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)

insightful

A look at the course of history through humanity's most important resource: water. The way we cansume water has shaped our society in surprising ways.

you will never drink the same way again

this is a rollicking tour of the liquids we put in our mouths each and every day. the history behind the drinks and their gia political significance make this a delightful read

Disappointed

This was certainly interesting, but I expected it to be presented in a more entertaining fashion. We have alcohol AND caffeine here — aren’t there any laughs?

Alcohol & Caffeine Forever!

Would you listen to A History of the World in 6 Glasses again? Why?

I would listen to this audiobook again. It is a fascinating take on the roles played by beer, wine, liquor, coffee, tea, and cola in the development of civilization, religion, politics, imperialism, colonialism, and just about any other ism you want to name.

Any additional comments?

If you like history told as a story, this is the book for you.

Fun Listen

Any additional comments?

A History of the World in 6 Glasses covers short bits of history surrounding the six most popular drinks: beer, wine, distilled spirits, coffee, tea, and coke. I found this listen incredibly fun. Standage clearly has a passion for history and it shows in his writing. This book is teeming with excitement and enthusiasm on how these drinks have impacted humankind. For example, the influence coke had on WWII or how coffee houses shaped enlightenment and commerce in England. I found myself thinking "how interesting!" quite often. If you have any interest in history, I'd say pick this one up.

An Interesting Take on Everyday Items!

What made the experience of listening to A History of the World in 6 Glasses the most enjoyable?

The narrator was very good which, of course, is key to the Audible experience.

What other book might you compare A History of the World in 6 Glasses to and why?

It's similar in the way it is presented to Bill Bryson's At Home: A Short HIstory of Private Life. Both stories take an aspect of their subject and talk about how they came about.

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

It very well could have been if time had allowed for it, but it's the kind of book that works well while driving around in the car.

Very interesting read

Excellent book packed full of fascinating statistics and little nuggets of information. The one slight criticism is that I don't believe that Coca Cola really qualifies as a drink that has changed history. Rather, it owes its spread and success to the spread of US influence. Even so, the book is well worth the read.

Informative and entertaining

A great perspective on history of the civilization with a cautious look into our likely increasingly thirsty future.

Made me want a drink--which is good!

Why is this book good? Because it caused me to memorize parts, share them with others, and reflect upon what I learned.

It's history in a bottle! Or, cask/cup/stein.

This book could have been almost twice as long and still a good read. The only part that got long to me was the greek/roman culture and wine portion--but the wine portion was my least favorite, anyways.

This book was so good, that it has caused me to read several other books written along similar lines.

The narrator was a bit slow and not quite as inflective as I like, but I got used to him quickly and was no problem.

The World Revolves Around Beverages

With the interesting premise that what people are drinking has a major influence on world history, the author makes a good case that it is true. I learned a some stuff I didn't know, got a whole new (and radically different) insight into some of the world's history turning points, and realized that like the book about the history of salt and its influence on historic events state, history does not happen in a vacuum. It is an entertaining and informative listen that is well read by Mr. Runnette. I look forward to more texts by Mr. Standage.