Alcoholica Esoterica: The Culture of Drinking

[Allen]

I heard a story regarding this book yeterday on NPR's Morning Edition. It seemed like an interesting source regarding the history of drink and drinking.

Does anyone have a comment on this book?

[eje]

I'm about half way through and finding it entertaining.

It's a funny, lightheared, and irreverent, read. Mostly about alcohol history and culture. If you're looking for recipes, it has none (so far).

Lots of alcohol related quotes from literature and many famous alcoh... Errr... DRINKERS. Yeah, "drinkers," that's the word.

Short biographies and several quotes for especially noteworthy imbibers like Humphrey Bogart, Winston Churchill, and W.C. Fields.

I find the historical notes about the different sorts of alcohol entertaining and informative, though, as the author states in the introduction, he is no historian.

I wouldn't base a thesis around it; but, if you are looking for an entertaining and conversation starting book about booze and its history around the world, you could do a lot worse.

[DrinkBoy]

Definately a fun little book. Not "totally" accurate, but he did appear to do his research, even though he doesn't provide any footnotes or references.

-Robert