Series: Philosophies

Few if any alcoholic drinks have the dramatic and multi-faceted history of gin. In this fascinating new instalment of the British Library's pocket philosophies, gin is explored through its origins in Holland, where it was popularised by William of Orange; its roots in medicine; its capacity to provide an albeit destructive escapism during the Gin Craze; its influence on language...

Have you ever wondered about the difference between a lager and an ale? Or marvelled at how, with only four basic ingredients, there are around 150 different styles of beer? In The Philosophy of Beer, Jane Peyton, the UK's first Beer Sommelier of the Year, distils practical advice from the incredible history of the nation's favourite beverage. The book spans...

The Philosophy of Coffee is a short, entertaining, and illuminating introduction to the history and culture of coffee. From the humble origins of the bean in northeast Africa over a millennium ago, coffee has evolved into a global phenomenon that is enjoyed around the world. This book is the perfect gift for coffee lovers, featuring chapters on the rise of...

Just what is a pudding? We all have our favourites, whether it is a school-dinner jam roly-poly with custard, or a Yorkshire pud with onion gravy, a Burns' Night haggis or the Christmas plum pudding. The humble pudding started out as a savoury meal boiled in either animal intestine or in a cloth. With the advent of pudding bowls and...

How did drinking the infusions of a unique plant from China become a vital part of everyday life? This gift book presents an entertaining and illuminating introduction to the history and culture of tea, from its origins in the Far East to the flavours and properties of different varieties, and the rituals of tea preparation and drinking around the world....

A companion volume to The Philosophy of... Beards and Coffee, this witty history of wine—its cultivation and enjoyment—sheds light on the rich traditions of wine from around the world. An apt gift for oenophiles everywhere, it includes chapters on the development of wine production, from the use of casks to bottles to the switch from feet to presses, as well...

Tattooing is an ancient practice with profound religious and cultural significance. While Western tattooing centres on three main traditions—Polynesian, Japanese, and Euro-American—it has been recorded more or less everywhere. Beginning with the birth of the tattoo, John Miller explores this unique expression of personal, cultural, and national identity, the tension between tattoo’s status as a fashion item and its roots...

Throughout history, people have wanted to conquer, plot and travel across the world in two dimensions. From the murky origins of humanity's earliest pastimes, where fortune-telling and play blur, to modern ventures into Monopoly, board games have shaped everything from how we conduct war to the art we create. What is it that makes them so addictive, so constantly inviting...

'The absence of Beard is usually a sign of physical and moral weakness.' 'Take two drawings of the head of a lion, one with and the other without the mane. You will see how much of the majesty of the king of the woods, as well as that of the lord of the earth, dwells in this free-flowing appendage.' 'There...

The true pioneer of civilization is not the newspaper, not religion, not the railroad but Whiskey! - Mark Twain From illicit distillation to worldwide export, whisky has a powerful and multi-faceted history. Writers including Robert Burns, James Joyce, and Haruki Murakami have all mused on it, and there are strong opinions on every aspect, even down to how the word...

Patrick McGuigan is a British food journalist and cheese writer, who contributes to The Telegraph, Delicious and The Financial Times, among many other titles. He has travelled the world, from the Swiss Alps to the hipster cheese bars of New York, to write about cheese makers, maturers and retailers. A senior judge at the World Cheese Awards, Patrick also teaches...