Michael Gates Gill, Author of 'How Starbucks Saved My Life'

[BELIEVEinYOURSELFo0]

Truly is an awesome book! it has inspired me and it is a true story of Hope. Loved hearing him share some stuff in this video. Thank you! I

[Ambzelia89]

JUST read this book....it was SOOOOOO GOOD!!!

[adorinadorin]

Great book; nice you have a blog.

Cheers

Chris

[sunhayabusa]

I just watched your story on aTV show in Japan, you became famous in Japan . i am going to buy your book online.i might learn something from it, thanks for sharing your story

[boomerlady]

I can't wait to read this!!!!! I love the riches to rags to riches aspect. yea!!!

[bwana38]

I just read this book from cover to cover, while riding on planes, during a recent vacation. I have always been a Starbucks fan. But, I am more of a fan now as well as a fan of the success story of Mike. Mike, thanks for the inspiration and keep up the good work.

[filipinhu12]

i'm from brazil and i'm reading this book. i'm loving it! it's so nice! i can't stop reading that! the history is fantastic! good job!

[krnxprincessluv]

i loved this book. you are an inspiration!

[willblankownsyou]

@dalecampbl5

He was poor when he took the job at starbucks. He spent recklessly and ended up virtually broke by the time he accepted the gig.

[navschic]

Me too, just finished this book last night. I could not put this book down. A bit of a life changing read. Loved it too!!!

[dalecampbl5]

yeah when ur a former top exec at JW THompson ,u've got millions in the bank and can afford a starbucks..from what I see is, when you're rich and old you can do whatever you want...but the fact is you've gotta be RICH first

[yonglandie]

Just finish the book, does someone know that how he is right now?

[jamaicafunk227]

I love this story

[BCSTH]

Just began to read the book - I am on page 48 - it has been great reading this far - just had to make a short pause to google on it a little.

It was a are chance thing that I found the book as second hand in Stockholm (I was in Brooklyn & on Manhattan for more than a year 13 yrs ago - never dared going north of 87th St....).

[tman247890]

just picked the book up today!!

[annfc]

Great book...very inspirational

[ezramajin]

He's gonna be rich when they make a movie out of this,..

[chopaface]

he's already rich with the books he sold!! royalties flashing in!!

[advis100]

I wonder how much hes getting paid from starbucks now! They must be loving all the attention. i got this book on audio book and its pretty good.

[TVRadioClube]

That's an interesting story.

[nuts4sports95]

what is the name of the movie

[misterpopos5]

I cant believe i waste my money and my precious time reading this book...

[biggiejeffrey]

Loved the book so much that I gave it to a friend BEFORE I was finished with it! It's that GOOD!

[MARICIA100]

Um, having trouble watching video. Laptop slow. The book I am so enjoying and thoroughly appreciating. Fabulous read!

[tefl0nd0n187]

Cool story, I just felt he jumped around to much in it. From being at work all of a sudden to a tangent about hiss childhood. A lot of strange tangents. I wish there was a book with an update of all the 'partners' from the broadway store.

[MoneyFan5000]

yeah i read this book once in 3 hours

[cytse1]

I just finished this book and I like it. Thanks Mike for sharing with us such a great and inspiring story!!

[supermarine]

So it's basically a story of a rich man who becomes poor, works a job in a coffee shop, writes a book about how much he loves it, and now he never has to work at a coffee shop again! Yay!

[michelleyeoly]

I love the book mainly because I used to work in Starbucks when I was in college. The the words and scenes that he described brought me back to those wonderful years I had in Starbucks. It brought me to tears when I read about all the task he had to go through and all the legendary services and Coffee Master program with the Black Apron. I really missed those days. Thanks Michael for reminding me how wonderful it was working in starbucks.

[pebblestonerocks]

Micheal, I finished reading your book in a day and have read all 52 comments here. I love your book and equally love the comments I read (especially the one about the 13 years old who read your book twice). You've brought joy and hope to many. Invariably some of us would get moved to do something about our lives as inspired by the example you set. The world is better because of you! Thank you! :)

[13mondnacht]

I totally forgot the time passing by,

as I was reading the book.

In fact, I stayed the wohle night

because it was irresistible to stop reading.

