Tuesday, June 18, 2013

DRINK-A SOCIAL HISTORY OF AMERICA by Andrew Barr

Finished Fr 6/7/13 (This was the night before 'The Pineaire Cleanup' when I flew to Sun City with Janny and Joe)

The book is a fascinating examination of the role that alcoholic beverages have played in the social, cultural, and political history of America. It's an amazing array of facts that, at times, is almost overwhelming, but I guarantee that anyone who picks up this book will find something about the subject that they did not know. I was surprised to find that plain water, especially cold water, was thought to be hazardous, and alcohol was believed to be a much healthier beverage for everyone, including children. And, I really can't believe that even today, many counties and municipalities have such severe regulations and restrictions concerning a legal product.
The book is so chock full of data that you can skim it or study it, and still enjoy an absolutely delightful reading experience. 

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