Consuming habits : drugs in history and anthropology

Psychoactive substances have been central to the formation of civilizations and the growth of the world economy. "Consuming Habits" describes how and why: tea and coffee replaced beer on the breakfast tables of 18th century Europe; in Islamic emirates at the turn of the century kola nuts formed part of tax payments, and were given as gifts by so-called 'big men'; in 1902 opera singers had their doctors prescribe them cocaine to aid singing; and the original version of 'coca-cola' was described as a 'brain tonic.' This pioneering collection of original essays explores the rich analytical category of psychoactive substances from challenging historical and anthropological perspectives.