Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization by Edward Slingerland Summary

Drunk explores alcohol’s pivotal role in human evolution, arguing that intoxication enhanced creativity, reduced stress, and fostered cooperation—key factors in building early civilizations. Edward Slingerland combines archaeology, neuroscience, and history to show that alcohol wasn’t an evolutionary mistake but a social catalyst, enabling tribal humans to trust strangers and collaborate on a large scale.

This book appeals to readers interested in anthropology, social psychology, or the cultural history of intoxicants. It’s ideal for those curious about how human behavior shapes society, offering insights for both casual readers and academics. Fans of interdisciplinary science writing will appreciate its blend of humor, case studies, and rigorous research.

Yes—Slingerland’s provocative thesis challenges conventional views of alcohol, presenting compelling evidence that intoxication was crucial to human progress. The book balances scholarly depth with engaging storytelling, featuring Vikings, fruit flies, and ancient rituals to illustrate its claims. Its fresh perspective makes it a standout in studies of human social evolution.

Edward Slingerland is a philosophy professor at the University of British Columbia and a distinguished scholar of religion and early Chinese thought. His prior book, Trying Not to Try, was acclaimed by The Guardian and Brain Pickings. In Drunk, he merges interdisciplinary research to decode humanity’s relationship with intoxication.

By suppressing the prefrontal cortex (PFC), alcohol lowers inhibitions and boosts endorphins, making people more open and trusting. This “chemical handshake” facilitated bonds between strangers, enabling large-scale collaboration. Slingerland cites examples like Viking feasts and Japanese salarymen bonding over drinks, showing how intoxication dissolved social barriers critical for civilization.

The “chemical handshake” refers to alcohol’s ability to enhance social bonding by reducing prefrontal cortex activity, which lowers social anxiety and increases empathy. This biochemical process released early humans from rigid self-control, allowing genuine emotional expression and trust-building—key steps in forming complex societies.

Yes—while emphasizing alcohol’s historical benefits, Slingerland acknowledges its dangers, including addiction and violence. He contrasts alcohol’s role in social cohesion with its capacity to fuel conflict, using examples like Viking raids. The book advocates for balanced, mindful consumption rather than outright rejection of intoxication.

Slingerland highlights Göbekli Tepe, where beer brewing may predate agriculture, and Roman bacchanals that strengthened political alliances. He also examines Japanese post-work drinking rituals and ancient Chinese wine-based diplomacy, showing how alcohol permeated global cultural practices to enable cooperation.

Unlike anecdotal accounts, Drunk offers a scientifically rigorous thesis framed by evolutionary biology and neuroscience. It diverges from purely social histories by arguing intoxication was biologically essential for human survival, making it a unique blend of anthropology, psychology, and genetics.

Some critics suggest Slingerland overstates alcohol’s necessity, noting that agriculture and trade might have emerged without it. Others argue he downplays non-alcoholic intoxicants’ roles. However, most praise his evidence-rich approach for reframing intoxication as a catalyst rather than a vice.

Yes—Slingerland advocates for intentional, communal drinking to harness alcohol’s bonding benefits while mitigating risks. He suggests structured rituals (e.g., shared toasts) to replicate ancient practices that reinforced social ties without excess. The book emphasizes moderation and context over abstinence.

The book cites sex-starved fruit flies and blind cave fish consuming fermented berries to show that attraction to alcohol predates humans. These examples underscore intoxication’s deep evolutionary roots, linking animal instincts to human social strategies.