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When AccountingWEB does a book review, we attempt to give you some solid reasoning you can use to make a decision to pick up the reviewed book - or not. We're not in the business of being ambiguous or literary for the sake of being literary. Like AccountingWEB itself, our goal is to give you information you can use - without a lot of frills. Before you read this review, you may want to grab a beverage. Cheers.

Did you know that the workers who built the pyramids in Egypt were paid in beer? Me neither. Something tells me I will have to use that little bit of knowledge while enjoying my next cold brew. Facts such as this permeate A History of the World in 6 Glasses. The web this book weaves, however, is about far more than dazzling trivia or useful facts.

Author Tom Standage does a remarkable job of tying the development of civilizations and communities to the creation, acceptance and use of what he deems to be history's central beverages: beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea and cola. How each of these beverage categories helped develop the world's various cultures, as use of currency; as customs central to social, commercial and political life; for their medicinal qualities; and regarding religious significance, is quite interesting.

Anyone interested in history will enjoy this book. Historical perspectives on the lack of safe water, how coffeehouses began and the role they have played throughout time, and information on the early systems of alcohol taxes pepper Standage's work with thought-provoking analysis. If you are not a history buff, you may find the aspects relating to globalization worthy of the time and energy expended with A History of the World in 6 Glasses.

Written by Rob Nance, Publisher AccountingWEB, Inc.
publisher@accountingweb.com

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