Sunday, September 5, 2010

RAVE - A History of the World in 6 Glasses, by Tom Standage

Certainly not Divine, but nonetheless unusual was the recommendation from someone who doesn't drink alcohol, doesn't like coffee, and eschews "unhealthy" drinks like Coke (yes, that's you, Amo).

This history was much better than the bulky and pretentious Guns, Germs and Steel, by Jared Diamond, and also better than anything I've read by Stephen Ambrose.

It describes how beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and Coca Cola have shaped civilizations from Egyptian times (where hieroglyphics clearly show people sipping beer through long straws, to prevent them gulping all the bits of grain and other stuff that went into their Tutankhamen Light) right up to that curse on Communism, Coke.

A great read, and ample proof that teetotallers like Amo are missing out on life ;)

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