Member Review

Guinness: A Family Succession is the story of the legendary Guinness brewery told by one of the Guinnesses themselves. Arthur Edward Guinness, a descendant of the famous family, recounts how his ancestors built an extraordinary empire. He begins with Arthur Guinness in the 1750s and carries the narrative through the 1920s, covering nearly two centuries of growth and change.

Throughout the book, Guinness weaves together the history of the brewery, the family’s extensive philanthropy, and major moments in Irish history. From the Great Famine to the fight for Irish independence. It’s clear the story is deeply personal to the author and he does an admirable job bringing the past to life. He blends Irish history with the evolution of the brewery in a way that feels natural and engaging.

There were moments where the details got a bit dense with facts and figures, though that may be more noticeable in the audiobook. Perhaps they’re simply charts or tables in the physical edition. Still, the overall story of the Guinness brewery is fascinating and absolutely worth reading or listening to.