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History's Greatest Drinking Games: From the Notorious to the Wisely Forgotten
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9 days and 18:38:16
50 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
A cultural history of alcohol told through some of history's brilliantly bizarre drinking games from around the world.
A whistle-stop guide to some of history's brilliantly bizarre drinking games, from the notorious to the wisely forgotten.
As long as there have been people, there has been drinking - and as long as there has been drinking, there has been drinking stupidly. Across centuries and continents this universal pastime has spawned an astonishing array of drinking games - some elaborate and considered, others downright absurd - designed to entertain, punish, impress and inebriate.
In History's Greatest Drinking Games, Elliot Martyn takes us on a captivating guided tour of some of our forebears' silliest drinking rituals, revealing how they began and even how to recreate them (if you dare). From the Ancient Greeks flinging wine across the room in competitive abandon to medieval Scandinavians engaging in insult battles, this book is packed full of fascinating trivia and hilarious historical anecdotes. After all, it's reassuring to know that we've always been idiots - and to learn some new mistakes from the fools who've come before us.
A whistle-stop guide to some of history's brilliantly bizarre drinking games, from the notorious to the wisely forgotten.
As long as there have been people, there has been drinking - and as long as there has been drinking, there has been drinking stupidly. Across centuries and continents this universal pastime has spawned an astonishing array of drinking games - some elaborate and considered, others downright absurd - designed to entertain, punish, impress and inebriate.
In History's Greatest Drinking Games, Elliot Martyn takes us on a captivating guided tour of some of our forebears' silliest drinking rituals, revealing how they began and even how to recreate them (if you dare). From the Ancient Greeks flinging wine across the room in competitive abandon to medieval Scandinavians engaging in insult battles, this book is packed full of fascinating trivia and hilarious historical anecdotes. After all, it's reassuring to know that we've always been idiots - and to learn some new mistakes from the fools who've come before us.
215 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 25, 2026
Elliot Martyn este istoric și ne arată prin volumul "Cele mai faimoase jocuri de băut din istorie: de la cele notorii la cele pe bună dreptate uitate" că istoria poate aborda diverse aspecte și, în definitiv, poate fi și amuzantă (nu încercați să spuneți acest titlu nici dintr-o suflare, nici la beție, sau poate doar la beție într-un joc ad hoc în care orice succes este recompensat cu un pahar în plus, iar orice eșec este pedepsit cu un pahar în plus, voi decideți).
Elliot Martyn ne poartă prin salturi temporale și spațiale de la Grecia Antică, la Italia modernă și contemporană, apoi în America precolumbiană, apoi în Polonia medievală, și tot așa pe toate continentele și în diverse perioade pentru a ne aduce un nou joc de băut precum: kattabos, passatella, jiuling și multe altele, de la cele pe care le jucau nobilii, la cele pe care le jucau oamenii de rând.
Sigur, cartea nu este un compendiu de jocuri de băut, pentru aceasta trebuie să căutați într-o altă secțiune, fiecare capitol se concentrează pe contextul socio-economic care a dus la dezvoltarea acelui joc, și mai ales a băuturilor alcoolice din respectivele locuri și timpuri: unele erau exclusiv rituale, altele destinate consumului exclusiv al unei caste (de obicei nobililor și/sau preoților), altele vulgului și oamenilor de rând, totul pe un ton sprințar, șugubăț și plin de ironie, perfect potrivit unui astfel de subiect.
Vă recomand să puneți această carte alături de "O scurtă istorie a beției" de Mark Forsyth (Polirom, 2018, 2023) și de "Alfabetul bucatelor: povestiri cu miez gustos cuprinzând rețete românești reinventate sau de la străini împrumutate" de Vlad Macri (Humanitas, 2023), care împărtășesc același ton vesel, dar și alături de "Acasă. O istorie a vieții private" de Bill Bryson (Polirom, 2012, 2017, 2023), "O istorie a minnciunii" scrisă de Juan Jacinto Muniñoz-Rengel (Polirom, 2024) și "Istoria mirodeniilor în Evul Mediu" a lui Michel Balard (Editura Act și Politon, 2025) pentru abordarea istorica unor subiecte inedite.
Elliot Martyn ne poartă prin salturi temporale și spațiale de la Grecia Antică, la Italia modernă și contemporană, apoi în America precolumbiană, apoi în Polonia medievală, și tot așa pe toate continentele și în diverse perioade pentru a ne aduce un nou joc de băut precum: kattabos, passatella, jiuling și multe altele, de la cele pe care le jucau nobilii, la cele pe care le jucau oamenii de rând.
