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Forces of Habit : Drugs and the Making of the Modern World
Forces of Habit Drugs and the Making of the Modern World Author:David T. Courtwright A global history of the acquisition of progressively more potent means of altering ordinary waking consciousness, this book is the first to provide the big picture of the discovery, interchange, and exploitation of the planet's psychoactive resources, from tea and kola to opiates and amphetamines. "[Courtwright's] lively writing spices up a se... more »rious take on a grave subject. While Courtwright sees licit substances like tea and illegal heavy-hitters like cocaine as two ends of the same spectrum, he's by no means trying to minimize the dangers of drugs." —Polly Shulman, Newsday "This book offers a fascinating, entertaining, and perceptive account of how politics, profit, and pleasure have shaped contemporary attitudes about psychoactive substances … Courtwright presents a fresh and discerning discussion of contemporary issues and problems surrounding both illicit and legalized drugs." —Jack H. Mendelson, Science "Courtwright writes engagingly and with humor, not discouraged by the daunting field he has to cover." —Roy Herbert, New Scientist« less