Barbecue: The (Unwritten) Lore of the Land, by John Willoughby and Chris Schlesinger, May 18, 1994

"Barbecuing consists of placing a large, tough cut of meat like beef brisket or pork shoulder in an enclosed space and allowing it to cook indirectly by the smoke from a hardwood fire. The temperature is kept below the boiling point (212 degrees), and the very slow cooking process causes the meat's stringy connective tissues to dissolve into gelatin. This process transforms the tough meat into a tender, smoke-filled treat. In other words, while grilling is quick and hot, barbecue is slow and low."