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)

Love the history

I enjoyed this book tremendously, especially if you have some knowledge of history, analyzing history through the lens of drinks make this narration so appealing.
Great book!

Enjoyable

This was a very enjoyable book that brought several interesting curiosities in an delightful way. The book is not a deep dive in the history of the six drinks mentioned, but in a short way provides good overview of all. Perhaps the Spirit chapter was too superficial because it tried to cover from rum to whisky in more or less fifty pages.

Nevertheless, I recommend this book as a good reading that offers enjoyable knowledge.

Very fascinating

Extremely interesting take and approach to history. Loved how central these 6 drinks were so central to the history of the world.

I Read it Three Times

Highly recommended, entertaining and informative. I’ve given copies as gifts and have an appreciation for everything I drink.

Nice book

Enjoy the book as much as drinking those glasses. Learned interesting facts about those drinks and meanwhile the world around them.

One of my favorite books

This book, along with the Story of Salt, seems to have established the subgenre of a big history through the lens of a narrow product or products. I thought this was marvelous, and I plan to relisten in a car trip with others that aren't as addicted to history as I am. I believe it would have broad appeal.

I thought the narration was outstanding and I don't really understand the criticisms of it. As always, listen to a sample if you are concerned.

Very enjoyable book

I've been sharing with my husband all the neat facts I learned from.this book, like the workers who built the pyramids were paid in beer and coffee originated in Yemen and more. I enjoyed this history book very much.

Very knowledgeable and adds juicy information to each drink

Great narrative to explain the different history of each drink and I’ve listened to the entire book in less than 3 days

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.