A review by sarahetc
The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks by Amy Stewart

4.0

Although I don't recall why I wanted to read this book, it turned out to be something entirely different than what I expected and, as such, tremendously enjoyable. Stewart does indeed talk about alcoholic drinks, but only as a vehicle to explore something like botanical archaeology. Humans have been eating, drinking, fermenting, domesticating, cultivating and experimenting on plants for thousands and thousands of years. And all of those activities tell us a lot about who we are and where we came from.

Stewart's writing is light, quick and engaging. She occasionally gets so deeply into her subject that a layperson might feel a bit out to sea. I did. But skimming those bits doesn't harm any understanding. The book flowed well and was tremendously educational in the most enjoyable way. I look forward to reading and learning more from her.