Sigur, cartea nu este un compendiu de jocuri de băut, pentru aceasta trebuie să căutați într-o altă secțiune, fiecare capitol se concentrează pe contextul socio-economic care a dus la dezvoltarea acelui joc, și mai ales a băuturilor alcoolice din respectivele locuri și timpuri: unele erau exclusiv rituale, altele destinate consumului exclusiv al unei caste (de obicei nobililor și/sau preoților), altele vulgului și oamenilor de rând, totul pe un ton sprințar, șugubăț și plin de ironie, perfect potrivit unui astfel de subiect.
Vă recomand să puneți această carte alături de "O scurtă istorie a beției" de Mark Forsyth (Polirom, 2018, 2023) și de "Alfabetul bucatelor: povestiri cu miez gustos cuprinzând rețete românești reinventate sau de la străini împrumutate" de Vlad Macri (Humanitas, 2023), care împărtășesc același ton vesel, dar și alături de "Acasă. O istorie a vieții private" de Bill Bryson (Polirom, 2012, 2017, 2023), "O istorie a minnciunii" scrisă de Juan Jacinto Muniñoz-Rengel (Polirom, 2024) și "Istoria mirodeniilor în Evul Mediu" a lui Michel Balard (Editura Act și Politon, 2025) pentru abordarea istorica unor subiecte inedite.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For a book about the history of alcohol, these pages were really very dry. What started with such promise for this drinker, fell quite short of expectations.
This cursory history lesson in alcohol's role in various civilizations and cultures through the ages, is mostly geopolitics with a splash of "and then they drank the hooch."
For example, the chapter on US covers the Boston Tea Party, the temperance movement, and prohibition. The "drinking games" referenced amounts to simply speakeasy life of the 20s-30s: dancing and casino games.
Two sentences mention the invention of beer pong, but completely disconnected from the rest of the content being discussed. (Paraphrasing: 'Before collegiates were playing beer pong, prohibition happened, so here's 10 pages about prohibition.')
I highly recommend this book be consumed one chapter at a time (not the whole book in one sitting, as I've attempted), perhaps during a toilet break or while sitting in line at the DMV.
2.5* rounded up.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
This cursory history lesson in alcohol's role in various civilizations and cultures through the ages, is mostly geopolitics with a splash of "and then they drank the hooch."
For example, the chapter on US covers the Boston Tea Party, the temperance movement, and prohibition. The "drinking games" referenced amounts to simply speakeasy life of the 20s-30s: dancing and casino games.
Two sentences mention the invention of beer pong, but completely disconnected from the rest of the content being discussed. (Paraphrasing: 'Before collegiates were playing beer pong, prohibition happened, so here's 10 pages about prohibition.')
I highly recommend this book be consumed one chapter at a time (not the whole book in one sitting, as I've attempted), perhaps during a toilet break or while sitting in line at the DMV.
2.5* rounded up.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book had a great premise but I found that it didn’t live up to that. Sure, it went in and talked about the drinking games of the past, but it also seemed to be very dry, and boring at least to me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
This is a fun little book about historic drinking games, although maybe not the greatest drinking games.
With a little humor and some historic information Elliot Martyn explores drinking games and rituals around the world and throughout history. Each chapter begins with historic information on the time and place of the drinking game. This is followed by an explanation of the drink game or games. The chapter then ends with detailed instructions on how to play the game today. This pattern makes for an easy read. The humor appears in the directions for the games and sometimes includes telling readers that some games are better not attempted. The humor makes the book more fun.
The historic introduction provides context to the games and gives insight into the cultures that played them. I like that these descriptions are short and to the point. They add to the historic games and are interesting enough to read through. The drinking games themselves are detailed but sometimes those details make the content feel dry and less interesting. Other than the occasional dull details, the book is well written. I would say that the book is well researched, but Martyn added a note at the end of the book stating he used the information compiled by other historians to write this book. This bothers me very much and has impacted my opinion of the book as a whole.
Another aspect of this book that I am not a huge fan of is the lack of organization. Each chapter jumps around the world and throughout time in no clear order. This does not necessarily take away from the book because the subject does not necessarily need to be presented in chronological order, but I believe a book should have some organization to it.
Overall, I feel like this book is missing something. There is a lot of information in this book but it is mostly lacking in analysis. While I do like that Martyn includes drinking games from all over the world and the reader gets to learn a bit about the country where the game was played nothing really stood out to me. If you are interested in a quick fun read about historic drinking games then you should absolutely pick this book up.
