September 13

A History of the World in 6 Glasses 

In this book, Tom Standage tells a popular history of the world through six beverages: beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea and Coca Cola. A thoroughly enjoyable read, the book is full of those kinds of anecdotes and stories that help students to enjoy and remember history. Better still is the book's ability to provide a possible narrative of world history. The book is organized chronologically, allowing each beverage to tell the story of a period through local stories, global processes, and connections. Along the way, the reader can make comparisons amongst these drinks as to which have been seen as medicinal drinks, currency, social equators, revolutionary substances, status indicators, and nutritional supplements. In studying drinks, as with food, class and social structure are emphasized allowing a social historical perspective.