What Starbucks tells us about America

Chances are, wherever you are listening to this show, you’re not far from a Starbucks. And the chances are almost as good that our guest, BRYANT SIMON, an American history professor at Temple University, has sipped a cup of joe there, too. Over the last few years, Simon has visited about 425 Starbucks coffee shops in nine countries. His new book, “Everything But the Coffee: Learning About America from Starbucks,” combines first-hand observations with meticulous research to explore the company’s history and impact on the cultures of the coffee house and American consumerism. On today’s Radio Times, he’ll serve up a grande cup of observation and analysis in conversation with guest host TRACEY MATISAK. Listen to the mp3