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)

A very enjoyable listen

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

The first 2 parts on beer and wine are very informative and entertaining. The part on coffee and tea have also provided valuable insight on the development of modern industrial society. Very light, enjoyable and thought-provoking.

fun

"When you next raise some beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, or Coca Cola to your lips, think about how it reached you -- across space and time. And remember that it contains more than mere alcohol or caffeine; there is history, too, amid its swirling depths." Coffee is for geniuses, tea will cure every possible ill (but wreak havoc on international relations), and Coke is simulacra. This book's fascinating and fun (and not as cheesy as its conclusion; but mmmm, cheese). It's intriguing to consider politics, economics, technology, and social development through focus on a single (category of) artifact. I enjoyed the audio version.

An Entertaining Look at World History

Would you consider the audio edition of A History of the World in 6 Glasses to be better than the print version?

Haven't looked at the print version. Like the freedom listening and being free to do other things.

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

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Any additional comments?

Not what I would consider an

Engaging and informative

A succinct history of the world. Definitely will listen to this book again. Performance was level: good inflection without being overly dramatic.

Fun history book

Historical periods described from the perspective of how alcohols and caffeinated beverages affected them. Interesting read. I may get a hardcover edition to keep after listening to the audiobook.

needed for a class

was part of good history I did not know. was a good listen and clear.

This Brief Overview Left Me Thirsty For More

Tom Standage describes key points and aspects in our shared human history in relation to 6 types of drinks: beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola. This is for every foodie who wants to know a bit more about their favorite drinks' history and how it spread through commerce and culture around the globe. The tagline of this book's description is, "You may never look at your favorite drink the same way again", which sums up this book's wake pretty well.

I read this with my husband, and we were both surprised "spirits" with all its diverse types and forms were condensed into one chapter. Human History is a gigantic topic to tackle, and each of these chapters could easily get their own book. There are many books out there about different beverages. Standage's historical perspective provides insight not possible through strictly gastronomical publications. His comparisons across drinks, even between alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, offers a holistic and widespread approach to grappling history.

This is certainly thought provoking and I'm glad to have read it. I appreciate my beverages more having taken a glance at where they've been. I look forward to learning more! The Epilogue discussing the importance of water as a scarce resource, including advocating for better management of and access to safe drinking water, is a welcomed surprise.

Unique View of History

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

I love history and this book made me view world events in a totally different light. The scholarship is solid with the numbers to back up the statements.

The Single Most Informative Book I've "Read"

I love how Standage included humanizing stories about the people of the time. This book really worked for me because I learn much better using little stories than by grand descriptions of the past. I found the narrator nice to listen to too. I have been and will continue to recommend this book to everyone who will listen.

A wonderful light-hearted listen

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

Obviously not serious, academic history, but a light-hearted and entertaining tale told in such a fashion as to make you rather pleased that you're part of this ever-progressing march of history :)

What does Sean Runnette bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love his occasional flourishes and jaunty cheerful throw-aways that break the (necessary) monotony and bring a smile to your face while you're waiting in line at the supermarket. They're just frequent enough to enliven the story, and not so frequent that they're irritating and distracting. They perfectly complement the writing and aren't don't stick out from the rest of the narration like a sore thumb.Sean Runnette is a wonderful narrator, takes a bit of getting used to, but once you do, it's perfectly natural and almost soothing to listen to.