A History of the World in 6 Glasses
Author:
Genres: Cookbooks, Food & Wine, History
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genres: Cookbooks, Food & Wine, History
Book Type: Paperback
Interesting take on how the development, use, and trade in beer, wine, distilled spirits, coffee, tea, and cola drinks have impacted human history.
Standage casts a wide net here, looking at issues as disparate as health effects on drinkers and international trade policies, social status and the industrial revolution, and medical practice and Madison Avenue. Along the way, he serves up tasty aperitifs about an 870 BCE royal feast that lasted 10 days and provided wine to its 69,000 participants; one possible reason for Islam's prohibition of wine; and how to define "boiling" when referring to water for tea.
The final section of the book, which deals specifically with Coca-Cola, is probably the weakest part. While the background history of the development of the drink is fascinating, he doesn't even nod at how the sugar demands for soft drinks have impacted both international politics and public health. He instead takes a look at the Coke/Pepsi competition as Cold War weaponry -- an unexpected turn indeed.
When you finish this book, you may not only want to offer a toast to Standage, but you will also understand just what that gesture means. Salút!
Standage casts a wide net here, looking at issues as disparate as health effects on drinkers and international trade policies, social status and the industrial revolution, and medical practice and Madison Avenue. Along the way, he serves up tasty aperitifs about an 870 BCE royal feast that lasted 10 days and provided wine to its 69,000 participants; one possible reason for Islam's prohibition of wine; and how to define "boiling" when referring to water for tea.
The final section of the book, which deals specifically with Coca-Cola, is probably the weakest part. While the background history of the development of the drink is fascinating, he doesn't even nod at how the sugar demands for soft drinks have impacted both international politics and public health. He instead takes a look at the Coke/Pepsi competition as Cold War weaponry -- an unexpected turn indeed.
When you finish this book, you may not only want to offer a toast to Standage, but you will also understand just what that gesture means. Salút!
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