# A Secret History of Coffee, Coca & Cola - Hardcover

by **Ricardo Cort駸** (Author)

"_A Secret History of Coffee, Coca & Cola_ . . . is actually a serious and measured chronology of the storied history of these human beverages, accessible to readers of all ages . . . A sober, serious, yet eminently readable examination of thorny social issues surrounding everyday beverages, _A Secret History of Coffee, Coca & Cola_ is highly recommended." --_Midwest Book Review_ (Library Bookwatch)

"If you hate the War on Drugs, Ricardo Cort駸 should be one of your favorite illustrators." --_Vice_

_A Secret History of Coffee, Coca & Cola_ is an illustrated book disclosing new research in the coca leaf trade conducted by The Coca-Cola Company. 2011 marked the 125th anniversary of its iconic beverage, and the fiftieth anniversary of the international drug control treaty that allows Coca-Cola exclusive access to the coca plant. Most people are familiar with tales of cocaine being an early ingredient of "Coke" tonic; it's an era the company makes every effort to bury. Yet coca leaf, the source of cocaine which has been banned in the U.S. since 1914, has been part of Coca-Cola's secret formula for over one hundred years.  
  
This is a history that spans from cocaine factories in Peru, to secret experiments at the University of Hawaii, to the personal files of U.S. Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner Harry Anslinger (infamous for his "Reefer Madness" campaign against marijuana, lesser known as a long-time collaborator of The Coca-Cola Company).

_A Secret History of Coffee, Coca & Cola_ tells how one of the biggest companies in the world bypasses an international ban on coca. The book also explores histories of three of the most consumed substances on earth, revealing connections between seemingly disparate icons of modern culture: caffeine, cocaine, and Coca-Cola.  
  
Coca-Cola is the most popular soft drink on earth, and soft drinks are the number one food consumed in the American diet. Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive substance. Cocaine . . . well, people seem to like reading about cocaine. An illustrated chronicle that will appeal to fans of food and drink histories (e.g., Mark Kurlansky's _Salt_ and _Cod_; Mark Pendergrast's _For God, Country & Coca-Cola_), graphic novel enthusiasts, and people interested in drug prohibition and international narcopolitics, the book follows in the footsteps of successful pop-history books such as Michael Pollan's _The Botany of Desire_ and Eric Schlosser's _Fast Food Nation_\--but has a unique style that blends such histories with narrative illustration and influences from Norman Rockwell to Art Spiegelman.

### Author Biography

**Ricardo Cort駸** is best known for illustrating the number one _New York Times_ best-selling _Go the Fuck to Sleep_ and the G-rated follow-up _Seriously, Just Go to Sleep_. Cort駸 first gained notoriety after his debut _It's Just a Plant: A Children's Book about Marijuana_ sparked controversy from _The O'Reilly Factor_ to Capitol Hill. He has illustrated books about electricity, the Jamaican bobsled team, and jury nullification; his work has been featured in _Vanity Fair_, _Entertainment Weekly_, _New York Post_, _The Village Voice_, _San Francisco Chronicle_, and on CNN and FOX News. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

**Number of Pages:** 64

**Dimensions:** 0.4 x 9.1 x 9.2 IN

**Illustrated:** Yes

**Publication Date:** December 04, 2012

## Details

- **Price:** 17.95 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 17.95 USD | In stock |

## Images

- A Secret History of Coffee, Coca & Cola - Hardcover

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