The fact that you’re reading this reveals that you have at least a passing interest in alcohol as a fuel. For some, that interest may be one of curiosity — about alternatives to petroleum in general or about the practicability of fuel alcohol in particular. Others may be considering using alcohol fuel — better known as ethanol — to supplement or even replace petroleum in their vehicles, tractors, generators, or to power equipment at home or on the farm. The majority of people who read this book from start to finish will likely learn a lot more about alcohol than they ever suspected there was to know. Alcohol has a long and diverse history, certainly as a beverage, but equally so as a fuel, which only came into sharp focus toward the middle of the 19th century when it was used for lighting. Alcohol’s journey from an illuminant to a motor fuel to a clean-air gasoline additive and most recently to a bridge technology slated to help us transition to a petroleum-free age is an absorbing one