Prohibition
A Very Short Introduction

Rorabaugh provides an interesting and readable introduction to a curious period in American history. Most people aren't aware that alcohol consumption contributes to roughly 88,000 American deaths per year, with many more lives ruined by alcohol-fueled accidents, crimes, and domestic violence, along......more

One of my major bugbears about popular histories like Sapiensis that they don't getintoxication. Imagine writing a book about running and never mentioning feet. That's what I'm talking about. During WWI the Russian Czar signed his death warrant by banning vodka. This single act, against the working......more

The most interesting part, to me: When you ban something, criminals make a more concentrated form of the banned item available (because it commands a higher price and is easier to smuggle). When Prohibition took effect, it wasn't worthwhile to smuggle beer. But bootleggers started making whiskey, co......more

A little lighter on law enforcement changes than I would like it to be, but it is supposed to be "very short," and it does a lot of excellent stuff in that short amount of space. Definitely a useful baseline for History students working on projects related to Prohibition and temperance.......more

An apt read during this time of discussions about menthol bans in the legislature.......more