Well-written and wide-ranging, Forces of Habit spans 500 years of global history to explain what Courtwright calls a "psychoactive revolution" that has made drugs pervasive in modern society. According to Courtwright, widespread drug use (both legal and illegal) must be understood not only as a cultural phenomenon, but also as an integral part of the economic history of modern capitalism.

Musto's American Disease is the best single history of America's "War on Drugs."

You don't need to share Gately's evident affection for tobacco to enjoy Tobacco. This global history of one of the world's most widely used drugs is packed full of fascinating trivia.

Pendergast does for coffee what Gately does for tobacco. Readers may be surprised to learn how important coffee has been in shaping the cultures, societies, and economies of the modern world.

Streatfield's "unauthorized biography" framework may be a bit cheesy, but Cocaine remains a useful global history of one of the most controversial drugs of recent decades.