Beer for Dummies by Marty Nachel with Steve Ettlinger. Let’s start with how I came about getting a copy of this book. Back around Christmas time last year I saw a copy of Wine for Dummies. I picked it up and noticed that the “Dummy” had expanded into the non-computer field. I didn’t give it much thought until around Dec. 31st, I saw CNN do a piece of what’s hot for 1996. Beer was at the top of the list. Not just any beer, but craft beer. I saw a similar ‘What’s Hot’ article in a local newspaper and again Beer was listed.
Within a few weeks I saw an article on the Dummy books. After reading that I knew that ‘Beer for Dummies’ would soon be out. The article did not list Beer for Dummies asa new title, I just put a few pieces together and knew. Next I wrote an article about it. See View From Here 26. In the article I ranted on how the current beer renaissance does not need a dummy book, that it should not be written, and to please drive a stake through the person who is planning to write it.
About three weeks later I got a letter from Marty Nachel telling me it was too late, that Beer for Dummies had already been written and if I wanted to receive a free copy of the book to let him know. At the beginning of September a copy of the book arrived at my door.
I wanted to hate this book. I was sure that it would be filled with poor attempts at being clever and waste ink about how the major swill makers produce substandard barley beverages. I was going to apply a few Dorothy Parker quotes and rip the book to shreds. I was sure that the covers of this book would be too far apart. Then something happened… I read it.
The Essay on Book and Grade Level
Tuesday: Hats ON for Reading – Wear your favorite hat to show your reading spirit. Wednesday: Reading Takes You Places – Dress like a Tourist. “Name that Book Trivia” – Every hour an excerpt from a book will be read over the intercom and classrooms will have the opportunity to guess the book. Thursday: Reading BRIGHTENS your World – Dress in bright colors. Friday: Wear your ...
The best way I can describe this book is to compare it with my first grade reader ‘Fun with Dick and Jane’. That book was important – it taught me to read, so I could go on to read, All Quite on the Western Front, A Catcher in the Rye, The Sun also Rises, and other great works as I grew older. I cannot go back and read ‘Fun with Dick and Jane’ as a 34 year-old man and the same way I did when I was 6 years-old boy.
This book is strictly for beginners. It is a well thought out, intelligent book on the subject of beer.
It explains beer styles, how to make beer, how to pour a Guinness and other beer related subjects. I liked the way the chapters are arranged. I like the comics that began each chapter (The Third Wave by Rich Tennant).
The writing style is clean and enjoyable to read.
The chapter on How to Homebrew is nice; it gives the first time brewer step by step instructions. I only skimmed the chapter on cooking with beer. I’m not the cook in my family and I’m not sure how the recipes listed would turn out.
After reading it I didn’t learn very much, because I’d read the same information in the many beer articles I’ve read and the few books that I have also read. But that doesn’t that the book is bad or should not be read by others.
The last chapter list the BBC, Goose Island Brewing Company, Rogue Brewery & Public Ale House and Great Lakes Brewing Company in the top ten best brewpubs. I think this proves that Marty Nachel like to drink good beer. That’s important, some people have writing skills, others have good taste in beer. If you write a book on beer you need to have both.
One Appendix list several beer clubs (FOSSILS is not listed).
I hope it wasn’t left out as a slam. I wonder how may of the clubs listed have over 200 members and who’s newsletter is quoted by U.S. brewpapers?
Appendix G gives a brief summary of Beer History and takes a few digs at the Mega Swill Makers and a nice dig on light beer.
The Research paper on Contemporary Marketing Book Text Chapter
ANALYZING "CONTEMPORARY MARKETING WIRED' ANALYZING "CONTEMPORARY MARKETING WIRED' Essay, Research Paper 163 STUDENT ID# ANALYZING "CONTEMPORARY MARKETING WIRED' WITH THE USE OF ADDLER AND VAN DOREN'S "HOW TO READ' Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Course Requirements of BUS 120 Principles of Marketing DUE DATE: Thursday, February 5, 1998 PLEASE NOTE: Submittal Time is of the Essence ...
If this book ever gets a revised edition I would like to suggest that as page or two devoted to mead and a few pages on ‘How to Start a Homebrew Club’.
I hate the title and I would have cut out the fake computer icons that appear on almost every page. But, once you got beyond that, I recommend that beginners give it a try. This book will make a nice addition to the FOSSILS Library.
