• 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
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (974 ratings)

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Quench Your Own Thirst  By  cover art

Quench Your Own Thirst

By: Jim Koch
Narrated by: Jim Koch
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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 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

What listeners say about Quench Your Own Thirst

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    5 out of 5 stars

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!

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4 people found this helpful

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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!

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3 people found this helpful

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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!!!

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3 people found this helpful

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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.

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2 people found this helpful

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great insight to my favorite Beer Company

I intensively listened an became captivated by Jim's voice and all the stories that he had to tell, I now have a better view of the company company that I've come to love. I laughed, I cried, I listen and I learned a lot hoping one day to work for the company. As for now I'll just sit back and quench my own thirst, cheers!

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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!

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Great American success story

Really neat lessons and stories of an amazing American brand thoroughly enjoyed! Highly recommend. Fun listen

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Fantastic

As a home brewer starting out I enjoyed every moment of it. Very inspirational and read with heart.

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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!

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Great story, even better leadership lessons

loved it. love the story, beer, and leadership lessons he tells. The only downside is I listened while driving, and it had me craving a cold Sam's!

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