A History of the World in 6 Glasses

By: Tom Standage

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Throughout human history, certain drinks have done much more than just quench thirst. As Tom Standage relates with authority and charm, six of them have had a surprisingly pervasive influence on the course of history, becoming the defining drink during a pivotal historical period.

A History of the World in 6 Glasses tells the story of humanity from the Stone Age to the 21st century through the lens of beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola. Beer was first made in the Fertile Crescent and by 3000 B.C.E. was so important to Mesopotamia and Egypt that it was used to pay wages. In ancient Greece, wine became the main export of her vast seaborne trade, helping spread Greek culture abroad. Spirits such as brandy and rum fueled the Age of Exploration, fortifying seamen on long voyages and oiling the pernicious slave trade. Although coffee originated in the Arab world, it stoked revolutionary thought in Europe during the Age of Reason, when coffeehouses became centers of intellectual exchange. And hundreds of years after the Chinese began drinking tea, it became especially popular in Britain, with far-reaching effects on British foreign policy. Finally, though carbonated drinks were invented in 18th-century Europe, they became a 20th-century phenomenon, and Coca-Cola in particular is the leading symbol of globalization.

For Tom Standage, each drink is a different kind of technology, a catalyst for advancing culture by which he demonstrates the intricate interplay of different civilizations. You may never look at your favorite beverage the same way again.

©2005 Tom Standage (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"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." ( Publishers Weekly)

Very interesting material

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The content was very interesting. What a refreshing (no pun intended!) way of looking at history!

What was one of the most memorable moments of A History of the World in 6 Glasses?

After reading this book, I was so fascinated that I watched a documentary on coffee and one on beer.

Like being stuck in a 35mph zone

This book could not keep me engaged. Not for me.

I am in the wine chapter and again we are discussing how labors were compensated with wine ... in detail. 🤦‍♂️. The beer chapter was worse. This book could be streamlined by cutting out about 25-30% off the 'deep' details. It reminds me of the old saying ..."This was a meeting that should have been an email."

very interesting!

My only complaint is the narrator pronounces "ration" like "RAY-shun" instead of "RA-shun." I don't think it's a matter of accents, in this case. Super distracting but otherwise performance is solid

FANTASTIC!

An informative and clear romp through history, by tracking six beverages. This equals the very high writing standards of THE ECONOMIST.

Relevatory

An anthropology essential which all people of the human species can be enthralled by. There were hardly any facts which I didn't know, and many have significant implications on how I will see the world going forward

Enjoyable

It was definitely a good book. not a book I would read again but it was super interesting !!!

Fun and Informative

I expected this book to be mostly composed of trivia. Instead I was pleasantly surprised with the breath of historical information it provided. I'm relatively knowledgeable of ancient history, but still most of what this book reports was new to me as nearly all historical accounts gloss over the significant impact these beverages have had in shaping their respective cultures. Thus, this book was very illuminating, well documented, and enjoyable. And the narrator's voice is engaging as well. Highly recommended!

An amazing perspective on world history

There is a brilliant insight here...the history of the world as seen through the sorts of drinks that predominate in each time; beer, wine, spirits, tea, coffee, and Coke. It is a story that is absolutely fascinating and wonderfully told.

This is just the sort of book that relaxes you - interesting, new, original, insightful....I could go on, but if you have a notion to listen to this one, just do it. You won't be disappointed.

Really Refreshing

It seemed a bit of an odd premise, to describe the World's history in terms of 6 drinks, but it worked a treat. Starting with beer, the author progresses through wine, spirits, coffee tea and coke and weaves it skillfully into the history of civilisation.

I learnt a lot. (e.g. I was surprised that beer arose so early in our history) and I was also entertained by countless anecdotes about these beverages: How the British navy was stronger and fitter than its rivals because of the serendipitous use of lime juice to flavour and preserve rum (thus preventing scurvey); how coffee houses in London evolved into institutions such as the Stock Exchange and Lloyds of London; how coke was manufactured in a transparent form and packaged like vodka in the soviet era to be acceptable to the Russian communists.

The narrator was pretty good, although he had the annoying habit of rushing the chapter titles so you didn't realise when a new one had begun. Aside from this, the book was one of my most 'listenable' downloads.

Great way to look at world history

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, The topic is fascinating- details well researched ( I think)

What aspect of Sean Runnette’s performance would you have changed?

His voice is boring ! Even if there is no dialogue in a book please modulate your voice !

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No