Date: 27 March 2022
Location: Zoom
About thirteen Happy Bookers joined in this month’s discussion of A History of the World in 6 Glasses. Five of us read the entire book, and there were a couple who made it at least part way through.
This is a nonfiction work illustrating some of the key events in world history–focusing on the important beverages of the time. The beverages discussed in order of appearance were: beer, wine, distilled spirits, coffee, tea, Coca-Cola. At the end of the book, it was claimed that pure, clean water will probably be the most important beverage of the near future.
Most of us enjoyed the book. Although there was not quite the enthusiasm we had for some of our recent fiction readings.
We seemed to have the most fun discussing grog, a mixture of rum and water, which, with the addition of lime juice, was a key element in England’s domination of the world. One scotch drinker complained that her favorite beverage didn’t get proper attention, but she was reminded that in the history of the world, scotch just didn’t make it!
Our standard question at every meeting is “How did the author treat women?” In this case the answer is not very well, or more correctly, not at all. Only a few women were actually mentioned in the book, but of course we are sure that women played an important role in the preparation and enjoyment of these beverages over the ages.
— Bob