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Seltzertopia: The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary Drink
What makes a person develop a loyalty and passion so intense, so unexpected, that it can turn their lives upside down?
Seltzertopia is the story of the modern pioneers of seltzer, loyal to and passionate about the crisply carbonated, who wrangle centuries-old machines to fill siphons with sparkling water, keeping alive a craft that is centuries old.
Using their stories to consider the social, cultural, and economic impacts of seltzer, Seltzertopia tackles the question: What is it about this simplest of concoctions that has allowed it to make a difference to so many people, in such different ways?
Based on more than fourteen years of original research and interviews, the extraordinary story of this ordinary drink can finally be told.
In Part One, "The World According to Seltzer," readers will learn the untold history of seltzer and about the people across America who have found themselves building a path to Seltzertopia. They will discover where seltzer comes from, the science of
seltzer, and how people can become SO passionate about something SO ordinary. More specifically, readers will meet John Seekings, a public relations executive in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and join him on his unexpected journey into the modern world of old-fashioned seltzer bottling.
In Part Two, "Give Me Seltzer (and the People Who Crave It),” readers will learn how, during the blizzard of 2010, John Seekings saw for the first time how much seltzer meant to his new customers. They will discover how that meaning can change over time and place, and how it is most often associated with one of four categories: health, refreshment, identity, and comedy. And it will begin with a visit not too far into the past, to a time when seltzer found itself pitted in a battle against another popular drink: Coca-Cola.
In Part Three, “Seltzertopia,” readers will enter the effervescent age. Widely available in plastic bottles, in supermarkets and corner stores, in a wide range of flavors, readers will discover seltzer’s global appeal, then revisit John Seekings, now a seltzer master in an emerging generation of new seltzer professionals.
Get your own copy of Seltzertopia and feel the fizz!
Seltzertopia is the story of the modern pioneers of seltzer, loyal to and passionate about the crisply carbonated, who wrangle centuries-old machines to fill siphons with sparkling water, keeping alive a craft that is centuries old.
Using their stories to consider the social, cultural, and economic impacts of seltzer, Seltzertopia tackles the question: What is it about this simplest of concoctions that has allowed it to make a difference to so many people, in such different ways?
Based on more than fourteen years of original research and interviews, the extraordinary story of this ordinary drink can finally be told.
In Part One, "The World According to Seltzer," readers will learn the untold history of seltzer and about the people across America who have found themselves building a path to Seltzertopia. They will discover where seltzer comes from, the science of
seltzer, and how people can become SO passionate about something SO ordinary. More specifically, readers will meet John Seekings, a public relations executive in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and join him on his unexpected journey into the modern world of old-fashioned seltzer bottling.
In Part Two, "Give Me Seltzer (and the People Who Crave It),” readers will learn how, during the blizzard of 2010, John Seekings saw for the first time how much seltzer meant to his new customers. They will discover how that meaning can change over time and place, and how it is most often associated with one of four categories: health, refreshment, identity, and comedy. And it will begin with a visit not too far into the past, to a time when seltzer found itself pitted in a battle against another popular drink: Coca-Cola.
In Part Three, “Seltzertopia,” readers will enter the effervescent age. Widely available in plastic bottles, in supermarkets and corner stores, in a wide range of flavors, readers will discover seltzer’s global appeal, then revisit John Seekings, now a seltzer master in an emerging generation of new seltzer professionals.
Get your own copy of Seltzertopia and feel the fizz!
- GenresFood
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
4 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Barry Joseph
5 books1 followerBarry Joseph is the Principal of Barry Joseph Consulting, a leader in innovating solutions for learning in a digital age. He is also the co-founder of the Games for Change Festival, the more than 20-year-old, multi-day event in New York City. As an early developer of after-school game design youth programming and now adjunct at New York University, Barry has been a national leader in both games-based learning and games for social impact, producing dozens of curriculums and games. Work and clients include the American Museum of Natural History, Girl Scouts of the USA, the RAND Corporation, the MacArthur Foundation, and the International Criminal Court. Barry has been featured by the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, CBS Morning News, All Things Considered, and many more.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 16, 2018
Seltzertopia is a light, fun, dare I say, effervescent exploration of a particular fizzy beverage. Seltzer has a much longer, and more complicated history than I had imagined, going back to the earliest days of civilization. Even defining what seltzer and isn't is not without controversy.
