Drunks: An American History

In a spirited look at the history of drinking and alcoholism in America, Finan (From the Palmer Raids to the Patriot Act) traces the complex relationship between people and their dependency on drink from the 19th century up to the 21st century. It’s a sobering portrait of the power alcohol has on those addicted to it. Finan chronicles the lives and struggles of those who have fought to free themselves and others like them, showing just how far society has come in dealing with the issue. Here, readers will find the earliest temperance societies, the rise and fall of Prohibition, the creation of the Salvation Army, and, perhaps most significantly, the birth and evolution of Alcoholics Anonymous and the vast treatment industry it spawned. “The fight against addiction is one of America’s great liberation movements. Like the battles for racial equality, women’s rights, and sexual freedom, its history is marked by periods of progress and devastating reverses,” Finan notes, humanistically rejecting the notion that addicts are responsible for their plight. Finan’s delivery can be a bit dry, but he offers captivating stories in a well-researched, in-depth manner, shining a light on a topic well worth exploring in detail. Agent: Jill Marr, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (July)