I enjoyed reading this book. The book explores the history of Moonshine and alcohol in North Carolina. The book is well written and easy to read. I learned a lot about the impact of Moonshine on the history of the state. Historical illustrations accompany the text. Enjoy

Not being from the U.S., I was unfamiliar with the history of moonshine. This was a great introduction to the subject, even if it focuses on just one state.

Hoooweeee! That was a fun ride. Daniel Pierce has written that rare specimen of academic book that is both highly informative and highly entertaining. The book is highly effective at digging below the stereotypes of moonshine and moonshiners, to illuminate the importance that illicit liquor had, both economically and socially, to the various communities that adopted bootlegging as an unofficial industry. Pierce also provides an erudite examination of the importance of informal economies to the economic survival of locals, particularly those subject to the instability of mono-crop farming. Details of moonshine production are technical, but not overly complex. Also, the frequent use of pop culture references makes the work accessible to the average reader, even one not particularly familiar with the state.

Both informative and, at times, hilarious, this is cultural history at its finest.

Well, I certainly learned a lot more about the colorful history of moonshine in North Carolina than I ever thought I'd need to know!

The text itself, though sometimes dry and repetitive, is the star of this book, as it goes into what seems to be quite thorough detail about the socioeconomic conditions that brought about the ascendancy of NC's prime placement in the world of American moonshine, though it does tend to more or less brush off any serious suggestion of other states' positions. The sidebar passages, ostensibly there to feature specific personages, don't often contain different information than the main text, so I'm not sure why they're even included. Better to excise this info from the main text, no? And have it say, like "see sidebar" or something?

The subtitle of this book would be more accurate if it replaced "fast cars" with "prohibition" as the latter factor looms larger. The sections about cars ultimately comprise relatively little of the text, and tend to be embedded in various biographical sketches anyway. Though I must say I had no idea that the roots of NASCAR were so entangled with moonshine. Not that I'm surprised.

The author, a professor of history at the University of North Carolina Asheville, clearly knows his stuff, via both research and the ol' Boots on the Ground method. I'd recommend this to committed readers of serious non-fiction about the American South, though not to more casual readers of pop non-fiction, as the writing here is more academic than the latter would normally enjoy.

As a North Carolinian with moonshine in my ancestral DNA, I was excited to get my hands on Tar Heel Lighnin. This book sheds light on lots of the history but in a way that had me saying, "ohhhh," when I kept reading. You see, moonshine has quite a history of it's own and the version I read was very similar to parts I had been told by various members of my family. The kicker is, my family history passed down over a few generations has focused on more of the "tobacco business," the family had. Truth is, after Hurricane Hazel came through in 1954, the trees became the perfect hideaway for the stills. And those stills supported my ancestors in ways that tobacco could not.

I appreciated the chance to read this one and think it will make a great gift this holiday for some members of my family! I'm really thankful that Daniel Pierce was able to capture such rich information when a lot of the word of mouth history is quickly disappearing. Cheers!

I wouldn't have thought a state-specific recounting of the historical importance of a spirit well-known for poisoning and/or blinding a percentage of its consumers would be something I'd be eager to read. I would've thought such a work would be a little too esoteric – I'm neither a moonshine aficionado, nor an NC native – for me, but I'm happy to say that I was wrong on this count. Tar Heel Lightnin' is a lot less dry (fitting, I guess) than I'd suspected a scholarly work on the subject might be.

(That said, most scholarly works don't usually include a hefty tranche on the dodgy history of early NASCAR racing. But maybe they should.)

The book is an excellent cure to any preconceptions one may have held about moonshine and its role in Southern society. Author Daniel S. Pierce has stitched together a very easy-reading tale which stretches from the first migrant populations (using brewing practices from their homes with the materials found nearby) to the antebellum South, to the dry days of prohibition, right up to the modern, hipster-distilled spirits of today.

What becomes clear is that illicit booze has always been a part of of the social fabric of the South. Indeed, it's more than once stated that religious leaders weren't averse to a bit of a tipple, a little spirit to aid the spiritual, if you will. It's crossed colour and creed, and has proved to be an additional earner for people during hard times – an insurance, if you will.

The technical side of distillation is covered in enough detail to inform, but not so much as to induce snoozing. The dangers of adulteration are covered – though not quite as much as I would've thought, given how much the whole "drink it and go blind" trope is played out in media. The role of organised crime in booze distribution is discussed, as is the way NASCAR grew out of both the money and the super-fast vehicles of the illicit trade. It's surprising how many other aspects of life are touched in this story.

There's a lot of interesting rogues in the book, to be sure. Pierce breaks up chapters with thumbnail sketches of various luminaries, and highlights, as well as pop-culture trivia. Movies, songs and TV shows are discussed, including The Dukes of Hazzard>, which was plainly based on a Tar Heel bootlegger, no matter how much the producers want to relocate to Georgia.

The best thing that came from this work was that it challenged the assumption that popular culture has birthed in me: that moonshine was for jug-blowing rednecks. It's not the case, and Pierce's book explains how much more a part of NC's history and culture the drink (and its production) is. It made me look at something I only knew by stereotype, and see that there was much more there than meets the eye.

(Assuming you can find the still, that is.)

For some reason I can't explain I am drawn to North Carolina. I was not disappointed in this read. It was great as a history text but it was also great fun to curl up with. Highly recommend!

This was such a unique and interesting read! I had never thought that I would want to know the history of Moonshine, but for some reason, I wanted to read this book. I am so glad that I did, as the author's extensive research was evident to the reader and I learned so many new things about this "good 'ol mountain dew". For example, so many people were brought together by moonshine and there are recipes that have been passed down via generations of families. This book was riveting.

Entertaining read about southern staples. Highly recommended if you grew up in North Carolina, or have an interest in the history of the area.

As the descendant of two families from Franklin and Henry County, Virginia who were involved in the bootleg business, this book helped me understand the lives of my ancestors and the socioeconomic factors that contributed to their involvement.

Lots of detail and research that is woven into a well written and entertaining story of the history of bootlegging in North Carolina.

Tar Heel Lightnin': How Secret Stills and Fast Cars Made North Carolina the Moonshine Capital of the World by Daniel S. Pierce will be published on October 21st 2019 by University of North Carolina Press.

Tar Heel Lightnin' is a fun and informative recounting of North Carolina’s storied history when it comes to illegal liquor and the moonshiners and bootleggers involved in making and distributing it. Pierce provides the reader with a well-rounded, thoroughly researched summary of the prevalence of moonshine since the early days in North Carolina up through Prohibition to the present. Pierce also shows the influence of moonshine on Hollywood as was as in the early days of NASCAR. Tar Heel Lightnin' is a must ready for anyone who is interested in learning more about moonshine or the history of North Carolina.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

An entertaining and educational book that you'll love so much you won't share your copy. The title hooked me, the jacket description reeled me in. Daniel Pierce had to have enjoyed writing this book. His passion for the subject shines through in every page. Moonshine today is a poor imitation of the first beverages to come out of the North Carolina mountains. As you quickly turn pages even when you should be doing something else, you'll feel the tension build between the illegal still owners and the law and sometimes between each other. If you've ever tasted moonshine, or thought about tasting it, you owe it to yourself to read this book.