This is a fun little book about historic drinking games, although maybe not the greatest drinking games.
With a little humor and some historic information Elliot Martyn explores drinking games and rituals around the world and throughout history. Each chapter begins with historic information on the time and place of the drinking game. This is followed by an explanation of the drink game or games. The chapter then ends with detailed instructions on how to play the game today. This pattern makes for an easy read. The humor appears in the directions for the games and sometimes includes telling readers that some games are better not attempted. The humor makes the book more fun.
The historic introduction provides context to the games and gives insight into the cultures that played them. I like that these descriptions are short and to the point. They add to the historic games and are interesting enough to read through. The drinking games themselves are detailed but sometimes those details make the content feel dry and less interesting. Other than the occasional dull details, the book is well written. I would say that the book is well researched, but Martyn added a note at the end of the book stating he used the information compiled by other historians to write this book. This bothers me very much and has impacted my opinion of the book as a whole.
Another aspect of this book that I am not a huge fan of is the lack of organization. Each chapter jumps around the world and throughout time in no clear order. This does not necessarily take away from the book because the subject does not necessarily need to be presented in chronological order, but I believe a book should have some organization to it.
Overall, I feel like this book is missing something. There is a lot of information in this book but it is mostly lacking in analysis. While I do like that Martyn includes drinking games from all over the world and the reader gets to learn a bit about the country where the game was played nothing really stood out to me. If you are interested in a quick fun read about historic drinking games then you should absolutely pick this book up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I don't drink. But I do know things.
"History's Greatest Drinking Games" by Elliot Martyn is (mostly) what it says on the tin. This nonfiction book hops around to different eras and areas of the world to follow drinking games and various parts of drinking culture.
Admittedly, there are several chapters that don't have drinking "games" so much as "events and rituals involving drinking" or "that one drinking habit that one historical figure had." The author outright admits that the last chapter has no game or event at all, he just wanted to discuss Ghana's connection between it's cultural drink of choice and the fight for independence. It was an enthralling story, I'll admit.
The "instructions" for playing the games seem more to continue the joke than to give quick and simple directions for replicating these traditions with easily-obtained drinks and drinking game paraphernalia. While I understand that it was the premise of the book, I would have rather dropped the "instructions" and used the pages to discuss more details and examples of the cultural drinking institutions. And while I understand a pop history book has different expectations than an academic text, it was a bummer to see no primary sources in the bibliography.
All that being said, I do appreciate that the author was willing to mention the darker aspects of the historical time periods he was discussing. How anti-Semitism affected the majority-Jewish tavern keepers, for example, or the traditional exclusion of women from drinking spaces. I would have liked a bit more discussion on the negative effects of alcohol on the body, but I can't imagine the book's target demographic would be that interested in it.
Overall, it was a fun pop history book that'll give you some fun factoids to throw out the next time you're at the bar. For me, I'm off to check out the books in that bibliography.
"History's Greatest Drinking Games" by Elliot Martyn is (mostly) what it says on the tin. This nonfiction book hops around to different eras and areas of the world to follow drinking games and various parts of drinking culture.
Admittedly, there are several chapters that don't have drinking "games" so much as "events and rituals involving drinking" or "that one drinking habit that one historical figure had." The author outright admits that the last chapter has no game or event at all, he just wanted to discuss Ghana's connection between it's cultural drink of choice and the fight for independence. It was an enthralling story, I'll admit.
The "instructions" for playing the games seem more to continue the joke than to give quick and simple directions for replicating these traditions with easily-obtained drinks and drinking game paraphernalia. While I understand that it was the premise of the book, I would have rather dropped the "instructions" and used the pages to discuss more details and examples of the cultural drinking institutions. And while I understand a pop history book has different expectations than an academic text, it was a bummer to see no primary sources in the bibliography.
All that being said, I do appreciate that the author was willing to mention the darker aspects of the historical time periods he was discussing. How anti-Semitism affected the majority-Jewish tavern keepers, for example, or the traditional exclusion of women from drinking spaces. I would have liked a bit more discussion on the negative effects of alcohol on the body, but I can't imagine the book's target demographic would be that interested in it.
Overall, it was a fun pop history book that'll give you some fun factoids to throw out the next time you're at the bar. For me, I'm off to check out the books in that bibliography.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a copy from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Socializing while drinking is not a new pastime. If you’ve ever been interested in learning about the history of drinking games, then this might be the book for you! It’s interesting to learn how far back drinking games go back along with any information available about the types of games people played. Now I don’t know about you, but I didn’t know politics were involved with drinking games throughout time, so I think you’re bound to learn some new things!
