Alcohol
A sweeping history of how alcohol shaped civilization, from ancient fermentation to Prohibition to modern drinking culture and its effects on the human brain.
Reading progress can be saved on this device. Account tools are available if you sign in.
Chapters
14 total- 01Chapter One - Fermented Beginnings
- 02Chapter Two - Wine, War, and Worship
- 03Chapter Three - Holy Spirits
- 04Chapter Four - Distillation Nation
- 05Chapter Five - Prohibition and the American Hangover
- 06Chapter Six - The Bud Light Century
- 07Chapter Seven - What It Actually Does to You
- 08Chapter Eight - Drunk Logic
- 09Chapter Nine - Ritual, Romance, and Regret
- 10Chapter Ten - Texts from the Void
- 11Chapter Eleven - Colleges and Kegs
- 12Chapter Twelve - Big Booze, Big Busines
- 13Chapter Thirteen - Sober Curious and the New Era
- 14Chapter Fourteen - Neat, No Ice
Edition notes and short pages
Alcohol
Alcohol
How Booze Built the World
by James Johnson
Dedication
For everyone who ever said, “Just one more.”
And meant it.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
TO EVERY ANCESTOR who let fruit rot just long enough to feel something.
To the poets, the punks, the monks, the flirts, the fighters, and the fools, this is your drink.
And to everyone who’s ever tried to quit, tried to cut back, or tried to understand their own reflection in the bottom of a glass. This one’s for you too.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JJ HAS WRITTEN about gods, governments, empires, economies, chemicals, conspiracies, and now… cocktails. His work blends history, culture, and brutal honesty with just enough humor to keep you from crying in public.
He doesn’t have all the answers, just the receipts.
And he always writes it neat, no ice.
COPYRIGHT
© 2025 JAMES JOHNSON. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise — without the prior written permission of the author, except for brief quotations used in critical articles or reviews.
This book is intended for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It is not a medical, legal, or therapeutic guide. The author is not liable for any actions taken based on the content of this book, including, but not limited to, drinking, not drinking, texting your ex, or waking up in a stranger’s hoodie.
Drink responsibly. Think even more responsibly.