The Search for God and Guinness by Stephen Mansfield
For those who’ve been following my Tweets you’ll know I’ve been reading The Search for God and Guinness, by Stephen Mansfield which tells the story of not only the famed Guinness beer, but also the story of the family behind that beer. From the history of beer to the history of the Guinness clan to the modern day Guinness, Mansfield weaves an engaging and informative narrative. Even if you aren’t a beer drinker there is something to gain from the Guinness story. I may be somewhat biased, as my favorite beer is Guinness Draught,
but reading of how faith played such an important role in the Guinness family and how their faith in Jesus Christ permeated every aspect of their lives – even the way they brewed beer – was amazing. Arthur Guinness was a follower of John Wesley and, like Wesley, believed that worship was not limited to gatherings in church, but was something you lived out. He believed how he managed his brewery was an act of worship, the care he put into his beer was an act of worship, even what the company could do to give back to it’s employees and community was an act of worship. The stories of the Guinness family using their wealth over the last two and a half centuries to not only better the lives of their employees but their communities and more astounded me. Here I was thinking, “I just like the way Guinness tastes”. Ever since reading this book though, every time I buy a Guinness I feel as if I’m part of the story – part of the good that Guinness is doing. Samuel Adams may use the tagline, take pride in your beer, but now I believe Guinness actually deserves that line.
