For God, Country and Coca-Cola

Rating:
Summary: Very good historical work, with good perspective
Review: Basically, this is a book on the history of Coca-Cola, with some really good information on the cola industry as a whole. Well-researched, and well-written, I enjoyed this book. It was especially interesting to see the honesty in regard to the cocaine and caffiene content issues that Coke had to deal with, and later the "New Coke" fiasco. My only complaint would be with the length and that its a bit slow moving. The people involved certainly aren't very likeable, but the author does a good job of putting everything into a proper historical context. It even has the "secret formula" for the drink, which I found interesting just to know what I'm drinking.

Rating:
Summary: Good though it drags in the middle ...
Review: FOR GOD, COUNTRY, AND COCA-COLA is an interesting and exhaustive read about the history of what is likely the world's best known product, sugar water.

Pendergast most definitely did his homework on Coca-Cola. Accordingly, if you were curious about any facet of Coke's history up to the mid-to-late nineties, it's probably included in this book. I kid you not that the last hundred pages are all footnotes - it's that exhaustive.

I love Coke though I often find myself bothered by the importance of a product that is nothing more than good-tasting water. If you are curious about Coke and have the will power to read 460 pages of history about this company, pick this book up. However, be forewarned that it's a major book that doesn't pull any punches. I probably drank at least a case of Coke while trying to read this thing. Kudos to Mark Pendergast for being so thorough though. I always wanted to know that Rome, GA had the highest per capita consumption of Coke in the world!

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining history of our times through a Coke bottle!
Review: I have always had a great fascination for the things that seem to define our lives in the Western world - those great style and cultural icons of our times. And nothing seems to typify this, in a truly frivolous sense of course, more than Coca Cola.

This is detailed, meticulously researched and absolutely FASCINATING study of the history of Coke - not just who first made it and how it was first presented to a thirsty public (and no, it doesn't give you the formula), but how it has grown to become something that looms large in everyone's life, even if you're not a fan. More people drink Coca Cola in the world than coffee, but at this point I must confess that I don't drink Coke myself.

There are entertaining stories of how the product evolved from a syrup served at every soda bar (ever wondered about that cocaine rumour - its in the book!); how every soldier in WW2 had a coke at the front, even if they didn't have bullets and medical supplies; and how jealously Coke guard their market share and branding. There are some really funny anecdotes from the Coke/Pepsi wars, especially when the formula was tinkered with to gain competitive advantage, and my favourite is the lady who berates a poor man stocking shelves with the "new" Coke, and when the man stacking Pepsi laughs, she berates him for his product as well. This is an amusing study of our society and how this innocent fizzy brown drink has become one of the most universally recognised products of our times.

I remember I was reading this one night and my husband declared that he thought the whole book was nothing but an advertisement for Coca Cola. I laughed, told him it was a very entertaining study of a product that is now literally everywhere in the world. I then asked him to get me a Coke.

Rating:
Summary: Great history of Coke - but where are the photos?
Review: Since my father was in the soft drink business for over 30 years -- he was a chemist for The Coca-Cola Company when I was born, and I believe we were the only kids on the block allowed to consume all the soda pop we desired, since we had cases of it in our garage -- I have always had an interest in the history of soda pop, and of The Coca-Cola Company in particular. I believe that even if the reader of this book was only marginally interested in Coke, he or she would be swept up in this well-researched and written book. Mark Pendergrast is a terrific writer -- this book reads like a compelling novel, and will be VERY difficult for the first-time reader to put down! I especially enjoyed the chapters on Coke's influence during WWII, as well as the "New Coke" debacle of the 1980's (the chapter is titled "The Worst Marketing Blunder of the Century"). Not to mention that the world-famous "secret formula" is revealed in this book as well! The only bone I have to pick with this edition is the lack of photos (which were in the first edition of this book). In a historical work like "For God, Country, and Coca-Cola" a photographic reference is absolutely necessary! Still a great read, though!P.S. I'm ordering a copy for my dad (who was a collegue of Coke president & CEO Roberto Goizueta in the 50's and 60's) - I know he'll get a kick out of it!

Rating:
Summary: Read it, and the drink will no more mean the same to you!
Review: There is very little thought given to the role a "bottle of soda" plays in our lives. Reading the book, one can appreciate that brands like Coca-Cola, mean more than just a drink. How "brand-emotions" subconsciously carve a place inside you. The content is very well researched and has adequate information to grip the reader's attention to acquire more knowledge of, one of America's strongest and most successful brand names!

The events that followed its invention - simply lead you to believe that "Coke" was BORN to be great. The first real global company I ever knew!!