A good and laconic introduction into the history of spices, drugs and, especially, intoxicants, with a focal point of gain as an impetus of (non) usage. The chapter on drugs includes some speculations as to the legalization of mj in the US and is interesting rather as an artifact. There is not so much text as I would have liked to see in the book, in comparison to a great number if pictures, but, as a whole, it is a good spring board for further studying.