GREAT READS

Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition

Daniel Okrent.

Last Call by Daniel Okrent is the fascinating story of Prohibition, from its beginnings in the Temperance movement of the 1840s to its demise in 1933. Nowadays we think of Prohibition as a brief interruption in our drinking history, but it was a journey that changed our country deeply, in ways that still impact us today: The income tax was enacted in order to replace the alcohol tax revenue that would soon go away; states began giving women the right to vote because women were more likely to vote for Prohibition; and the market for illegal alcohol gave rise to the establishment of the first nationwide criminal syndicate, just to name a few. You'll also find that the politics of that time and the arguments about the role of government are eerily similar to today. This captivating book is recommended for anyone interested in American history or politics.

Recommended by Angela Prandini