The World of Caffeine ─ The Science and Culture of the World's Most Popular Drug

Caffeine is the world's most popular drug! Almost all of us start our day with a jolt of caffeine from coffee, tea or cola. And many of us crave chocolate when we're stressed or depressed. Without it we're lethargic, headachy and miserable. Why? Why do we crave caffeine? How much do we really know about our number one drug of choice?
Here is the first natural, cultural and artistic history of our favorite mood enhancer -- its discovery; its early uses; and its unexpected importance in medicine, religion, painting, poetry, learning and love. Weinberg and Bealer tell an intriguing story of a remarkable substance that has figured prominently in the exchanges of trade and intelligence among nations and whose most common sources -- coffee, tea and chocolate -- have been both promoted as productive of health and creativity and banned as corrupters of the body and mind or subverters of social order.
"The World of Caffeine" is a captivating tale of art and society -- from India to Balzac to cybercafes -- and the ultimate caffeine resource.

Bennett Alan Weinberg is a medical and science writer. He is also chairman of his own advertising and public relations firm whose clients include several of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies.
Bonnie K. Bealer is a researcher and writer trained in psychology and anthropology. The authors live in Philadelphia.