Uncommon Grounds The History Of Coffee And How It Transformed Our World (Paperback)
Amazon.com Review
Since its discovery in an Ethiopian rainforest centuries ago, coffee has brewed up a rich and troubled history, according to Uncommon Grounds, a sweeping book by business writer Mark Pendergrast. Over the years, the beverage has fomented revolution, spurred deforestation, enriched a few while impoverishing the many, and addicted millions with its psychoactive caffeine. Coffee is now the world’s second most valuable legal commodity, behind oil, according to Pendergrast, who is also author of For God, Country, and Coca-Cola. “A good cup of coffee can turn the worst day tolerable, can provide an all-important moment of contemplation, can rekindle a romance,” he writes. “And yet, poetic as its taste may be, coffee’s history is rife with controversy and politics.” For example, coffee bankrolled Idi Amin’s genocidal regime in Uganda and the Sandinistas’ revolution in Nicaragua. Uncommon Grounds provides some fascinating tidbits. Did you know (more…)
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10 Comments »
June 11th, 2009 at 4:51 am
2.0 out of 5 stars
a poorly written and tedious disappointment
I was excited when I ordered this book: an analysis of a major crop like coffee and how it has deeply influenced civilization is a fascinating premise.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:52 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Read
Although this book is now a few years old, it is still quite excellent -we are still living in the Starbucks era (which the book completely covers), started underground by Peet’s…
June 11th, 2009 at 11:50 am
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, if a little ponderous at times
Given that I wanted some background on the coffee industry, this was a great introduction. It provided details of the origins of coffee and how the major players have been formed…
June 11th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thanks Mr. Pendergrast!
This is such an informative and detailed history that it must take it’s place as one of the most important books on coffee.
June 11th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Facinating history of my favourite drink!
From the early beginnings of coffee’s discovery to the maturation of the specialty coffee revolution in 1999 it’s all here.
June 11th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
“Let’s have another cup of coffee . . . ”
Resting next to your mouse or keyboard – at a safe distance! – your cuppa steams aromatically. The morning coffee, whether at home or work, is the “kick-starter” of many a…
June 11th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great read for history and coffee junkies
I am an admitted Starbucks addict and History Channel junkie. Both of those traits made this book a total blast to read.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:15 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
now it is 3 degrees of separation not 6
Everything we do, everything we buy has an impact far around the world. This is an excellent study of these links through an in depth review of the coffee industry.
June 12th, 2009 at 5:13 am
2.0 out of 5 stars
Like Instant Coffee – Dry and Flavorless
The subtitle of this book is: The History of Coffee and How it Transformed Our World. I thought I was getting into a book about the role of coffee in the waves and trends of…
June 12th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Decent book
This book is about coffee. Obvious, right? Yet, it is also about the larger world out there. Our kind author isn’t just using coffee as a metaphor, but instead uses Coffee as…