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How Starbucks Saved My Life

A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else

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About this listen

 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.©2007 Michael Gates Gill; (P)2007 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc. Business Cultural & Regional Entertainment & Celebrities Professionals & Academics
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I love starbucks. I'm a coffee fiend....and I also love a great feel good true story. I was dubious about this book but found the title intriguing. How could Starbucks save someone's life? Well I found out. This book is well written. The narrator does a great job of making you believe that he's really working in the store or at the train station or in a scary meeting. You get a great insight into the workings of behind the scenes at your local coffee shop. What this book showed me was how much of a snob we all are when it comes to working in service industries or when it comes to working for "the man" - giving into commercialism more than by just buying a coffee. The truth is we are all snobs, and most people can't afford to be. The author learns this the hard way but changes his life for the better in the end. I will definitely listen to this again soon!

Really Excellent Book

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This was my reread and loved it as much as the first time around!

Great book!

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Heart warming and thought provoking. Highly recommend listening to this book especially it you are caught up in big corporate world of dog eat dog. It could change your life

Heart warming and thought provoking, loved it.

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I listened to the whole book so it must have kept me engaged, the narrator did a good job.

the story is about a guy who used to be a horrible person, mis treated his colleagues, cheated on his wife, neglected his kids and looked down on people in society, then all of a sudden he loses his job and marrage, so slums in in Starbucks.

Throughout the book i got a sense of his self importance, everything he does or did was fantastic, everyone loved him. He appears to long for his old life back, however to his credit accepts his demise and handles it with grace. The name dropping like the queen, Ernet Hemmingway and Frank Sinatra felt desperate for him to remind us he used to be somebody, but then again hes just been true isnt he and if thats his story then i respect that.

i think the takeaway from this book is that people who stand tall can fall quickly, and be kinder to people particularly those who you deem as 'below you'.

im divided

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