I DON’T think there’s a book i’ve given as a gift more often than “a history of the world in 6 glasses,” a brisk and delightful tour, from 
ancient egypt to 20th century america, in roughly 250 pages. it left me with me
morable images : mesopotamians discovering beer, imperial romans swilling wine, coffee being downed in cafes in 18th c. london and edinburgh –where it fueled the age of reason.
the author, economist magazine editor tom standage, has a new book, “an edible history of humanity,” which looks at the way food — the invention of agriculture, the food surpluses that allowed artists and priests to develop, the coming of hierarchy and the use of food in war and politics — has shaped human history.
HERE is my interview with standage from today’s LAT. i spoke to him a few days before a book party in new york that would offer hunter-gatherer appetizers and work though food history with each course.
one of the book’s surprising points: the move to farming was at best an ambiguous step for the human race, involving a lot more work and a less healthy diet: latter day greeks and turks have still not regained their height from their stone age days.
and who knew the ancient romans used to worry about food miles?
i look forward to what this guy comes up with next.