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Uncorking the Past: The Quest for Wine, Beer, and Other Alcoholic Beverages Paperback – Illustrated, October 30, 2009

by Patrick E. McGovern (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 62 ratings
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In a lively gastronomical tour around the world and through the millennia, Uncorking the Past tells the compelling story of humanity's ingenious, intoxicating search for booze. Following a tantalizing trail of archaeological, chemical, artistic, and textual clues, Patrick E. McGovern, the leading authority on ancient alcoholic beverages, brings us up to date on what we now know about the creation and history of alcohol, and the role of alcohol in society across cultures. Along the way, he integrates studies in food and sociology to explore a provocative hypothesis about the integral role that spirits have played in human evolution. We discover, for example, that the cereal staples of the modern world were probably domesticated in agrarian societies for their potential in fermenting large quantities of alcoholic beverages. These include the delectable rice wines of China and Japan, the corn beers of the Americas, and the millet and sorghum drinks of Africa. Humans also learned how to make mead from honey and wine from exotic fruits of all kinds: even from the sweet pulp of the cacao (chocolate) fruit in the New World. The perfect drink, it turns out-whether it be mind-altering, medicinal, a religious symbol, liquid courage, or artistic inspiration-has not only been a profound force in history, but may be fundamental to the human condition itself. This coffee table book will sate the curiosity of any armchair historian interested in the long history of food and wine.
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  1. Print length
    348 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University of California Press
  4. Publication date
    October 30, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0520267982
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0520267985
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“McGovern's delving, detailed in this fascinating book, leaves little doubt that humans are born drinkers.” ― New Scientist Published On: 2009-12-13

“(A) magnificent study, skillfully written and well illustrated.” ― Choice Published On: 2012-04-01

“Takes his reader on a world tour, examining the archeological record for alcohol use across continents and cultures.” ― Nature Published On: 2009-10-29

“Highly informative and challenging.” ― California Grapevine Published On: 2010-07-01

“In this engaging book, Patrick McGovern gives us a world tour of the origins of alcoholic beverages.” -- John Gava ― Law Society Journal Published On: 2011-11-01

"A remarkable book, both erudite and entertaining.” ― Gastronomica Published On: 2012-01-01

From the Inside Flap

"Patrick McGovern has written his masterpiece. He takes us on an engrossing, multifaceted journey through the complex relationships between human cultures and alcoholic beverages of all kinds. In doing so, he develops a new context for human history."--Brian Fagan, author of The Great Warming and Fish on Friday

"Fascinating, wide-ranging and erudite. When it comes to ancient beverages, Patrick McGovern is the dean of the subject."--Tom Standage, author of A History of the World in 6 Glasses and An Edible History of Humanity

"In Uncorking the Past, Patrick E. McGovern charts the enchantment of human beings with alcoholic beverages from their initial discoveries of fermented honey, fruits, and grains to the perfection of elaborate means for producing, storing, transporting, and consuming treasured spirits. McGovern's gaze is truly global, spanning all the continents, but it is also microscopic, penetrating to neural pathways, genes, and molecules. This is a story told with verve and passion, yet one that is endlessly entertaining and highly informative."--Victor H. Mair, co-author (with Erling Hoh) of The True History of Tea

"An eminently accessible, sweeping, and thought-provoking history of fermented alcohol."--Max Nelson, author of The Barbarian's Beverage: A History of Beer in Ancient Europe

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of California Press; First Edition (October 30, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 348 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0520267982
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0520267985
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 62 ratings

