donnatella reviewed How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
This is a quick, easy read about how Starbucks works and how a guy down on his luck found his calling when he started working for the company as a barista. However, Gill doesn't know when to stop name-dropping. I don't really care to see every famous person he's ever met mentioned in a single book, especially when they have little to do with the story. It's almost like Gill thought to himself, "Hey, Frank Sinatra is on the playlist at my Starbucks! I'll mention the time I met him!. And we serve scones! I'll talk about the time I had bad manners and bumped into the Queen of England!" I kept wanting to punch him.
Gini F. (passionforbooks) -
Helpful Score: 6
I really enjoyed this book. Michael Gill is brutally honest about his reduced circumstances and the subsequent trials and tribulations he suffers as he searches for work and learns to cope in a job he is over qualified and unprepared for. His candid evaluations of himself as well as others was very interesting. The story has a happy ending even though we can't predict his future. You come away knowing that his attitude is what makes him successful.
Nancy W. (Nancybw) reviewed How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
What might have been an interesting magazine article becomes a repetitive, over-long walk through a fairly uninteresting year in this man's life. The audio CD especially becomes a "know-what's-gonna-happen" snoozefest long before it's over. Do yourself a favor and skip it.
Ashley B. (daredevilgirl013) reviewed How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else on + 746 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
A wonderful book that makes you wonder, would my life be better if I did a job I thought was under me? Would it make a difference. I amazed to find out the benefits that Starbucks gives (it's even better than my current job!!!) and how they really care about their "guests" and their "partners". It shows that people really do matter and care to Starbucks. Just a really great book that gives you insight to how Starbucks changes not only those that come in, but those that work there as well.
Heather B. (Heather-and-Raven) -
Helpful Score: 4
I go to Starbucks 2-4 times a week, it's my happy place. Drinking Starbucks is like a hug to your insides. I would rather be dipped in a vat of hot latte than listen to this drivel. I didn't make it past disk 4. I don't care about this guy's "amazing" and "special" daughters. I don't care that he cheated on his wife, got the cheatee pregnant, and left her hanging too. He's boring, boring, boring. I thought it'd be an inspirational look on how working at Starbucks could turn someone's life around, but it's like way more about how he finds himself "so helpful" to the down-and-out African American female store manager - ordering her about on how to make PowerPoints and stuff - and less about Starbucks itself.
