rancher, and a Tennessee man who is a candidate for obesity surgery.

You can see a slideshow of sixteen of the book's subjects on Time's website, here.

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Food and Drink, Stories, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Kenya, Bangladesh, Latvia, Mexico, United States, Books, News