"God and Guinness" - A Strange Combination?

The Search for God and Guinness

Stephen Mansfield

ISBN: 1595552693

NOTE: Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of the book to review.

Christians and the alcohol industry certainly have a checkered past together. From the Women’s Christian Temperance Union through the Prohibition all the way to today’s anti-alcohol Christian ministries, the two have often been portrayed as the strongest of enemies. Imagine my surprise, then, to begin reading Mansfield’s book and discover that Arthur Guinness - the famed founder of the Guinness company - was a man of great faith, a man whose faith was influenced by an acquaintance with John Wesley.

From this opening, Mansfield traces the history of Guinness - both the family and the brew. Along the way, he uncovers a trend of social concern that weaves its way from the earliest days of Guinness all the way through its history. The book also includes myriad anecdotes and general history of beer as a beverage and the role it has played in history.

In God and Guinness, Stephen Mansfield writes well. Characters and events come alive through Mansfield’s natural storytelling ability. While there is much information in each chapter, it rarely becomes tedious. At times, it does feel as though Mansfield is excessively interested in defending the practice of enjoying an occasional pint of beer, but those moments are fleeting and nowhere does Mansfield become polemical.

All in all, a good book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone interested either in history or in learning how a corporation can practice social responsibility. God and Guinness - not a strange combination at all.