The Thinking Drinker's Guide to Alcohol: A Cocktail of Amusing Anecdotes and Opinion on the Art of Imbibing

by Ben McFarland, Tom Sandham

Overview

Inspired by its successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Thinking Drinkers Guide to Alcohol presents a dryly humorous cultural history of liquor for those who long to drink less—but drink better. Written by two of the UKs top drinks journalists, it celebrates alcohols influence on life, love, literature, and learning. The amusing alternative and intellectual guide spans the ages from Ancient Egypt to the gin-drenched debauchery of eighteenth-century London to absinthe-induced French impressionist art and beyond. Here you will learn how drink has oiled the wheels of civilization and invigorated the minds of historys greatest figures.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454915492
Publisher:	Union Square & Co.
Publication date:	11/04/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	24 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Ben McFarland has been named “British Beer Writer of the Year” three times. He is the author of two award-winning books on beer, Good Beer Guide West Coast USA (cowritten with Tom Sandham; CAMRA Books) and Worlds Best Beers: 1000 Unmissable Brews from Portland to Prague (Jacqui Small LLP), as well as the forthcoming Boutique Beer (Barrons Educational Series). In addition to being the pubs and bars reviewer for Time Out London, Ben also writes about beer and spirits for numerous magazines and national newspapers.  Tom Sandham is an award-winning drinks writer and frequent contributor to a host of magazines and newspapers, including Esquire, The Spectator, Independent, Observer, and Jamie Olivers Jamie Magazine. He is also a cocktail blogger for the Times online, the editor of The Worlds Top 50 Bars, and coauthor of the award-winning Good Beer Guide West Coast USA (CAMRA Books) and WKD Good Kebab Guide (Bray Leino). Tom has appeared on radio and television, hosted industry awards ceremonies, and consulted for the leading spirits companies

Editorial Reviews

02/15/2015
Broadly encompassing a survey of alcoholic beverages from beer and wine to spirits, this title, cowritten by McFarland, author of the excellent Boutique Beer, and Sandham (World's Best Cocktails) is occasionally funny but shallow. Information is presented in readily digestible one- to two-page spreads, including superb but limited purchase recommendations and cocktail recipes. The authors frame alcohol within historic and modern cultural contexts (politics, literature, film, celebrity) but devote too much attention to an odd mix of so-called legends and distinguished drinkers (William of Orange, Jesus Christ, two pages of Thinking Drinking Cowboys with a small blurb on Lively Ladies). The writing has a British laddish tone that may be attractive to only a narrow cross-section of readers. VERDICT Though some will appreciate the breeziness and humor, readers would do better with in-depth guides to specific alcoholic beverages. Optional.—Peter Hepburn, Coll. of the Canyons Lib., Santa Clarita, CA

Library Journal