Last Call is exactly what it says on the tin: a history of Prohibition, starting with the burgeoning movement in the 19th century and following it through its peak and then inevitable decline. There's a lot of material here, well-researched and skillfully presented so its concise and easily followed by the reader. Okrent does a great job handling all of the personalities, laws, parties, movements, social aspects, cultural views, and commercial (both legal and otherwise) inspired by the 18th Amendment. He covers a lot of ground and does so quickly, laying out the necessary information without getting bogged down by the more fantastic, giving a true history of the movement as opposed to getting side-tracked by the off-shoot of organized crime it inadvertently made possible. For instance, there's no avoiding the types like Al Capone, who made a name and a fortune from a start in bootlegging, and Okrent doesn't ignore this aspect. He does, however, keep his eye on the point and doesn't let himself veer off from Prohibition himself. This is certainly not a history of gangsters; it's a history of the ideals, wrong or right, and the politics surrounding them. Women's suffrage, civil rights, state's rights, cultural views, political divisions, etc. are all touched on here, but only insofar as they apply to the subject matter. Okrent doesn't get bogged down by excess information, and that, combined with the occasional tongue-in-cheek writing style, made for an excellent and educational read. Highly recommended for history buffs, but I also suggest having a pint nearby. Just reading this made me want a drink.
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Last Call is exactly what it says on the tin: a history of Prohibition, starting with the burgeoning movement in the 19th century and following it through its peak and then inevitable decline. There's a lot of material here, well-researched and skillfully presented so its concise and easily followed by the reader. Okrent does a great job handling all of the personalities, laws, parties, movements, social aspects, cultural views, and commercial (both legal and otherwise) inspired by the 18th Amendment. He covers a lot of ground and does so quickly, laying out the necessary information without getting bogged down by the more fantastic, giving a true history of the movement as opposed to getting side-tracked by the off-shoot of organized crime it inadvertently made possible. For instance, there's no avoiding the types like Al Capone, who made a name and a fortune from a start in bootlegging, and Okrent doesn't ignore this aspect. He does, however, keep his eye on the point and doesn't let himself veer off from Prohibition himself. This is certainly not a history of gangsters; it's a history of the ideals, wrong or right, and the politics surrounding them. Women's suffrage, civil rights, state's rights, cultural views, political divisions, etc. are all touched on here, but only insofar as they apply to the subject matter. Okrent doesn't get bogged down by excess information, and that, combined with the occasional tongue-in-cheek writing style, made for an excellent and educational read. Highly recommended for history buffs, but I also suggest having a pint nearby. Just reading this made me want a drink.
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