How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else

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		How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else
		How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else

Now in paperback, the national bestselling riches-to-rags true story of an advertising executive who had it all, then lost it all—and was finally redeemed by his new job, and his twenty-eight-year-old boss, at Starbucks.

In his fifties, Michael Gates Gill had it all: a mansion in the suburbs, a wife and loving children, a six-figure salary, and an Ivy League education. But in a few short years, he lost his job, got divorced, and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. With no money or health insurance, he was forced to get a job at Starbucks. Having gone from power lunches to scrubbing toilets, from being served to serving, Michael was a true fish out of water.

But fate brings an unexpected teacher into his life who opens his eyes to what living well really looks like. The two seem to have nothing in common: She is a young African American, the daughter of a drug addict; he is used to being the boss but reports to her now. For the first time in his life he experiences being a member of a minority trying hard to survive in a challenging new job. He learns the value of hard work and humility, as well as what it truly means to respect another person.

Behind the scenes at one of America’s most intriguing businesses, an inspiring friendship is born, a family begins to heal, and, thanks to his unlikely mentor, Michael Gill at last experiences a sense of self-worth and happiness he has never known before.

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网友对How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else的评论

rt
本来就喜欢星巴克，偶尔在书店看到这本书的中文版，于是就来卓越找英文版完成阅读作业。。

忠实的starbucks fan,买这本书的时候在几个版本里面犹豫了很久，最终选了性价比较高的这一本。

撇开包装不说，打开包装，书皮严重变色，实在是因为太喜欢，外加懒得退换货，就忍着收了。

内容暂不做评价，但应该不会失望。

As someone who worked in advertising for 10-years and never climbed higher than senior-copywriter, I resent Gill claiming that he got his job for privilege. Yes, there was a time J. Walther Thompson loved hiring Yale graduates, and there was a time they hired people with no experience being a copywriter, beck then, agencies could afford to train their writers. HOWEVER, staying employed in advertising is EXTREMELY difficult, you're only as good as your last ad, you have to get along with people (and creative people can be absolutely horrible), you have to do good to great work consistently, and even then, you can still get fired. So I resent Gil implying that he kept his job for many years because he had white privilege. That's BS, he kept his job because he was extremely talented, willing to work extremely long hours. He lost his job because Sorrel is an idiot that appreciates young people over people with experience. I've read about Martin Sorrel, he's not a creative, that's why he didn't appreciate experienced creatives like Gil.

Also, I think his defense of his progressive daughter was ridiculous. The spoiled brat gets accepted to a great college and whines about the lack of diversity? Seriously? Diversity is so overrated! Gil should have set her straight. In fact, his whole family is horrible, they all benefited from him when he had money but didn't appreciate him, now they admire him (some of them) for working with POC's at Starbucks. So ridiculous. And why is he so apologetic? Is it because he wasn't nice to an African-American copywriter back in the day? Bah, he wasn't nice to a lot of people, creative directors aren't expected to be nice, they're expected to be brutal. I used to call one of my CD's, "the devil wears blue jeans," I used to fear him, and yet it was with him that I did my best work.

Another problem with this book is that it often goes on a tangent, he talks about meeting Hemingway in Spain, Thomas Wolfe, Frank Sinatra, at times I was bored, although I admit his story about how Hemingway got his scar was an interesting one.

Also, the whole thing about writing poems to his coworkers, that was so silly. Seriously, this Gil guy is PC to the core. He reminds me of Al Frankens "I'm good, I'm special, and gosh darn it, people like me" skit on SNL.

Overall, the book is OK, he is an amazing Starbucks employee. He does offer legendary service. I wish he was at my Starbucks, the servers I deal with never ask my name, they never make conversation, sometimes they're talking among themselves and I have to get their attention to make a freaking order.

I wanted to give 4.5 stars but since that wasn't possible I felt 5 was most appropriate. This is a simple and sweet read. The author is sometimes a bit over-the-top in his self-deprecation (he can be awfully unforgiving of his faults, flaws and mistakes!) but he was so genuine that I couldn't help but find myself really liking him. It was Mr. Gill's sincerity and vulnerability that won me over and I found myself feeling truly invested in his journey.

*SPOILER ALERT* I had expected some sort of lottery win-type of ending, where the hero is restored to his former glory, or whatever, but it was satisfyingly "normal". It was Mr. Gill's sincerity and vulnerability that won me over and I found myself feeling truly invested in his journey.

I had to review this book because the people on Amazon who gave it one star seem a little harsh in their criticism. Yes the book is about 63 year-old Michael Gill who hangs out at the Starbucks and eventually gets a job there. Sounds simple enough, right? But remember - the man is 63 years old, has been in upper-management practically his whole life, and his family comes from money. In other words, the man has the outlook of society owing him - not necessarily the other way around. This is where Starbucks comes in.

I found the book to be delightful. The only issue I had with it were that the people that worked at the Starbucks were so friendly! I have not experienced this at the majority of Starbucks I've been to. And, having worked in retail most of my life, I could relate how nerve-racking it can be to run a register for the first time (remember the man is 63) and I can't imagine what it would be like to make drinks with people shouting things at you - let alone trying to be friendly to the customers.

I found this book to be a heart-warming story about a rich man who finds that there is another side to people & how they live their lives besides what he's known his whole life. I found the writing to be normal- just like a guy who hangs out at the Starbucks - and I found the editing to be well done. The book gives you hope in people & how an ordinary day can change your life for the better.

In the acknowledgements the author gives a thanks to Tom Hanks who played his character in the movie version of the book. I Googled it & it currently sites the movie as in development. Tom Hanks would be a perfect person to play Michael Gill. I just hope that the movie sticks to the books' facts.

As a Starbucks partner of about the same age as MGG was when the book was written, I could empathize and identify with much of his situation. Starbucks has been a wonderful and welcoming experience and it was fun to compare my story with his.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because the writing was somewhat "elementary" and his continued referencing to his former life got a little tiresome.
But, an enjoyable, quick read.

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