A History of the World in 6 Glasses
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A History of the World in 6 Glasses
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Narrated by:
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Sean Runnette
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Written by:
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Tom Standage
About this listen
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 TantorWhat the critics say
What listeners say about A History of the World in 6 Glasses
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kallivis
- 2022-08-12
Informative if a little scattered
informative until the second to last chapter where you get a lecture about water.
That second to last chapter made me feel like I was in school again but not in a good way.
It was a little unfocused but delves into each topic reasonably.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Iphigenia Rose
- 2022-01-29
Entertaining
This is a really fun book to listen to. Lots of interesting information. It does a great job weaving historical timelines with each beverage. I learned a lot from listening.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Oksana
- 2018-06-06
like it
Love it after reading "Sapiens" this book complete history of humanity with new details. would recommend
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2019-04-20
Good for car trips
When I travel long distance by car with my husband we like to share the experience of a good documentary story. This was quite good, covering the mainstays of common beverages: beer, wine, coffee, tea, cola and water. I found the histories as engaging and enjoyable as the drinks themselves.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- NePatsGirl
- 2024-07-06
Highly recommend
Just finished this book - highly recommend. Then the tv show came out. Listen to the book before you watch the show. Essentially the history of the world through drink - learned a lot of interesting things
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2018-09-20
Great book!
This was smart, entertaining and engaging. An interesting walk through history! I'm glad I read it. # Audible1
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Josh Ruberg
- 2020-12-28
Very Well-Written/Performed
First, it should not be "history of the world", more like "history of the West" at best. Still, very entertaining and it was quite a bit in that I realized I hadn't noticed the performance (I'm usually very picky), the narrator is just that smooth and enjoyable to listen to. Always wonderful when a book talks about tea which is a deep passion of mine.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bel
- 2019-01-24
Liquor and more
Wow, what a fascinating book!
Brilliantly researched and expertly narrated. I learnt so many fascinating things.
I recommend this to everybody who is even just remotely interested in the history of their favourite beverages, and it is a must read for everybody who is interested in history! I'm so glad I picked this up when I did, even though I took my time listening to it.
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