While there are those who would suggest God's true children don't drink alcohol, the story of Arthur Guinness and his delicious beverage clearly proves otherwise. The Search for God and Guinness is part travelogue, part cultural history, and part Christian apologetic as Stephen Mansfield traces the origins of the famous Dublin brew and the men responsible for it. The story is unfamiliar to most of the world, despite the fact that over 10 million glasses of Guinness stout are consumed every day.
Arthur Guinness, it would seem, was a good Christian before he was a good brewmaster. Distressed by the prevalent drunkenness and alcoholism of 18th century Dublin, he wanted to create a beverage that would be healthy and tasty but without the horrible effects of gin and whiskey (the favorite libations of his day). He came up with a creamy stout that remains one of the best-tasting beer recipes available and one of the most popular drinks on the planet. He also started a trend of Christian philanthropy that the Guinness family has continued for 250 years, treating both company employees and the poor with hospitality and generosity in the name of Christ.
A journalist by trade, Mansfield's prose is easy to read and often funny. A Christian himself, his study of the Guinness tradition is well-considered and favorable. He even takes into account objections from teetotaling believers and starts with a brief history of beer and its relationship to the Church, beginning with the often overlooked story of the Pilgrims' first meeting with the Indian Samoset. This isn't just a fun story—part of Mansfield's love of history stems from its capacity to make us better, wiser people, and this chronicle of the Guinness family and their beer is no exception. Whether you like beer or not, if you love Christ and the work people do in His name, you'll love Guinness after reading this book.