A History of the World in 6 Glasses
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4.2 • 92 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
New York Times Bestseller * The inspiration for the TV series starring Dan Aykroyd
"There aren't many books this entertaining that also provide a cogent crash course in ancient, classical and modern history." -Los Angeles Times
Beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and Coca-Cola: In Tom Standage's deft, innovative account of world history, these six beverages turn out to be much more than just ways to quench thirst. They also represent six eras that span the course of civilization-from the adoption of agriculture, to the birth of cities, to the advent of globalization. A History of the World in 6 Glasses tells the story of humanity from the Stone Age to the twenty-first century through each epoch's signature refreshment. As Standage persuasively argues, each drink is in fact a kind of technology, advancing culture and catalyzing the intricate interplay of different societies. After reading this enlightening book, you may never look at your favorite drink in quite the same way again.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Standage starts with a bold hypothesis that each epoch, from the Stone Age to the present, has had its signature beverage and takes readers on an extraordinary trip through world history. The Economist's technology editor has the ability to connect the smallest detail to the big picture and a knack for summarizing vast concepts in a few sentences. He explains how, when humans shifted from hunting and gathering to farming, they saved surplus grain, which sometimes fermented into beer. The Greeks took grapes and made wine, later borrowed by the Romans and the Christians. Arabic scientists experimented with distillation and produced spirits, the ideal drink for long voyages of exploration. Coffee also spread quickly from Arabia to Europe, becoming the "intellectual counterpoint to the geographical expansion of the Age of Exploration." European coffee-houses, which functioned as "the Internet of the Age of Reason," facilitated scientific, financial and industrial cross-fertilization. In the British industrial revolution that followed, tea "was the lubricant that kept the factories running smoothly." Finally, the rise of American capitalism is mirrored in the history of Coca-Cola, which started as a more or less handmade medicinal drink but morphed into a mass-produced global commodity over the course of the 20th century. In and around these grand ideas, Standage tucks some wonderful tidbits on the antibacterial qualities of tea, Mecca's coffee trials in 1511, Visigoth penalties for destroying vineyards ending with a delightful appendix suggesting ways readers can sample ancient beverages. 24 b&w illus.
Customer Reviews
History of the Western World
This book should really be called “A History of the Western World in 6 Glasses” as it fails to mention the drinks of South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania, and much of Asia. There are also large gaps in storytelling, especially ,boing from wine production in the Roman Empire to the distillation of Rum in Barbados. While obviously not a true history book, and despite some issues outlines above, this is a fun and interesting lens to view world history.