For God, Country and Coca-Cola: The Unauthorized History of the Great American Soft Drink and the Company That Makes It [Paperback]

Mark Pendergrast (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 16, 1994

The unauthorized history of the great American soft drink and the company that makes it. Pendergrast tells the full story of why Coke--more than 99% sweetened water--is the quintessential American product and how it changed the course of American capitalism. Also reveals high jinks, family dramas, and shady deals behind the scenes. Three 8-page photo inserts.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Freelance business journalist Pendergrast presents an amusing, unauthorized history of Coke. Photos.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Coca-Cola is one of the most celebrated products of this century. The trials and successes of Coke and its manufacturer, ranging from its invention to the wars with Pepsi, unfold in a historical narrative that keeps the reader focused and interested. Pendergrast, a business journalist, displays an impressive array of research from several collections and interviews with former company employees. The premise that Coca-Cola has religious undertones is somewhat far-fetched, but the author does an able job of proving that Coke is an American phenomenon. The last chapter, however, would have benefited from editing to make the transition from third to first person flow more smoothly. Recommended for general collections.
- Rebecca A. Smith, Harvard Business Sch. Lib.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Scribner Paper Fiction (May 16, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0020360355
• ISBN-13: 978-0020360353
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,478,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just fabulous, March 16, 2000

By 

Lesley West (St James, Western Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For God, Country and Coca-Cola: The Unauthorized History of the Great American Soft Drink and the Company That Makes It (Hardcover)

I have long been fascinated by Coca Cola as a product - its world wide marketing and dominance is just mesmerising. This book takes a good look at this phenomenon and is marvellously entertaining to boot. The stories of Coke's determination to get their product to the boys at the front during the war are brilliant, and others of the war with Pepsi are highly entertaining. This is well worth your time. My husband was most sceptical, saying that it is just a giant advertisement for a soft drink. I told him not to be so difficult, and to get me a Coke.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stranger than Fiction, December 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: For God, Country and Coca-Cola: The Unauthorized History of the Great American Soft Drink and the Company That Makes It (Paperback)

The real story behind the most famous brand in the world is an amazing trek through one of the most interesting centuries of world history. It is superbly written by a man of uncontestable credentials: Harvard B-school graduate and professional journalist who was born and raised in Atlanta. His style is both witty and informative, and while he shows his affection for everthing that the company means to the American way of life, Pendergrast never loses his keen sense of objectivity. This book should definitely be required reading for anyone interested in Pop Culture, U.S. History, Marketing, or just a great tale well told. This is by far one of the best books I have ever read.

Benjamin Zuckerman - Buenos Aires, Argentina

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding historical business doccumentary, February 14, 2000

By 

Adam F. Jewell (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For God, Country and Coca-Cola: The Unauthorized History of the Great American Soft Drink and the Company That Makes It (Paperback)

Explore the personalities, events, deals, and ordeals, that Coke has endured over the years. From the morphene adicted doctor who created the tonic to the modern day financial and brand building wizards, this book covers Coke in a way no other book does. The author, Mark Pendergrast, has many ties to Atlanta, and some of the historic figures in the book. This history combined with his research in to the company provies for a fantastic, presumably 100% factual doccumentary, chronicaling the history of one of the worlds most well nown companies.