Coffee, Tea or Me? The Uninhibited Memoirs of Two Airline Stewardesses [Paperback]

Trudy Baker (Author), Rachel Jones (Author), Donald Bain (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 3, 2003

Remember when flying was glamorous and sexy, even fun? When airline food was gourmet, everyone dressed up for a flight, and stewardesses catered to our every need-at least in our imaginations? This classic memoir by two audaciously outspoken young ladies, who lived and loved the free-spirited stewardess life, jets you back to those golden days of air travel-from the captain who's as subtle as a 747 when he's on the make to the passenger who mistakes the overhead luggage rack for an upper berth; from the names of celebrities who were a pleasure to serve (and some surprising notables on the "bad guy" list) to the origins of some naughty stereotypes-Spaniards are the best lovers, actors the most foul-mouthed. This huge bestseller, a First Class jet-age journal, offers a hilarious gold mine of outrageous anecdotes from the high-flying and amorous lives of those busty, lusty, adventuresome young women of the swinging '60s known as "stews."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The kind of book that's a nuisance to own. Everyone wants to borrow it." (Look)

About the Author

Trudy Baker and Rachel Jones were names assigned to two young former stewardesses who traveled the country to promote the book on radio and TV shows and helped turn it into an international bestseller. Donald Bain is the author or ghostwriter of more than 80 books, many of them bestsellers. He has written in many genres, including the long-running series of original murder mystery novels based upon the TV show Murder, She Wrote.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (June 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142003514
• ISBN-13: 978-0142003510
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,137 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #71 in Books > Professional & Technical > Transportation > Aviation > Commercial

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars things sure have changed, November 1, 2003

By 

Kimberley Wilson (VA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Coffee, Tea or Me? The Uninhibited Memoirs of Two Airline Stewardesses (Paperback)

Back in 1967 when this book was firs published it was considered to be prettty racy stuff. My parents owned a copy but I was never allowed to read it. Finally after all these years I saw the new edition and bought it. Things certainly have changed. Rachel and Trudy were lighthearted, funny girls who got into madcap adventures that no sane flight attendent today would dare try.

Back in the 60s stews had to be single, attractive and thin, today as anyone can tell you flight attendents don't have to be any of these things. Sex seemed to be a game both men and women were playing. Today romance on the job isn't much fun at all. Back then flying was still fun. Today it's more like Dante's Inferno. Rachel & Trudy occasionally dealt with pervert passengers, and often with drunks and rotten kids but the whole phenomenon of air rage was stil unknown.

Some of the observations Rachel and Trudy made about certain types of male passengers were considered beyond the pale back in '67, today we don't even give it a second thought. Check out their comments on page 237 and you'll see what I mean. One more thing I noticed about this funny book. It couldn't be written today. The whole mind numbing political correctness movement would've made an editor cut out whole chapters. The book will make you smile and it's like a historical artifact to boot.It's a peep into a swinging lost world.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This book is FICTION and NOT actual memoirs!, January 1, 2011

By 

A. D. Hill - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Coffee, Tea or Me? The Uninhibited Memoirs of Two Airline Stewardesses (Paperback)

I got this as a gift from my amazon wish list this Christmas thinking it was non-fiction. While I enjoyed the book I was disappointed when I learned that Coffee, Tea or Me isn't the actual memoirs of two real people as told to the author. There was never a Trudy or Rachel; these are fictionalized characters! This is acknowledged by the author in the forward of the reprint addition; he stated that he made up the two stewardesses based upon two he met one evening who had some funny stories. He worked in the industry so he created Trudy and Rachel based upon those two ladies, his experiences and stories he had heard.

Amazon has this book listed under "non-fiction" but the publisher, Penguin, lists it as fiction on their own site.

If you are looking for a tell-all from two real stewardesses from the sixties, you will not find that in this book. If you want an entertaining read that takes a lot of creative license about fictional characters in that period, then this is for you.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Go in expecting a fun romp and you won't be disappointed, June 16, 2005

By 

Jessica Lux (Rosamond, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Coffee, Tea or Me? The Uninhibited Memoirs of Two Airline Stewardesses (Paperback)

I picked this up based solely on the reissue cover. I got into it and started wondering who the heck would talk like this, as a woman? Then, about 1/2 the way through, I read the intro and realized this was actually penned by a male who had interviewed a lot of stewardesses. It made me feel better that these weren't real women, but a man trying to sound like a woman.

This isn't a literary work, but it is a great beach read. Don't expect too much, and you'll be thrilled to join these two "women" on their careers. I was born well after the 60's, and it is fun to imagine how classy and upscale air travel was back then. It's certainly a contrast to the budget consciousness of today.

It was definitely a page turner, because I wanted to keep having more adventures in the crazy life of 60's stewardesses. Check this one out and have fun for a few hours.