Where do you go after writing best-selling books about the faith of George W. Bush and Barack Obama? To beer, of course! This fascinating volume delves into the history of the most iconic family in brewing.

After a chapter on the history of beer and civilization (hint: it’s far more important than you suspect), Mansfield traced the various branches of the Guinness family tree. He found a family that made wise decisions, gave liberally to the poor, and practiced their god-given talents in the pursuit of the perfect stout.

I’ll be honest: as an evangelical believer, I snagged this  book for the shock value of the title. I was happily surprised to find a work of history—not some overworked religious diatribe on the morality of drinking.

My only qualm was a slight misbranding on the cover. The subtitle should read: “a biography of the family who changed the world”. The book’s more about people than beer.

Read and enjoy this great story about how one family used their god-given talents to the utmost, while simultaneously caring deeply for the poor.

Disclaimer: I received this book as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger program.

Mansfield, Stephen. The Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World. Thomas Nelson, 2009.