I just finished readin this book as textbook for a class I am taking.  It is actually pretty decent.  The authro manages to keep his political bias at bay most of the time although it shows through in places.  It is an interesting thesis and an entertaining read at least.Tom Stanage is an editor for The Economist and not a historian and it shows somewhat in the way he makes claims without proof.  There are no citations although he does provide a bibliography of sorts at the end of the text.My biggest complaint would be his occasional biased remarks.  To read this book and take everyhting at face value you would think that everythin goo that has happened in the west since the end of the Roman Empire either came from China or the Middle East.  He presents the story as though Europeans were a bunch of grubs who stole all the ideas and never came up with anything on their own that wasnt somehow bad.Still a pretty decent book and I would imagine his history of the drinks is pretty correct.  it agrees with other work I have read on the origins of these drinks.I would reccomend this book but it is definitely not a necessary read, only if you have the time and are inclined.  The edition I got was from Amazn and cost $15.95, so not too expensive for a history book.