Alcohol: The World's Favorite Drug Book

In every part of this great metropolis, whoever shall pass along the streets, will find wretchedness stretched upon the pavement, insensible and motionless.No, this is not a scene after closing time in an English town today, although it could well be. It comes from a House of Lords debate on the social dangers of alcohol in 1743. Such historical map-drawing forms the robust skeleton of Alcohol: the Ambiguous Molecule, Griffith Edwards' superb and riveting survey. Alcohol is a compelling subject for such a survey for at least two reasons: first, because there is a critical mass of historical and scientific material that remains inaccessible to the lay reader; second, because booze seems to be so naturalized in British culture that, whilst we make shake our heads at scenes of drunken football hooligans, we actually know very little about our chemical companion. What really impresses is how much Edwards fits into a compact volume. He gathers together the streams of alcohol running through our culture and our bodies and assesses their effects in elegant and clear prose. Along the way, he explores the meanings of alcohol reflected through our religious and lay rituals and the bawdy coupling of Britannia and beer, as well as investigating the alchemy of alcohol that allegedly turns us into our real selves "only more so". He also unpacks the chemistry of our metaphors of the social lubricator, the poison, and the hair of the dog. And for those in need of pub conversation, the vivid descriptions of the different effects of alcohol in different cultures will startle and disturb your fellow drinkers. Whether you are an abstainer, social drinker, or concerned about the effects of drinking on your health, your relationships, and your society, this is a measure of alcohol that can make you feel even clearer headed in the morning. --Christine ButteryRead More