I really liked that it didn’t just cover drinking games throughout time, but also covered the culture and political history as well. Context is important, so it was great to read about anything I hadn’t previously known that made the games make even more sense. However, it was so expansive at times that I think it should’ve been marketed differently. The official summary makes this sound like it’s going to be a super light and fun read. What you actually get, at least the time that I received the ARC, is an interesting history book that’s information heavy and with very dry writing. I was expecting something different, but this is something I still would’ve picked up even if it wasn’t presented as a silly and fun non-fiction book on a range of drinking games throughout history.
Socializing while drinking is not a new pastime. If you’ve ever been interested in learning about the history of drinking games, then this might be the book for you! It’s interesting to learn how far back drinking games go back along with any information available about the types of games people played. Now I don’t know about you, but I didn’t know politics were involved with drinking games throughout time, so I think you’re bound to learn some new things!
I really liked that it didn’t just cover drinking games throughout time, but also covered the culture and political history as well. Context is important, so it was great to read about anything I hadn’t previously known that made the games make even more sense. However, it was so expansive at times that I think it should’ve been marketed differently. The official summary makes this sound like it’s going to be a super light and fun read. What you actually get, at least the time that I received the ARC, is an interesting history book that’s information heavy and with very dry writing. I was expecting something different, but this is something I still would’ve picked up even if it wasn’t presented as a silly and fun non-fiction book on a range of drinking games throughout history.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advance review copy. As always all opinions are 100% my own!
So, I do not drink. But I am fascinated by the history of alcohol and the traditions and culture around it. I picked up 'History's Greatest Drinking Games' by Elliot Martyn just for that. And it delivered!
Each chapter covers one culture or time in history, gives a general overview or context for the reader about this period of time (including political influences and cultural moments that the reader should know about) before going over various rituals, habits and (of course) games that accompanied drinking at the time.
I am genuinely surprised at how much I learned. Especially that the writing is very accessible, laidback and fun. Every chapter actually ends with an 'instruction' list for how you can play the games yourself. Not everything is actually doable, of course, but it never failed to make me chuckle.
I don't think you should go into this expecting a detailed academic historical account. I believe the goal of this book is more to entertain (and sneakily teach you things here and there).
This was fun and was exactly what I was looking for.
So, I do not drink. But I am fascinated by the history of alcohol and the traditions and culture around it. I picked up 'History's Greatest Drinking Games' by Elliot Martyn just for that. And it delivered!
Each chapter covers one culture or time in history, gives a general overview or context for the reader about this period of time (including political influences and cultural moments that the reader should know about) before going over various rituals, habits and (of course) games that accompanied drinking at the time.
I am genuinely surprised at how much I learned. Especially that the writing is very accessible, laidback and fun. Every chapter actually ends with an 'instruction' list for how you can play the games yourself. Not everything is actually doable, of course, but it never failed to make me chuckle.
I don't think you should go into this expecting a detailed academic historical account. I believe the goal of this book is more to entertain (and sneakily teach you things here and there).
This was fun and was exactly what I was looking for.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed History's Greatest Drinking Games: From the Notorious to the Wisely Forgotten. I admit that I read it quickly. I could not put it down because it was so much fun. The author was not dry or boring. In fourteen chapters, he covers many cultures which range from early modern England to Ancient Egypt. He manages all the information so well. His tone is light and jovial.
Each chapter talks culture and then at the very end how you the reader can reproduce the culture at home with friends. The idea that one can easily try the games that our ancestors played today in modern times is exciting. Probably a good idea for a themed party. I also liked how the author discussed the who, what, where and why. He handles little things like proof ranges of vodka and dancing alcohol holders with ease.
I was entertained because it was a light and fun read. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the complimentary copy of this book.
Each chapter talks culture and then at the very end how you the reader can reproduce the culture at home with friends. The idea that one can easily try the games that our ancestors played today in modern times is exciting. Probably a good idea for a themed party. I also liked how the author discussed the who, what, where and why. He handles little things like proof ranges of vodka and dancing alcohol holders with ease.
I was entertained because it was a light and fun read. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the complimentary copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Learn a little about history and civilizations AND be entertained.
How often does a nonfiction book entertain you? Let me answer that for you - not that often. This is one.
This book provides a concise history of a civilization or country, then provides the country's tie to alcohol (sometimes with recipes), and then provides the 'game' played.
I can't say that I've learned so much about civilizations and actually enjoyed reading it. The facts presented are interesting and presented in an entertaining yet educational way.
