Book cover of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition

Book description

A brilliant, authoritative, and fascinating history of America’s most puzzling era, the years 1920 to 1933, when the US Constitution was amended to restrict one of America’s favorite pastimes: drinking alcoholic beverages.

From its start, America has been awash in drink. The sailing vessel that brought John Winthrop to the…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

3 authors picked Last Call as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

The life and autopsy of Prohibition. Great writing and research. Great historical tid bits and nuggets. No issue or aspect of society affected is untouched by the author. What you think is know is a fraction of what you need to know.

Americans have quite a different relationship with alcohol compared to Europeans. This book uncovers the background of how Prohibition came about, how influences other than alcohol were key, along with the ingenuity of people on both sides of the debate to put their case or dodge the restrictions. Full of stories that explore the men, indomitable women, bootleggers, and economic as well as social forces and hypocrisy involved in the establishment and eventual repeal of Prohibition laws across America.

From Sarah's list on how history has influenced wines.

A classic work by Daniel Okrent, at one time the first public editor of the New York Times and managing editor of Life Magazine. This 470-page tome describes in detail the great rift in the history of American whiskey, also known as ‘The Noble Experiment’. If you want to understand how it was possible that an entire nation the size of the United States of America went ‘dry’ in 1920 with the acceptance of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of the USA for that, this should be your ‘First Call’. The book doesn’t end sadly, on the…

From Hans' list on whisky & whiskey.

If you love Last Call...

Ad

Book cover of Aggressor

Aggressor by FX Holden,

It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.

The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…

Want books like Last Call?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 70 books like Last Call.

Browse books like Last Call

Book cover of Scotch Whisky: A Liquid History
Book cover of The Way of Whisky: A Journey Around Japanese Whisky
Book cover of Malt Whisky Yearbook 2021: The Facts, the People, the News, the Stories

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,210

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

📚 If you like Last Call, you might also like...

Book cover of Old Man Country

Old Man Country by Thomas R. Cole,

This book follows the journey of a writer in search of wisdom as he narrates encounters with 12 distinguished American men over 80, including Paul Volcker, the former head of the Federal Reserve, and Denton Cooley, the world’s most famous heart surgeon.

In these and other intimate conversations, the book…

Book cover of Lane and the Inventor

Lane and the Inventor by Amy Q. Barker,

A grumpy-sunshine, slow-burn, sweet-and-steamy romance set in wild and beautiful small-town Colorado. Lane Gravers is a wanderer, adventurer, yoga instructor, and social butterfly when she meets reserved, quiet, pensive Logan Hickory, a loner inventor with a painful past.

Dive into this small-town, steamy romance between two opposites who find love…

5 book lists we think you will like!