The Secret History of Coffee, Coca & Colais an illustrated book disclosing new research in the coca leaf trade conducted by the Coca-Cola Company. 2011 marked the 125th anniversary of its iconic beverage, and the 50th anniversary of the international drug control treaty that allows Coca-Cola exclusive access to the coca plant. Most people are familiar with tales of cocaine being an early ingredient of "Coke" tonic; it's an era the company makes every effort to bury. Yet coca leaf, the source of cocaine, and banned in the United States since 1914, has been part of Coca-Cola's secret formula for over one hundred years. This is a history that spans from cocaine factories in Peru, to secret experiments at the University of Hawaii, to the personal files of US Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner Harry Anslinger (infamous for his "Reefer Madness" campaign against marijuana, lesser known as a long-time collaborator of the Coca-Cola Company). The Secret History of Coffee, Coca & Colatells how one of the biggest companies in the world bypasses an international ban on coca. The book also explores histories of three of the most consumed substances on earth, revealing connections between seemingly disparate icons of modern culture: caffeine, cocaine, and Coca-Cola. Ricardo Cortesis best known for illustrating the number one New York Timesbest-selling Go the Fuck to Sleepand the G-rated follow-up Seriously, Just Go to Sleep. Cortes first gained notoriety after his debut It's Just a Plant: A Children's Book about Marijuanasparked controversy from The O'Reilly Factorto Capitol Hill. He has illustrated books about electricity, the Jamaican bobsled team, and jury nullification; his work has been featured in Vanity Fair, Entertainment Weekly, New York Post, The Village Voice, San Francisco Chronicle, and on CNN and FOX News. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.