Bill Bryson explores the astonishing journey of corn cultivation, highlighting the improbability of transforming a slender, unimpressive plant into the robust crop we know today. This transformation perplexes many, raising questions about how ancient peoples embarked on such a daunting task and the ingenuity involved in the process.

In 1969, a conference convened at the University of Illinois aimed to clarify corn's origins, but instead of resolution, it erupted into heated debates. The discord was so intense and personal that the event ended without any conclusions coming out of it, leaving the topic shrouded in further mystery and unresolved discussions.