Book Review
In his book, The Alcoholic Republic: An American Tradition, William J. Rorabaugh explores the overindulgence of alcohol by the Americans in the 18th and 19th century. The writer alleges that the period was formative in the American history. The book is a well-written chronicle that details binge drinking in the U.S., which formed part of the country’s heritage. Rorabaugh takes a bold step to examine various social factors that offer interesting answers to understand this ‘alcoholic republic’. We shall conduct a review of the book to help understand the information written by Rorabaugh, as well as, pick some points that strike the reader about the novel. Rorabaugh’s book is an interesting piece that helps one understand the culture of drinking in the US in the 18th and 19th centuries.
To begin with, the writer describes the prevalence of drinking in the US in the 19th century. Using examples, Rorabaugh explains how the habit affected the lives of most people in the country, besides shaping the cultural heritage. The choice of the topic by the author is well-thought because it reflects the issues affecting the country. Apparently, the beer industry is huge in the U.S., and it contributes billions of dollars to the economy (Rorabaugh 7). It has also helped in boosting other sectors such as the hospitality industry. However, binge drinking witnessed in the country in the 18th and 19th century had grave effects to the socio-economic sphere. He helps to understand why many people were overindulging in alcohol and the consequences to the social and economic lives of the subjects. I consider that the information contained in the book had a significant contribution towards the policies and legislations created by the government to curb irresponsible drinking. The initial chapters of the book offer information on how alcoholism influenced the lives of Americans. …show more content…
I consider that this is a critical approach to start a book. The chapters help one in understanding the history of drinking in the country, as well as, the effects on the people and society. Additionally, the first chapters discuss the volumes of alcohol consumed by the Americans at the time. The author explains that even the Founding Fathers played a role in catalyzing the habit among the citizens. Some either drank or owned a brewery (Rorabaugh 8). It is noteworthy that the Founding Fathers, despite their stature in the society, did not contribute towards inculcating healthy cultures in the society. In an interesting piece in the book, Rorabaugh alleges that the planning for the Declaration of Independence was conducted in a tavern. The claim is funny and at the same interesting to the readers and American society. In some chapters, the author appears carried away and fails to examine the intentions of the book. For instance, I do not believe that the Americans were set free when drunk as written by the author. In such statements, the author appears to say that drunk individuals had a form of autonomy. That cannot be the case as one make irrational decisions when drunk. As a matter of fact, a drunk person remains a ‘social captive’. It would have been better for the author to explain further, what he meant in such chapters and statements. Further, the author makes several assumptions in the book. One such a claim is that eligible voters sold their votes during the election period for liquor. A greater focus on the history of liquor in the US is imperative and necessary. The author explores how businesspeople used their trade to exploit communal drinking. Alcohol trade was catalyzed by the high demand among the Native Americans. It was also among the consumer products that could help people engage in batter trade for items such as fur. Alcohol trade had resultant effects on business, including supply and demand for certain consumer products (Osborn 29). Another interesting aspect given by the author was that the Americans consumed alcohol in pursuit of happiness (Rorabaugh 125). We recognize that it was at the same period when the country attained independence from Britain. The author observes that the American citizens became overjoyed to a point they never exercised caution. People would engage in the habits either in solitary or communal modes (Osborn 36). Usage of many individual examples does not prove clearly most
In his book, The Alcoholic Republic: An American Tradition, William J. Rorabaugh explores the overindulgence of alcohol by the Americans in the 18th and 19th century. The writer alleges that the period was formative in the American history. The book is a well-written chronicle that details binge drinking in the U.S., which formed part of the country’s heritage. Rorabaugh takes a bold step to examine various social factors that offer interesting answers to understand this ‘alcoholic republic’. We shall conduct a review of the book to help understand the information written by Rorabaugh, as well as, pick some points that strike the reader about the novel. Rorabaugh’s book is an interesting piece that helps one understand the culture of drinking in the US in the 18th and 19th centuries.
To begin with, the writer describes the prevalence of drinking in the US in the 19th century. Using examples, Rorabaugh explains how the habit affected the lives of most people in the country, besides shaping the cultural heritage. The choice of the topic by the author is well-thought because it reflects the issues affecting the country. Apparently, the beer industry is huge in the U.S., and it contributes billions of dollars to the economy (Rorabaugh 7). It has also helped in boosting other sectors such as the hospitality industry. However, binge drinking witnessed in the country in the 18th and 19th century had grave effects to the socio-economic sphere. He helps to understand why many people were overindulging in alcohol and the consequences to the social and economic lives of the subjects. I consider that the information contained in the book had a significant contribution towards the policies and legislations created by the government to curb irresponsible drinking. The initial chapters of the book offer information on how alcoholism influenced the lives of Americans. …show more content…
I consider that this is a critical approach to start a book. The chapters help one in understanding the history of drinking in the country, as well as, the effects on the people and society. Additionally, the first chapters discuss the volumes of alcohol consumed by the Americans at the time. The author explains that even the Founding Fathers played a role in catalyzing the habit among the citizens. Some either drank or owned a brewery (Rorabaugh 8). It is noteworthy that the Founding Fathers, despite their stature in the society, did not contribute towards inculcating healthy cultures in the society. In an interesting piece in the book, Rorabaugh alleges that the planning for the Declaration of Independence was conducted in a tavern. The claim is funny and at the same interesting to the readers and American society. In some chapters, the author appears carried away and fails to examine the intentions of the book. For instance, I do not believe that the Americans were set free when drunk as written by the author. In such statements, the author appears to say that drunk individuals had a form of autonomy. That cannot be the case as one make irrational decisions when drunk. As a matter of fact, a drunk person remains a ‘social captive’. It would have been better for the author to explain further, what he meant in such chapters and statements. Further, the author makes several assumptions in the book. One such a claim is that eligible voters sold their votes during the election period for liquor. A greater focus on the history of liquor in the US is imperative and necessary. The author explores how businesspeople used their trade to exploit communal drinking. Alcohol trade was catalyzed by the high demand among the Native Americans. It was also among the consumer products that could help people engage in batter trade for items such as fur. Alcohol trade had resultant effects on business, including supply and demand for certain consumer products (Osborn 29). Another interesting aspect given by the author was that the Americans consumed alcohol in pursuit of happiness (Rorabaugh 125). We recognize that it was at the same period when the country attained independence from Britain. The author observes that the American citizens became overjoyed to a point they never exercised caution. People would engage in the habits either in solitary or communal modes (Osborn 36). Usage of many individual examples does not prove clearly most