Even though I am not an avid reader and in addition, I read it in English, which is not actually my mother language, his story just captured me so that I even forgot to go to bed!

I love this book!

[iytwales]

This book inspires me. I highly recommend it to all fellow advertising people. Creating good ads and managing giant accounts won't necessarily keep your job, so learn to be nice to people around you as well. And we should always help one another in times of adversity.

[scoot334]

starbucks take my wife, please

[zereptv]

haahhahahahahaah lol

[xflyingtiger]

Great book! I just finnished it. Five stars!

[gingerpyle24]

Starbucks saved his life while helping to end others, including babies and children. Guess it matters who you are if your life is valuable in this world.

[repdal10]

I just started reading his book, and I'm hooked! I work part-time at a Starbucks and it makes me appreciate the genuiness and familialarity or close friendships I've formed there. And after reading his book, I love life a whole lot more!

[couchpotatoinc]

Same Here. I was looking through the biographies one day and i saw it, and since i love anything starbucks i had to buy it. I got home, sat down and read the entire thing in a day. Loved it, gave me a whole new perspective on everything.

[lcshibs]

I totally agree. I just finished reading the book a few days ago, and it was so good. It means a lot that it's a true story, it really puts your life into perspective.

[AlexMickeyMichalik]

Is there really gonna be a movie starring Tom Hanks about that story?

[ajayzav]

Yeah

[jebsievers]

Yeah, that's what CNN said when I read the story online.

[szrgirl]

I want to meet Mr. Gill.

His message is powerful and well written. I don't usually buy hardback, but I had to pick this up when I first saw it on the shelf so many months ago.

Starbucks also saved my life. I'm 38 and can only work part time. My friends are my coworkers and customers. I love them all like family. Starbucks gave me a way to serve others when I was fighting to stay a functioning member of society. 3 brain surgeries later, I agree: Starbucks saved my life.

THANK YOU MR. GILL!

[SeeItAndBelieve]

I just started reading the book. I love his writing style.

It's a great message about our capitalistic society: the heart of who we are isn't about money, fancy cars and famous friends.

[chalaurenxo]

this is such an amazing book. you really start to fall in love with the guy. you feel his ups and his downs.its truly inspirational.

[michelnegrao]

Nice book Mike. Thanks to share a bit of your life with us.

[dfseixas]

I was in a big bookstore here in Brazil when I accidentaly saw the book. I grabbed it and sat down in the bookstore to take a look. I could not stop reading it. So I bought it and read it all at once. IT'S FANTASTIC. I loved the way he was able to analyze his own life and learn from such an experience. Congratulations!! I'm giving this book as a gift to all my family. It's a life lesson.

[virgemary]

Mike Gills, I love you! You are an amazing, inspiring person and I cant believe a stranger could really cause me to re think about my life and its direction. Thank you so much sir, you are a hero.

[virgemary]

I just finished the book 2 minutes ago and now am googling Mike Gill. Its a truly inspirational and moving story and I will definitely pass the book around so it can touch others' lives the way it touches mine.

Its funny coz after finishing the book, I was telling myself, Man, they shd make a movie out of this! I didnt know its already happening! lol... The book humbles me and made me chuckle out loud in the bus as I was reading it and caused me to shed tears too.

[dondiddley]

I saw the story on CBS Sunday Morning and immediately ordered the book. It's FANTASTIC and I cannot wait for the movie. I had a life where I BS'd my way into jobs I had no business having and lost several of them. His story struck me straight in the heart. After a life of working politicians and such, I now work in the credit card industry, am happier than I have ever been and make more money than I every did in any of my other jobs.

[dondiddley]

by the way, I have passed the book on several times.

[ksongman]

I LOVED this book!!!

[antakamen]

It's a very interesting book. The narrative is quite intriguing and inspiring. Mike has a very interesting past. He uses that with ample names dropping to prop up the plot. But I can't see how they would make it into a movie.

[seabreezelover]

I am now sitting down to read Michaels book; I am sure it will bring back some very painful memories as our paths are similar. At 49 I was fired from my 6 figure job for having an affair with a woman that committed suicide after the affair was exposed. I lost everything including my wife, my job, a 4400 sq ft foot home & 6 cars. I realized too late bad choices hurt many people; I hope to gain some insight from Mikes book. Sadly even Starbucks wont hire me because I was fired from my job.

