Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition

Last Call examines the 14-year period of Prohibition in America and the decades-long movement that led to its establishment. The book traces the confluence of social reform movements, political maneuvering, and cultural shifts that resulted in the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Okrent presents the key figures who shaped both the push for Prohibition and the resistance against it, from temperance activists to bootleggers, politicians to gangsters. The narrative follows the implementation and enforcement of the Volstead Act, along with its impact on American society, culture, and governance from 1920-1933. The author details the economic consequences, law enforcement challenges, and social transformations that occurred during the Noble Experiment. The text covers the rise of organized crime, changes in gender roles and social spaces, and the lasting effects on American drinking culture and regulatory systems. Through this historical account, Okrent illuminates how single-issue politics can reshape a nation's legal and social fabric - and how unintended consequences can ultimately doom even the most passionate reform movements.

Readers describe Last Call as a detailed and well-researched exploration of American Prohibition with illuminating political context. Many reviews highlight Okrent's ability to weave together social movements, organized crime, and political maneuvering. Readers appreciate: - Clear explanations of complex political alliances - Personal stories and historical characters - Connections to modern politics and social movements - Focus on women's roles in both supporting and opposing Prohibition Common criticisms: - Dense information can be overwhelming - Some sections drag with excessive detail - Jumps between time periods can be confusing - Limited coverage of everyday citizens' experiences Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (8,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,200+ ratings) Reader quote: "Like a Ken Burns documentary in book form - comprehensive but never dry." - Goodreads reviewer Most negative reviews focus on pacing rather than accuracy or research quality.

Bootleggers and Baptists by Jason Smith A history of how religious groups and criminal enterprises found common cause in their opposition to alcohol, leading to unexpected alliances during the Progressive Era.

The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum The story of New York City's first forensic scientists who confronted the wave of methanol-related deaths from tainted liquor during Prohibition.

The Ghosts of Eden Park by Karen Abbott The chronicle of George Remus, a Cincinnati lawyer who built America's largest bootlegging operation and became the model for The Great Gatsby.

Dry Manhattan by Michael Lerner An examination of how New York City resisted Prohibition through speakeasies, political resistance, and cultural transformation.

The War on Alcohol by Lisa McGirr A study of how Prohibition expanded federal power and created the foundations of the modern American penal system.

🍺 Author Daniel Okrent served as the first-ever public editor of The New York Times from 2003 to 2005. 🗳️ The Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), a key force behind Prohibition, became the first organization in American history to create a professional lobbying operation in Washington, D.C. 📜 The 18th Amendment was the only U.S. Constitutional amendment to restrict individual rights rather than expand them, and the only one to be repealed. 💰 During Prohibition, the U.S. government purposely poisoned industrial alcohol (which bootleggers were known to steal and redistribute), leading to the deaths of an estimated 10,000 people. 🍷 The book reveals that grape growers actually prospered during Prohibition by selling "grape bricks" - concentrated grape juice blocks that came with a warning label instructing buyers how NOT to make wine (which effectively served as instructions for making wine).