The Monk of Mokha

By: Dave Eggers

Narrated by: Dion Graham

From the bestselling author of The Circle and What Is the What, the true story of a young Yemeni-American man, raised in San Francisco, who dreams of resurrecting the ancient art of Yemeni coffee but finds himself trapped in Sana'a by civil war.

Mokhtar Alkhanshali grew up in San Francisco, one of seven siblings brought up by Yemeni immigrants in a tiny apartment. At age twenty-four, unable to pay for college, he works as a doorman, until a statue of an Arab raising a cup of coffee awakens something in him. He sets out to learn the rich history of coffee in Yemen and the complex art of tasting and identifying varietals. He travels to Yemen and visits countless farms, collecting samples, eager to bring improved cultivation methods to the countryside. And he is on the verge of success when civil war engulfs Yemen in 2015. The US Embassy closes, Saudi bombs began to rain down on the country, and Mokhtar is trapped in Yemen. Desperate to escape, he embarks on a passage that has him negotiating with dueling political factions and twice kidnapped at gunpoint. With no other options, he hires a skiff to take him, and his coffee samples, across the Red Sea. A heart-pounding true story that weaves together the history of coffee, the ongoing Yemeni civil war, and the courageous journey of a young man--a Muslim and a US citizen--following the most American of dreams.

Great inspiring story.

Great inspiring story. I learned a lot about coffee, Yemen, and the countries surrounding it. I was amazed by the tenacity, to the point of obsession, of the young man once he discovered his calling. I may have to find and drink a cup of Yemen coffee.


I did not like the performance. I felt that every sentence he spoke had an unecessary urgency.

powerful story

One mans passion on display. A real life adventure story, so fantastic it must be true.

I can’t wait to try it

I already liked Dave Eggars. And I really enjoyed this wonderful story of creativity, perseverance, and enterprise. I especially enjoyed learning more about Yemen and the coffee business. Now I will figure out a way to have a cup of this coffee.

Amazing story

The story by itself would be a winner. It keeps you hooked the whole time, but combined with a superb performance by Dion Graham this book can’t help but be an all around fantastic listen no matter if you love coffee or not.

Amazing story

I had no idea that it was in Yeman where coffee was first cultivated and exported, nor did I ever imagine that some of the best coffee in the world is actually grown in Yemen! This book tells you the story of a twenty-something Yemeni-American and his how he found a new-found passion in life once he learned about the history of coffee in Yemen - kindling in him a burning desire to resurrect that history, introduce the coffee to the world while also helping the farmers in Yemen!

The story is fascinating and entertaining, despite it covering the harrowing period of the still on-going war in Yemen and constant jet bombings on its cities. And it is really really uplifting knowing that it all happened so recently (2014 is when the story starts I believe), during this time of turmoil and war - and that indeed Yemeni coffee IS some of the best in the World.

I honestly can't recommend this book enough, especially if you are a coffee lover like me!! An added bonus is also knowing that the proceeds of are set aside for the Mokha Foundation, which was established to help the farmers in Yemen. Go buy and read this book now!!