In a New York Times bestseller “How Starbucks Saved My Life”, Michael Gates Gill tells the story of his own life, complete with flashbacks and self-discovery, friendships both new and old, fresh starts, and learning how to deal with the past. In his fifties, Gill describes his experience being raised as a privileged, white male in a completely planned life seemingly from birth and for years to come. He had everything he could ever want: a wife, children, a huge salary, a mansion and a set life in both his career and in his home. Then, everything comes tumbling down when Gill’s “set” life comes to a crashing halt.

After being fired from his job, Gill finds himself without purpose. His relationship with his wife begins to fray, his children are no longer in his life due to frequent absences in their childhood, and he no longer has a work-life to distract himself with. Gill then finds himself in a Starbucks cafe where he never really took the time to look around and see how the other half truly lives. Then, a young African-American woman gives him a chance. This time, instead of being the boss, he’d be working as a Starbucks Barista. He’d be working for a young woman whose life was rarely subjected to the privilege that Gill frequently had.

In a bumpy journey full of heartbreak, sickness, and loss, Gill stumbles into a whole new world where he finds purpose and pride in his life and newfound career.