Have you ever wondered where Guinness got its start? That is the question that author Stephen Mansfield seeks to answer in his "biography of the beer that changed the world." This is not simply the story of a great beer , but of the family behind it that believed it to be their duty and calling to use their wealth to make a radical difference in the world in which they live.
I will admit that for me, the majority of my knowledge of the Guinness brand of beer came from the animated figures the Guinness brew masters dancing and eating hot wings and exclaiming things to be "brilliant!" This year however is the 250th anniversary of what Arthur Guinness began in Dublin, Ireland at the St. James's Gate Brewery. This piqued my interest in where and how this all got started.
For a non-beer person, I found it hard to put this book down as I delved into the story of Arthur and those who followed him. Not only did the family brew a beer that changed their world, they were committed to doing what they could to follow the will of God and to serve him. Mansfield takes his readers through the 250 years of history of a beer company and makes it interesting and intriguing even to those who know very little about the subject. It is inspiring to learn of a family and a business that is committed to more than simply making a profit. Many businesses today could learn from the Guinness business model and do well with it.
This was a book that I found hard to put down as I read and would gladly recommend it to others. For those who know and enjoy Guinness already this is a worthwhile read to expand your knowledge, and for those who, like me, know very little of the beer, it is a great book for learning not just about the beer, but about what a family dedicated to using wealth righteously can do to change the world.
