Drunk (book)
 | |
| Author | Edward Slingerland |
|---|---|
| Genre | Nonfiction |
| Publisher | Little, Brown Spark |
| Publication date | June 1, 2021 |
| Pages | 304 |
| ISBN | 978-0-316-45338-7 |
Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, And Stumbled Our Way To Civilization is a nonfiction book by Edward Slingerland. It was published by Little, Brown Spark in 2021.
Synopsis
Written by Canadian-American philosopher Edward Slingerland, the book argues that alcohol has had a positive impact on human civilization. The book argues that alcohol increases social trust and collaboration by reducing inhibitions, and that it encourages creativity. These traits give humanity an edge over other species, allowing human civilization to advance. Slingerland uses evidence from psychology, anthropology, evolutionary biology and human history to argue that alcohol provides benefits to society that can outweigh costs like addiction and negative health effects.
Reception
The book received mostly positive reviews from critics. In a review for The New York Times, Zoë Lescaze wrote that "Slingerland takes up the cause with all the chivalry of a knight-errant, and his infectious passion makes this book a romp as well as a refreshingly erudite rejoinder to the prevailing wisdom."[1] Peter Gray, in Evolutionary Studies in Imaginative Culture, "just under 300 pages of fact-filled, thought-provoking, humorous and engaging prose, telling a rich story of alcohol in human social life."[2]
Publishers Weekly,[3] Vijaysree Venkatraman of New Scientist,[4] Camper English of The Alcohol Professor [5] and Jeffrey Meyer of Library Journal described it as entertaining, informative and well researched.[6]
Kirkus Reviews and Ralph Peterson of Seattle Book Review, gave the book more negative reviews, describing its arguments as repetitive and unconvincing.[7][8]
References
- ↑ "A History of Getting Hammered, and Why Some of Us Should Keep Doing It (Published 2021)". 2021-06-19. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ Gray, Peter (2022-04-01). "Slingerland, Edward. 2021. Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization New York: Little, Brown Spark". Evolutionary Studies in Imaginative Culture. 6 (1): 119–122. doi:10.26613/esic.6.1.284. ISSN 2472-9876.
- ↑ "Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization by Edward Slingerland". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ "Drunk review: Could alcohol-induced creativity be key to civilisation?". New Scientist. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ "Book Review: Drunk By Edward Slingerland". Alcohol Professor. 2021-09-06. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ Edward, Slingerland. "Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization". Library Journal. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
- ↑ DRUNK | Kirkus Reviews.
- ↑ "Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization - Seattle Book Review". Retrieved 2025-08-24.