Tastes of Paradise: A Social History of Spices, Stimulants, and Intoxicants

Translated from the German, this book talks about the evolution of delights such as chocolate, beer, and tobacco. Though the book frames itself as addressing the full phenomena, it feels very incomplete as it strongly focuses on England, Germany, France, and that immediate area of Europe; there is hardly anything on the Asiatic or New World sources and the original peoples. The topics are interesting, though, and there are many black and white photographs and illustrations that accompany the text.

A history of stimulants and intoxicants in Europe and America over the last two thousand years, with especial focus to the impacts of colonialism and the industrial revolution. Full of fascinating details (see my status updates for specifics). There is a great deal of sociological and psychological analysis for such a short book, and some of his conclusions seem more reasonable than others. (For instance, it seems probable that coffee was embraced by the middle class and chocolate by the upper class because each class treasures different values. But that drinking alcohol is considered more spiritual than eating, and this is somehow linked to the soul residing in blood, I just don't get.) My real criticism of this book, however, is that show more it features a large proportion of grey blobs which are purported to be reproductions of portraits, political cartoons, etc. Either put some money into your picture budget, or leave them out entirely; as it stands, the included reproductions are so smudgy that they were basically useless. show less

"A well written and informative book without being overwhelming. This isn't the most in depth book or look at these topics but it did give me some new perspectives on trade and goods, especially "addictive" goods than I had before."

Turns out this book, chosen by book club, was published several decades ago, and it has the unfootnoted, untested, personal-essay feel of those times. The discussion of Genussmittel that are stimulants vs sedatives was interesting. This guy spent years collecting old pictures and ads associated with getting high, many of which are reproduced in the book, but too blurrily to have much of an impression.

Facinating book. I learned a lot about the origins of some of our most common foods.

Kun olut tympein raskain höyryin
oli pimentänyt aivojemme valon,
lähetti taivas meille säälistä kai
tämän lääkitsevän pavun

Kahvi saapuu, tuo tervetullut terve juoma,
se vatsan parantaa, vilkastuttaa järjenjuoksua,
vahvistaa muistia, surullista lohduttaa
ja mielen elävöittää silti tekemättä meistä villiä.
(Tuntematon runoilija v. 1674)