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Patrick E. McGovern

Patrick E. McGovern

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
62 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Taosmax
5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! What a great read!
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2016
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Absolutely fascinating, enthralling read! I am finding it difficult to put this book down so that I can go to work....or do just about anything else. If you have any interest in fermentation and how it has affected humanity throughout history, you're going to want to read this. The author is known as "The Indiana Jones of Ancient Fermented Beverages", and now I understand why.
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Seamus O'Boogie
5.0 out of 5 stars interesting and informative history of fermented beverages by beer lovers' favorite molecular archeologist
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2014
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Very entertaining, interesting and informative history of fermented beverages by beer lovers' favorite molecular archeologist, Dr. Patrick McGovern, who has worked with Dogfishhead in recipe recreations and was seen on Brewmasters. Great read if you are interested in archeology, brewing, fermentation in general, and the rise of civilization.
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mrthinkndrink
5.0 out of 5 stars From the big picture to the tiniest detail
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2013
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Simply an outstanding book of scholarship. McGovern is a scientist who speaks fluent vernacular, which for most of us is a blessing. This is a remarkably inclusive survey of worldwide alcoholic beverage production and consumption from the end of the last ice age through the age of the Greeks. Though much of the book deals with the beginnings and subsequent evolution of wine and beer, he touches on drinks, ceremonies and rituals involving fermentation of myriad fruits, honey and starch laden grains from South America to China to Africa. One can't help but be impressed by the widespread use of alcohol by almost every societal group on earth. The picture painted by the author is of an ancient world practically awash in mixed drinks (beer, wine, and honey mixed together being a common one) and a remarkable diversity of stand alone wine and beer styles, often infused with herbs and flavorings, many hallucinatory, to enable the priests and leaders of early societies to commune with their particular gods and goddesses. These drinks have not only been an integral part of human life for thousands of years but may well have been the impetus behind agricultural domestication, human migration and trade and the spread of dominant cultures.
For any student of the human condition, of the development of ritual and religion, of the emergence of humanity from our earliest hominid ancestors - and certainly for any thoughtful devotee of wine or beer, I highly recommend Uncorking The Past.
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analyzethis
5.0 out of 5 stars Pour yourself a glass and enjoy this book!
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2015
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Even when they clearly love their subject matter, not all authors can achieve what McGovern manages with such apparent ease: to pull you right into the story, sharing a wealth of historical and scientific knowledge in a fun and painless way.
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Ethan
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent review of the development of alcohol in human cultures around the world.
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2020
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Informing the past is a fairly comorehensive, at times rambling, yet always fascinating overview of the development of alcohol making in human society. Though newer archeology has pushed the date for the earliest alcoholic beverage production further back in than shown in this book, it remains highly relevant in it's discussion of ancient brewing techniques and the social importance of alcohol in ancient societies.
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Jason
1.0 out of 5 stars Two thumbs down
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2023
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The cover was not on the book and there’s marker highlighting throughout the book.
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Rene Ramminger
3.0 out of 5 stars Condition not as described
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2023
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fast delivery, but handwriting in the book and a stain on the side, not exactly "almost perfect condition"
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Chambolle
4.0 out of 5 stars "Our world is awash in ethanol"
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2009
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So says Patrick McGovern, and this book explains how it got that way. McGovern theorizes that organisms great and small, perhaps from the unicellular to non-human primates to humans, are hard wired to crave the products of sugar fermentation, particularly alcohol. This taste for fermented beverages has been a driving force in the evolution of human biology, agriculture, culture and religion, or so it would seem. McGovern documents this evolution through archeological findings from Europe, Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East -- anywhere and everywhere wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages have been made for many thousands of years,from grain, fruit, honey and whatever other raw material mankind could coax into creating intoxicating food and drink. We are, as McGovern has entitled his very first chapter, "Homo Imbibens."

As the book concludes, summing up the theme, "our species' intimate relationship with fermented beverages over millions of years has, in large measure, made us what we are today."

Being neither an archeologist nor a paleontologist, I found some of the copious detail presented in this book to be tough sledding. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating read and worth the effort.
29 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Dutilleul
4.0 out of 5 stars Un très bon livre
Reviewed in France on March 16, 2019
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Voilà un très bon livre sur un sujet passionnant peu débattu jusqu’à présent. On est tous alcooliques depuis tout le temps c’est vérité bien caché se dévoiler nos yeux l’alcool est pour ainsi dire à l’homme comme l’eau et le pain et la religion
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Robert Piergentili
5.0 out of 5 stars Entartaining, informative and extremely documented. For those who want to learn more about humanity's steps for development.
Reviewed in Italy on July 6, 2014
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This book is very entertaining. Very well documented. The information is given in a detailed and fluid form at same time. The author has a good sense of humour too. He gathered information scattered over many different fields and resources and compiled a one of kind document. I would suggest this book to those readers that are interested in Neolithic history and 'revolution', to those interested in social human developments throughout the centuries. To wine/beer lovers. It takes you on a trip around the globe and across several millennia following human's experiments with fermented beverages.
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andy h
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 26, 2011
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Much more than just a book about booze. The history of the universe, life on earth and, primarily,humanity and our relationship with alcohol.
A meaty academic volume, it's not a tube read.
I haven't purchased for my Kindle due to the valuable colour images.
I have given this book as a present and I rarely bother to write reviews.
I think the importance of this work should reach a wider audience.
5 people found this helpful
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William J
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read with a glass of red of course
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 5, 2017
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One to dip into at any time or civilization. Well researched.
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Pier Giovanni Merlo
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2017
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Very interesting
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