Quench Your Own Thirst

Business Lessons Learned over a Beer or Two

By: Jim Koch

Narrated by: Jim Koch

Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

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 19th-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

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!

Good lessons for early entrepreneurs

Jim gives a fulfilling story about the fun, grit, and joy that come from starting your own passionate business. While it is geared towards entrepreneurs, I felt I related to his lessons as an average employee more than ever. Well worth the read!

A great story and inspirational!!

As a budding entrepreneur, this story really hit home with me. Jim paints an awesome picture of how he cultivated and nurtured his dream and grew it (with help from other of hard-working and dedicated individuals) to what it is today, a great company that is continually growing and innovating and making a positive difference to those around it. Thanks, Jim, for getting me even more excited about my own dream!!!

I learned nothing

This was a very long advertisement for Boston Beer Company. There were a few tidbits of business advice that you would learn in business 101. There is very little entertainment to the story but more a very detailed description of the products and which Jim sells. There's no way I can possibly knock Sam Adams considering it is the reason I drink craft beer... But, as mentioned before, there is no entertainment to this. If you read Tony Magee's story, or Sam Calagione's story, you'll get more of an entertainment value. You also may be able to learn a bit of a First-Class business advice.

Like sharing a beer at a pub

When I heard Jim Koch was releasing a book I immediately knew I needed to read it. When I discovered he was narrating his book I knew I needed the audiobook! I've always like the sound and cadence of Jim's voice from the old radio commercials for Samuel Adams I heard years ago. Listening to him recount his story is like sharing a beer in a pub with an old friend.

Jim Koch shares his story of starting his own company and busting ass to make Samuel Adams and the Boston Beer Company into what it is today. He also offers advice for would be entrepreneurs. It's a very fun and satisfying experience.

And now I want a beer. Sláinte!

Fun and entertaining story

I really enjoyed listening to this and it gave me a newfound respect for Sam Adams as a beer and The Boston Beer Co as a company. Jim Koch is not lacking in confidence or ego, but also shows humility when it comes to the various obstacles and failures that have come up along the journey.

Koch inserts little business tips and philosophies along the way, but this is more an autobiographical tale of his journey than a business book. That’s not a critique, just a note.

Koch does a good job of the narration, and this falls soundly into the category of books that I think are perfect audiobooks. A very entertaining listen that is mostly story, but does have some tidbits along the way that can be saved and applied in life and business.

So many great ideas

Jim present so many awesome business ideas that are relevant to new entrepreneurs. Any great ideas such as using the best ingredients you can get, dividing outstanding customer service and not always attacking those who attack you business-wise. We are actually doing a book club at our coffee shop and teacher in his book as the first book in our book club.

Great book with valuable knowledge

Really enjoyed listening to this book about Boston beer company. Loved the spirit and endless hunger Jim showed to create one of America's most loved beer companies. I had to grab a pack midway through to get a better understanding of what he created and it was enjoyable. Definitely recommend reading it and will probably reread later this year.

excellent listen

I being a beer representative very much enjoyed this book. in found it entertaining and informative and have grow much respect for jim and his innovation. cheer!

Great Business Book that is Highly Entertaining!

The business concepts are good for anyone looking to open a business or take their business to the next level.

If you are a beer drinker, you'll appreciate it even more.

If you brew beer, like I do, you'll absolutely LOVE IT!

It is great all around, but there are some technical beer making things he talks about. He describes them well, but if you already know them, you'll appreciate it even more.

Great story. Lots of advice for business owners

While many of the business tips aren't new, they are fantastically summarized into a fantastic story behind a highly successful business and man.