Here the author of An Edible History of Humanity considers six drinks that have defined human history. Why were ancient Egyptians buried with beer—and why did the Romans see wine as a classier alternative? How did rum grog help the British navy defeat Napoleon? What is the link between coffee and revolution—or tea and economic empires? And how did Coca-Cola become synonymous with globalization decades before the term was coined? For Tom Standage, each potable is both a technological triumph and a catalyst for advancing culture, which he discusses in this fascinating book, "loaded with the kind of data that get talked about at the figurative water cooler" (NYTimes).