Barry Joseph chose to frame his narrative around one particular individual seeking to enter the seltzer business in Pittsburg, which I think was an interesting narrative choice. It narrows and personalizes the story, but also limits the depth of analysis.
Some of the subject areas felt more like introductions to deeper topics that left me wanting a bit more. Then again, that would start to be more of a dissertation rather than a light read. It did leave me excited to research more about our relationship to water in general. Who has written that book?
If you love seltzer in one of its many incarnations, you will definitely enjoy this book. Even if you don't care for the beverage, but are interested in Jewish history, the beverage industry or medical history, you will find a lot to enjoy in this book.
Barry Joseph chose to frame his narrative around one particular individual seeking to enter the seltzer business in Pittsburg, which I think was an interesting narrative choice. It narrows and personalizes the story, but also limits the depth of analysis.
Some of the subject areas felt more like introductions to deeper topics that left me wanting a bit more. Then again, that would start to be more of a dissertation rather than a light read. It did leave me excited to research more about our relationship to water in general. Who has written that book?
If you love seltzer in one of its many incarnations, you will definitely enjoy this book. Even if you don't care for the beverage, but are interested in Jewish history, the beverage industry or medical history, you will find a lot to enjoy in this book.
December 10, 2018
Fun and informational. I liked the personal touch of telling the story of the seltzer entrepreneurs.
Read
January 8, 2022Charming history of seltzer and stories of a set of people who are struggling to keep seltzer delivery alive, very well done.
May 1, 2019
Fun!
January 18, 2019
Overall, a pleasant and easy read. Don't expect anything too earth-shattering, but you'll come out with a smattering of interesting facts for your next cocktail party.
A little rough around the edges - in terms of the structure and (physical layout). The history felt a little scattered and not completely clear. Joseph also relies a little on the fact that his reader is already invested in seltzer and/or has some nostalgic/emotional feelings tied to seltzer. I.e. if you couldn't care less about seltzer and have no associations with it, this might not be the book for you.
Nevertheless, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the breadth of interesting information contained in this book: about both the history (globally and in the States) and sociology of seltzer. Joseph unearths many interesting anecdotes and episodes in the history of this drink (including the origins of the name and the drink's interaction with Prohibition and the temperance movement). Joseph dives deep with his interview subjects, which allows the reader to get a really complex and engaging portrait of them.
I also appreciated the overall structure - of alternating between the story of one man in the 21st century trying to revive a seltzer works in Pittsburgh and the history of seltzer throughout time and location.
A little rough around the edges - in terms of the structure and (physical layout). The history felt a little scattered and not completely clear. Joseph also relies a little on the fact that his reader is already invested in seltzer and/or has some nostalgic/emotional feelings tied to seltzer. I.e. if you couldn't care less about seltzer and have no associations with it, this might not be the book for you.
Nevertheless, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the breadth of interesting information contained in this book: about both the history (globally and in the States) and sociology of seltzer. Joseph unearths many interesting anecdotes and episodes in the history of this drink (including the origins of the name and the drink's interaction with Prohibition and the temperance movement). Joseph dives deep with his interview subjects, which allows the reader to get a really complex and engaging portrait of them.
I also appreciated the overall structure - of alternating between the story of one man in the 21st century trying to revive a seltzer works in Pittsburgh and the history of seltzer throughout time and location.
May 25, 2021
Great fun! I really let my geek flag fly with this one. Easy to pick up off the end table whenever I needed a few minutes in the pages. Could also see reading it again in one or two sittings. The history was great and the science of the fizz on the tongue fascinating.
Sadly it seems that a star of the book, Pitsburgh Seltzer Works, is closed.
Sadly it seems that a star of the book, Pitsburgh Seltzer Works, is closed.
December 16, 2018
Interesting historical context but sadly no mention of my ancestors who were seltzer makers.
January 22, 2019
Must-read for enthusiasts! Doesn’t go into detail about some of the bigger questions re: health & ethics but fans of seltzer and historians should enjoy. I loved it!
March 4, 2019
Loved this absolute treat of a book.
May 9, 2025
A thought provoking foray into the how, when, and why of seltzer.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews