How Starbucks Saved My Life

I have a terrible habit to which I must confess. Whenever I fly, I have a habit of going to the Airport Book store and buying a book I would probably never buy anywhere else and paying a price that is twice what I could get the book for at Amazon. There ... I feel much better.

Such is the story of how I purchased this book. I was on the way to Albuquerque New Mexico when I picked up this book. For those who know me, I am a sucker for anything Starbucks and this book looked interesting.

How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill is a book written about Mr. Gill's life experience. He has a seemingly lucrative and successful 30 year career as an Advertising Agent but is shown the door when "downsizing" takes place. He starts his own Agency, but the clients begin to dry up. Coupled with some bad personal decisions, he finds himself loosing most all that he has grown accustomed to in his life.

Family and fortune gone, he finds himself in his favorite Starbucks when he is "jokingly" offered a job. He accepts, stunning both him and the young lady who offered the job. Thus begins his journey into a culture that he was totally oblivious to for so many years.

Here is this WASP man now working for and with a black female manager at a store staff by minorities. And the transformation begins. What is amazing is that they learn from each other. They all struggle with misconceptions, prejudices, and preconceived ideas they have had about each other's culture. It is an interesting journey with Starbucks as a background.

As a bonus, one learns a tremendous amount about company policies of Starbucks, how they take care of their employees, and the inner workings of a store. Also, you learn much about different types of coffee and what goes well with them. After reading this book, I asked for a "Coffee Passport" at my local Starbucks and they gave me one!

This book is well written and shows how people from different ages, backgrounds and cultures can work through to help each other clearing up misconceptions.

I would encourage anyone - especially Starbucks aficionados - to read this book. I really enjoyed it!