Learning the anthropological significance of how certain peoples lived helped explain some of the games or the reasons for the games. (was that even a real sentence?)
This is a fun book to read and would make a great 'between' book for fiction lovers. It would make a great gift for anyone - even those under 21 (it doesn't suggest you drink!).
How often does a nonfiction book entertain you? Let me answer that for you - not that often. This is one.
This book provides a concise history of a civilization or country, then provides the country's tie to alcohol (sometimes with recipes), and then provides the 'game' played.
I can't say that I've learned so much about civilizations and actually enjoyed reading it. The facts presented are interesting and presented in an entertaining yet educational way.
Learning the anthropological significance of how certain peoples lived helped explain some of the games or the reasons for the games. (was that even a real sentence?)
This is a fun book to read and would make a great 'between' book for fiction lovers. It would make a great gift for anyone - even those under 21 (it doesn't suggest you drink!).
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“With this complex mythology grew a host of rituals, rules, and games to drink it, many of which are not recommended to try at home but we will provide instructions on how, exactly, not to try them.”
This nonfiction microhistory does a deep dive into various drinking practices, rituals, and games throughout human history. I found the different traditions fascinating (and sometimes disturbing). The book also features descriptions of different drinks associated with specific games or rituals. I hadn’t even heard of several of these drinks. A few traditions that stood out to me were puzzle jugs, Touhu, Polish Wódka, clockwork drinking automatons, mead mythology, mannjafnaðr, speakeasys, early efforts to produce alcohol in colonial America. Overall, I enjoyed this book.
Thank you to St Martins Press for an Advanced Reader Copy.
This nonfiction microhistory does a deep dive into various drinking practices, rituals, and games throughout human history. I found the different traditions fascinating (and sometimes disturbing). The book also features descriptions of different drinks associated with specific games or rituals. I hadn’t even heard of several of these drinks. A few traditions that stood out to me were puzzle jugs, Touhu, Polish Wódka, clockwork drinking automatons, mead mythology, mannjafnaðr, speakeasys, early efforts to produce alcohol in colonial America. Overall, I enjoyed this book.
Thank you to St Martins Press for an Advanced Reader Copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!
The book takes you around the world to many different times and places, showing us humans got stupid drunk everywhere and everywhen. It is a surprisingly deep dive each chapter into the weeds of the culture/ history / economics / politics / religion / climate / etc. of a time period and location that leads to people drinking a particular type of alcohol and the games that result. So deep, in fact, I actually felt lost in several sections. While it didn't have as much cohesion in the theme of 'games' as I expected, it did show how much drinking to excess is a form of control of the powerful over the weak rather than a chance to just let loose.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free digital ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley. I thought that the book would be focused on drinking games, but it had a lot of other history of alcohol and even just general/political history taking up way too much space in many of the chapters. Once I got about 75% through the book, I started to skim because it wasn't what I wanted out of the book at all. Not all of the parts about the drinking games were great either. The most interesting parts were the first couple of chapters to get the reader hooked, but it felt like it quickly became boring after that.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.
The title does a great job of accurately describing the book. Each chapter covers a different culture’s past drinking games as well as a small history on their traditional spirits. I do wish the history was a bit more in depth though. Each chapter will also give you instructions on how to play at least one of the drinking games with your friends. A quick and easy read, with lots of fun facts to tell your friends.
The title does a great job of accurately describing the book. Each chapter covers a different culture’s past drinking games as well as a small history on their traditional spirits. I do wish the history was a bit more in depth though. Each chapter will also give you instructions on how to play at least one of the drinking games with your friends. A quick and easy read, with lots of fun facts to tell your friends.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Elliot Martyn gives a breezy, readable cultural history of drinking and drinking games in this enjoyable book. Each chapter discusses historical factors, society of the time, the common drinking patterns, and one or more rituals for consuming alcohol. Particularly interesting were the descriptions of exclusion or inclusion of women from drinking, the effect of anti-Semitism on predominantly Jewish tavern keepers, and the palm sap wine of Africa (particularly its short shelf life).
While few of the games are practical today, being either too steeped in the culture of the time or containing violence, underhandedness, or messiness not conducive to today's society, they are entertaining to read about. While a niche history for sure, it's a fun one to read.
Thanks to Elliot Martyn, St. Martins Press, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While few of the games are practical today, being either too steeped in the culture of the time or containing violence, underhandedness, or messiness not conducive to today's society, they are entertaining to read about. While a niche history for sure, it's a fun one to read.
Thanks to Elliot Martyn, St. Martins Press, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews