Quench Your Own Thirst

Business Lessons Learned over a Beer or Two

By: Jim Koch

Narrated by: Jim Koch

Founder of The Boston Beer Company, brewer of Samuel Adams Boston Lager, and a key catalyst of the American craft beer revolution, Jim Koch offers his unique perspective when it comes to business, beer, and turning your passion into a successful company or career.

In 1984, it looked like an unwinnable David and Goliath struggle: one guy against the mammoth American beer industry. When others scoffed at Jim Koch’s plan to leave his consulting job and start a brewery that would challenge American palates, he chose a nineteenth-century family recipe and launched Samuel Adams. Now one of America’s leading craft breweries, Samuel Adams has redefined the way Americans think about beer and helped spur a craft beer revolution.

In Quench Your Own Thirst, Koch offers unprecedented insights into the whirlwind ride from scrappy start-up to thriving public company. His innovative business model and refreshingly frank stories offer counterintuitive lessons that you can apply to business and to life.

Koch covers everything from finding your own Yoda to his theory on how a piece of string can teach you the most important lesson you’ll ever learn about business. He also has surprising advice on sales, marketing, hiring, and company culture. Koch’s anecdotes, quirky musings, and bits of wisdom go far beyond brewing. A fun, engaging guide for building a career or launching a successful business based on your passions, Quench Your Own Thirst is the key to the ultimate dream: being successful while doing what you love.

©2016 C. James Koch (P)2016 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Koch takes you into his confidence with an affable, gravelly voice, detailing lessons learned; frank stories of mistakes and failures; and thoughts on how a focus on quality, community, and innovation have propelled his work. You don’t have to be a hophead to glean insights, as Koch’s down-to-earth language, deadpan humor, and clear passion for beer help pull listeners in (his loving description of tasting the company’s signature Sam Adams Boston Lager charmingly borders on the erotic). With short chapters and amusing anecdotes, this is an enjoyable listen for budding entrepreneurs, craft-brew drinkers, and anyone who enjoys learning the ins and outs of a unique industry." -Booklist

Great Quick Book

Didn't have to be a beer lover to enjoy this book. Jim Koch tells his story about the American Dream.

Excellent beer, Great book!

I've always loved Samuel Adams beer, and figured that Jim had a love for making it. Knowing that he narrated his own book makes it a little more special, to me. Very inspiring.

Thanks for what you've done for craft brewing, Jim.

fantastic

coming close to just starting it over to listen to it twice. Thank you Jim

Enjoying a cold one with Jim

Really great book. Being narrated by Jim Koch was great. He has a great sense of humor and some great insights on business and beer.

a great audiobook for the car

This is a book I intend to buy for a few people. It is a great read even if you have no interest whatsoever. in beer or Sam Adams

Jim has a lot of great things to say about starting and running a business. tHe is also an excellent narrator of his own book. If the beer thing doesn't work out he can always get a gig narrating as he does it better than most of the ones I listen to.

Made me thirsty.

If you could sum up Quench Your Own Thirst in three words, what would they be?

Inspiration to Create

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/A

Which character – as performed by Jim Koch – was your favorite?

Himself... Obviously.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes. Goosebumps of inspiration.

Any additional comments?

Loving beer the way I do and being stuck in Oklahoma with the lack of great beer selection this book makes me want to read and learn more about the industry. Having just started home brewing myself a few months ago I take inspiration that your passion can become your career. I would also like to say I enjoy his voice even though he pokes fun at himself in the reading of the book.

totally insperational

it's great that jim reads his own book. being humble, visionary, and with a big batch of candour he illustraits not only his companies story but also a vast list of business lessons learned.

as an entrepenour I found this book to be very educative and supportive of creative but yet simple ideas.

its highly recommended (excuse my typos I wrote this review vis my mobile)

Fantastic and inspiring, i truly enjoyed it.

Have not enjoyed a book as much in a very long time. i might audio read this again.

Powerful entrepreneurship book

So much wisdom applicable to any business packed in a catching story. Even for me, not an American, I feel proud for the author and the brand. Can't wait to go to Boston and drink the beer again!

Great Story!

This book is not one that you want to read if you are looking for advice on starting or growing a business. While you may pick up some helpful insight here and there, it's not that kind of book. What it is is a real-life success story that recounts the good, the bad and the ugly of an entrepreneur starting and growing what would become an almost $1B business. Jim Koch narrates the book himself and talks in detail about his journey - including funny anecdotes along the way. He has truly gained my respect. I definitely recommend this book!