Cohen's book on Prohibition does well in summarizing the history of the "noble experiment."

The early history of alcohol in America is colorful as it produced a large role in the American Revolution and the early years of the republic. Cohen establishes the shifts in attitude that help explain how and why the temperance movement gained power and how such an organization increased the political presence of women in the U.S. The supporters of Prohibition are given much attention, but there is not nearly enough information about the opposition. Many of the pictures are humorous illustrations that depict the stance of anti-prohibitionists while more serious illustrations and headlines offer the opinions of the teetotalers. The rise of organized crime and the loopholes used to get around the Volstead Act are summarized briefly in the final two to three chapters and tell how ineffective the legislation proved.

I would liked to have read how Prohibition has had an effect on America since its repeal. Nonetheless, I have read the book cover to cover and have found it to be a good read and a fair summary of the anti-alcohol movement(s) in America. ( )

Prohibtion, by Daniel Cohen, is a specialized book on the formations, enactment, and legacy of the 18th Amendment.

This is a well-balanced book, giving perspectives from a wide range of sources on the topic. The history of the Temperance Movement is discussed in detail, as well as its most famous members (such as Carry Nation).

Teetotalers are the loudest voices in this book, unfortunately. Many quotes from Temperance and religious leaders are given concerning the evils of drinking, but these appear more to be for historical reference. The author list a great deal of people that were against alcohol consumption, but other than simply stating that most people drank, it was popular, and few cultures generally saw anything wrong with it, the critics of Prohibition are silent in the book.

This book is informative, easy to read, and includes: an index, chronology of events, bibliography, and a further-reading section. The chapter titles are clear and so are the sub-topics. I was impressed with the section highlighting the racism found in parts of the Temperance movement, targeting immigrants (especially the German-Americans), as well as the section demonstrating the gender-divide in the movement (as women were at the forefront of the Teetotalers). ( )