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High Spirits: A Cultural History of Alcohol, Drugs, and Other Beautiful Mistakes
From the first fermented fruit to the last digital dopamine hit — this is the ultimate story of humanity’s oldest getting out of its own head.
High Spirits is a darkly funny, brutally honest journey through thousands of years of intoxication — from sacred brews and opium dreams to caffeine addictions, love obsessions, and virtual highs. Historian-philosopher Heinrich Wilson uncorks the truth about our we’ve always been drunk on something, whether it’s wine, religion, technology, or ourselves.
Why do we chase pleasure knowing it ruins us? Why do comfort and chaos taste so similar? And what happens when the next big high isn’t in a bottle, but in a microchip?
Blending history, psychology, and wicked humor, Wilson traces the rise of civilization through its hangovers — revealing that every empire, every invention, and every idea was born from one irresistible the desire to feel more alive.
Raise a glass, plug in, and take the trip.
Because sobriety was never humanity’s strong suit.
High Spirits is a darkly funny, brutally honest journey through thousands of years of intoxication — from sacred brews and opium dreams to caffeine addictions, love obsessions, and virtual highs. Historian-philosopher Heinrich Wilson uncorks the truth about our we’ve always been drunk on something, whether it’s wine, religion, technology, or ourselves.
Why do we chase pleasure knowing it ruins us? Why do comfort and chaos taste so similar? And what happens when the next big high isn’t in a bottle, but in a microchip?
Blending history, psychology, and wicked humor, Wilson traces the rise of civilization through its hangovers — revealing that every empire, every invention, and every idea was born from one irresistible the desire to feel more alive.
Raise a glass, plug in, and take the trip.
Because sobriety was never humanity’s strong suit.
134 pages, Paperback
Published October 30, 2025
4 people want to read
About the author
Heinrich Wilson
75 books13 followersEnglish
Heinrich Wilson is an author with a wide-ranging catalogue that shifts in tone from sharp satire to heartfelt drama. His works explore hidden history, karma, timelines, and the mysteries of life and death, while also venturing into historical overviews and moving fiction. Books like The Cosmic Connection and The Great Book of Karma blend curiosity with wit, while titles such as Annie reveal his more serious and emotional side. The Rise and Fall of Ancient Empires series adds yet another dimension, distilling history into concise and accessible form. No matter the subject, Wilson’s writing always challenges readers to see life, history, and themselves from a new perspective.
Deutsch
Heinrich Wilson ist ein Autor mit einem vielseitigen Werk, das von bissiger Satire bis zu ernsten Dramen reicht. Seine Bücher behandeln verborgene Geschichte, Karma, Zeitlinien und die Rätsel von Leben und Tod, greifen aber auch historische Themen und bewegende Romane auf. Werke wie The Cosmic Connection und Das große Buch des Karmas verbinden Neugier mit Witz, während Titel wie Annie seine ernste und emotionale Seite zeigen. Mit der Reihe Aufstieg und Fall alter Reiche eröffnet er zudem einen klaren, kompakten Zugang zur Geschichte. Egal welches Thema – Wilsons Bücher fordern die Leser heraus, Leben, Geschichte und sich selbst mit neuen Augen zu betrachten.
Heinrich Wilson is an author with a wide-ranging catalogue that shifts in tone from sharp satire to heartfelt drama. His works explore hidden history, karma, timelines, and the mysteries of life and death, while also venturing into historical overviews and moving fiction. Books like The Cosmic Connection and The Great Book of Karma blend curiosity with wit, while titles such as Annie reveal his more serious and emotional side. The Rise and Fall of Ancient Empires series adds yet another dimension, distilling history into concise and accessible form. No matter the subject, Wilson’s writing always challenges readers to see life, history, and themselves from a new perspective.
Deutsch
Heinrich Wilson ist ein Autor mit einem vielseitigen Werk, das von bissiger Satire bis zu ernsten Dramen reicht. Seine Bücher behandeln verborgene Geschichte, Karma, Zeitlinien und die Rätsel von Leben und Tod, greifen aber auch historische Themen und bewegende Romane auf. Werke wie The Cosmic Connection und Das große Buch des Karmas verbinden Neugier mit Witz, während Titel wie Annie seine ernste und emotionale Seite zeigen. Mit der Reihe Aufstieg und Fall alter Reiche eröffnet er zudem einen klaren, kompakten Zugang zur Geschichte. Egal welches Thema – Wilsons Bücher fordern die Leser heraus, Leben, Geschichte und sich selbst mit neuen Augen zu betrachten.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 30, 2025
𝐀 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐔𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲
High Spirits is one of those books that entertains you while quietly exposing you. Heinrich Wilson traces humanity’s long relationship with intoxication in a way that feels both historical and deeply personal. The humor is dark, clever, and intentional, never there just for laughs. What makes this book stand out is how it connects ancient rituals to modern addictions without sounding preachy. It doesn’t judge our cravings, but it doesn’t excuse them either. By the end, you’re not just thinking about substances, but about everything we use to escape ourselves. The writing lingers in your mind long after you close the book. A fascinating and unsettling read that feels uncomfortably relevant.
High Spirits is one of those books that entertains you while quietly exposing you. Heinrich Wilson traces humanity’s long relationship with intoxication in a way that feels both historical and deeply personal. The humor is dark, clever, and intentional, never there just for laughs. What makes this book stand out is how it connects ancient rituals to modern addictions without sounding preachy. It doesn’t judge our cravings, but it doesn’t excuse them either. By the end, you’re not just thinking about substances, but about everything we use to escape ourselves. The writing lingers in your mind long after you close the book. A fascinating and unsettling read that feels uncomfortably relevant.
December 30, 2025
𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭
This book refuses to simplify a complicated truth: humans are wired to chase highs. Wilson blends history, psychology, and cultural insight with a sharp, confident voice that keeps the pages turning. The parallels between ancient intoxication and modern dopamine traps feel eerily accurate. I appreciated how the book avoids glorifying excess while still acknowledging its role in creativity and progress. It’s thoughtful without being heavy, funny without being shallow. Each chapter adds another layer to the argument without repeating itself. A rare combination that makes complex ideas feel accessible, modern, and deeply human.
This book refuses to simplify a complicated truth: humans are wired to chase highs. Wilson blends history, psychology, and cultural insight with a sharp, confident voice that keeps the pages turning. The parallels between ancient intoxication and modern dopamine traps feel eerily accurate. I appreciated how the book avoids glorifying excess while still acknowledging its role in creativity and progress. It’s thoughtful without being heavy, funny without being shallow. Each chapter adds another layer to the argument without repeating itself. A rare combination that makes complex ideas feel accessible, modern, and deeply human.
December 30, 2025
𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭
This book thrives on contradiction and that’s exactly why it works. Wilson shows how pleasure can fuel progress while also planting the seeds of collapse. His storytelling is sharp, engaging, and unapologetically honest. The comparisons between ancient substances and modern digital addiction are especially striking. I found myself laughing, then immediately questioning why I was laughing at all. Beneath the humor lies a deeply serious warning about comfort without awareness. High Spirits entertains you while quietly dismantling comfortable assumptions.
This book thrives on contradiction and that’s exactly why it works. Wilson shows how pleasure can fuel progress while also planting the seeds of collapse. His storytelling is sharp, engaging, and unapologetically honest. The comparisons between ancient substances and modern digital addiction are especially striking. I found myself laughing, then immediately questioning why I was laughing at all. Beneath the humor lies a deeply serious warning about comfort without awareness. High Spirits entertains you while quietly dismantling comfortable assumptions.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews