Standage's "History of the World in 6 Glasses", like his "Edible History of Humanity," provides an interesting view into history from a vantage point that is at once novel yet familiar to all of us. It's full of gee-whiz facts about the development of various drinks and how they both influenced and reflected their times.

Standage's style is clear and enjoyable. ( )

This pleasant-enough little ditty takes a look at the origins of six drinks that have prominently played a role in various world civilizations over time. Three contain alcohol: beer, wine, and spirits, while three contain caffeine: coffee, tea, and Coca-Cola. The widespread consumption of these drinks generally overlaps with major paradigm shifts in civilizations: shifting to agrarian societies in ancient Middle East, the dominance of the Greek and Roman empires, expansion of global European exploration and trade, the clarity of Enlightenment and Revolutionary thinking, the military dominance of the British Empire, and influence of American consumerism. The book ends with some general thoughts on the current and future importance of water as a drink and scarce resource and suggests that perhaps we have come full circle.

The book serves to bring together in a general way the origins of these drinks and some of the main contemporary events through world history. Its main utility in doing so, I feel, is to provide fodder for fun factoids to foist upon friends at cocktail parties. The chapters are short and a bit choppy, but generally end with a tidy tidbit that is easily remembered and brought out on short notice for pub trivia. It’s as if the reader is on tour with an alcoholic and ADD-addled guide: the flow is fairly quick, each chapter is eager to end, and before you know it you’ve traveled two centuries and halfway across the world.

I didn’t think this book was as well or thoroughly researched as it could have been. There’s very little (if anything) new brought to light regarding world history or even the drinks and remains on well-trod turf throughout, though it does provide a decent synthesis. The depth is only far enough to provide a few interesting factoids about each drink rather than to pursue detail on any of them in particular. This makes the book a fairly light and easy read, but can leave the reader with many questions. No references, end notes, or foot notes were used in the text itself, and the bibliography is fairly slim. A few statements seemed off to me, many appeared to be unsupported or overstated, and I questioned a few as to how he or anyone could possibly claim to know.

I’ll give it three stars for the solidity of its mediocrity, and recommend it to anyone who wants to know just enough to sound mildly impressive while mildly inebriated.

Cheers! L’Chaim! Salud! ( )

It's the story of how certain beverages affected history, covering each one at the time of its greatest historical impact. I found this to be a good way to learn when certain drinks were developed (I knew nothing about how spirits came forth until this book), and the results in civilization. The glasses in question were of beer, wine, spirits (esp rum), coffee, tea and Coca Cola. It held my interest until the cola chapter, but that could be because it's too recent to hold any fascination for me. ( )

I don't normally read non-fiction, but the blurb on the back cover caught my eye, and I did not regret picking it up. I devoured it! Fascinating and entertaining topic! ( )

Quick and easy read on the history of beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea & Coca-Cola. WHile neither drink is covered in great detail, he does provide recommended readings for those who want to delve deeper. ( )