[aoscruggs49]

I'm reading your book. I wasn't fired, but I'm in my 50s, looking for work. I feel like I'm out of it, so I can relate.

This book is helping me put my situation in perspective. Thanks a lot.

[NeilC1972]

Hey Aoscruggs,

Sadly you are so far from not alone. Between layoffs, firings, downsizings, etc. Are there any decent jobs out there anymore?

[chathamsdodson]

good book...

[nombriliste]

Let's all keep on our smiley faces and adapt to what is unbearable.

This is beneath contempt.

Serfs!

[crazyg1231]

I Love This..i work for starbucks.. im a young girl going to college n starbucks helps me have time for my school n work..i love the fact that i consider my partners family..becaust that is wat we r..i feel proud to have mike as a partner n as an inspiration not only to me but to others that its not what u have in life that makes u happy...but who u have in ur life...

[truantguy]

Just read Mike Gill's book and my heart is so full. My wife and I have a 23-year-old daughter who now works at Starbucks. Reading Mike's book helps me to finally understand how my daughter has also been saved. Our Joanna is learning disabled, and has epilepsy. Still, I understand from Mike's words why Starbucks has been the ONLY employer to sincerely welcome and respect her. She is successful and self-actualized! Thanx to Mike & Starbucks. If you don't get it, get in there for a latte & look!

[NeilC1972]

Glad to hear about your daughter doing well. I wish more Workplaces- and people -for that matter would wake up and start treating each other better.

-Neil

[MrArtVandelay]

Great Great Book. I have hoped to read that Starbucks tapped you to join their in house advertising/marketing team given your lifetime experience and your recent experience.

[hoythemate]

God bless you "Mike"...

[BarbieGirlGvantsa]

michael gill and ''how starbucks saved my life'' totally inspired me. i wish he's safe and secure for the rest of his life. this is such an amazing book

[OwnageWo0o0t]

im 13 and iv read this book 2 times it amazing and insperatonal!

[trishy2x]

Thanks for posting! I just finished this book and it was very inspirational!

[Tucker1442]

Just finished this book- great- would like to know how he is doing now.

[chethewitt]

i actually grew up with michael gill's kids...and know his ex-wife very well.

[hoythemate]

Hey,

any idea what's he currently doing?

[nitelife202]

he still works as a barista in starbucks :)

[Fringe707]

im doing a book report on this book

it was definitely worth it

great book

[exclamation3mark]

Why can't people look over the fence to the other side when they are cruising. gatta wait to hit rock botton to find the other 84% of the world and indeed oneself. Better late than never.

[hankerforahunka]

It definitely was a wonderful book

[waserock]

just finished the book, loved it. i too, would like to meet him one day.

[orchidgirls]

This is a phenomenal book. Laughter, learning & tears...all of it.

[thejccalhoun]

Great story. Too bad he leaves out the part where he cheated on his wife and how his mistress had his baby. But I guess "How cheating on my wife forced me to take a job at a coffee shop" isn't as good of a title.

[aoscruggs49]

No, that's in the book, too.

[BlueDevilAc]

Awesome story, I hope to meet Mike Gill one day...

[MsMoneypenny007]

It is such a wonderful story. It brings pleasure to anyone who listens. I think the Lavin agency that takes credit for producing this you tube short might have done a disservice to their sponsors by placing so many Starbucks products around Mike.

[marcus38447226]

too short...heard interview on radio in Australia...I am making this my Christmas gift to all my YOUNG friends without the 'Yale' connections. Inspirational...I sobbed and have never posted a message on anything...

60+ and have never been to Starbucks

[kinnis228]

Read the book. It's great to put a face to the person I got to know in the book!

[okanaganorbust]

I used to work with Mike at J. Walter Thompson in the 70's. Hi Mike. I'd like to be in touch with you - pls. be in touch if you read this. Still on the West Coast listed number. Linda Sh---y

[NeilC1972]

Hi Linda, Was Michael really a "Wind Bag" at JWT? Just wondering. He does seem like a very nice man now. I wish him the best.-Neil