Customer Reviews

A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup

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Good biographies are about much more than their subjects, and "A Full Cup" is certainly a good and exhaustive biography of Thomas J. Lipton. Here are a few quick facts about "Sir Tea:"

* Born in 1848 in Glasgow, grew up in the slums, went to America as a lad, saved up a grubstake and learned some crazy American commercial ways

* Back in Glasgow he opened a grocery store, advertised it with pig parades, jingles, and other crazy stuff

* Added more stores, MANY stores, integrated vertically by going into meat packing in the U.S. and buying tea plantations in Ceylon

* Had more money than Croesus, was a bigger publicity hound than P.T. Barnum, and (like Forrest Gump) when any big thing happened, he was there

* Hung out with the Prince of Wales (Bertie), later King Edward VII; though being in trade and from the slums, he was never quite comme il faut with the upper class, always "the king's grocer"

* Was never married or known to be in a relationship, and the book suggests that he was homosexual but, with admirable editorial restraint, never mentions it again

* Spent millions of dollars building yachts and mounting five unsuccessful challenges for the America's Cup between 1899 and 1930; America loved him and presented him with a cup for being "the best of all losers"

* Lived the fullness of his years, and though his grocery chain is gone, his tea empire lives on under an international conglomerate

Author and journalist Michael D'Antonio presents Lipton's life in the context of the forces that shaped his success. He went into business in the right time and place, as Glasgow was embracing the Industrial Revolution in the last quarter of the 19th century: its population was swelling and incomes were rising, so that the demand for nutritious food was unprecedented as "trade transformed the national diet." Shipping and transport were developing. A resourceful, hardworking businessman not afraid to invest his money had a great chance of success, and Lipton was all that.

Eventually Lipton began to think about selling tea. Tea had until recently been taxed heavily and sourced almost exclusively from China, expensive to ship and prone to spoilage. But the British Empire began to use India and Ceylon to supply tea to Great Britain; one of the many benefits of having dominion territories. Through industrial espionage, the superior Chinese tea was smuggled to Ceylon and thrived there. Now, with tea much more affordable, demand for good, reasonably priced tea exploded--and Lipton was there. He moved his tea sales into the U.S. in time to take advantage of the temperance movement and Prohibition, offering a stimulating, good-quality product, attractively packaged. With his picture on every packet, he WAS Lipton's Tea.

At every stage of his career, D'Antonio fits Lipton into the social fabric as if it had been created just to showcase his talents; if he had not existed, the Gilded Age would have had to create him. Well, it did, and "A Full Cup" is a pleasure to read in every way, but especially as social history.

While we get a front-row seat for the man's adventurous life, we somehow don't get to know him personally. Though he was steeped in his business (and all of his activities were business, in a way) I would have expected and welcomed a more intimate look at Thomas Lipton. There are no personal letters and very little personal detail. I don't know if this is because there WAS no private man behind the public face, or if it was the author's choice. But "A Full Cup" is the book we have, and it's a glorious, larger-than-life book and well worth a reader's time.

Linda Bulger, 2010

This is a well-written book that covers the subject well. However, I didn't find it all that absorbing because Lipton's guest for the America's Cup just didn't hold my interest.

I thought how Lipton started out from nothing and made himself into a very wealthy man was the most interesting part of the book.

This really is a decent book; I am just not a big sailing fan. My guess would be those that have a greater interest in sailing will find this a more enjoyable book than I did.

It is a good story, well-written and covers the subject well. The subject, however, just didn't interest me that much. So my review rating really could be considered a bigger reflection on my enjoyment of the subject more than the quality of the book.

Michael D'Antonio's A Full Cup is a well-written and interesting biography of Sir Thomas Lipton of Lipton Tea fame. He chronicles Lipton's life from a slum in Glasgow to his life as a rich, influential businessman. He provides lots of interesting details about Lipton's genius for self-promotion and publicity. And he includes anything anyone could want to know about Lipton's quest to win the America's Cup, a famous sailing trophy.

This is a biography that may well provide more information about its subject than most people want to know. We learn the details of Lipton's miserable childhood, his apparent homosexuality, and his world-wide business dealings. Fortunately, we also get a great portrait of Victorian England and of the U.S. during the same period, which I found more interesting than the details about Lipton's life.

An entertaining, comprehensive biography of Sir Thomas Lipton, who founded the Lipton's retail grocery business in the United Kingdom in the late 19th century, and went on to found the global Lipton's Tea empire that still flourishes today as a Unilever acquisition.

Thomas Lipton's family fled from famine-struck Ireland to Scotland in 1847, only to settle in Glasgow's worst slum, the Gorbals. At age 17, Thomas emigrated to America, where at first he labored in the post-Civil War cotton fields, but later obtained a coveted job at a famous New York City department store, A.T. Stewart's. At A.T. Stewart's, Thomas picked up a bit of retail wisdom that served him well for the rest of his life: "The man who on his trade relies/Must either bust or advertise."

At age 19, Thomas staged a triumphant return (by horse-drawn cab) to his parent's Glasgow home and miniscule grocery shop. Soon after, using his hard-won savings, he opened his first Lipton's grocery. From then on, he applied his advertising genius and amazing entrepreneurial talents to building a chain of successful grocery stores that would always be known for quality goods and low prices.

By age 32, Thomas was a rich man, although he always remained a favorite of commoners on both sides of the Atlantic, even after he became an intimate friend of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward) and regularly associated with millionaires, military heroes, and aristocrats. Throughout his life, Thomas focused on obtaining publicity for Lipton's, making use of "gimmicks"--now seeming rather commonplace--such as delivery trucks emblazoned with "Lipton's", men hired to herd pigs (Lipton's orphans) through Glasgow streets, and giant cheeses (up to 3,500 pounds) that were imported from America, accompanied by parades and transatlantic media coverage. In 1898, Thomas was knighted by Queen Victoria.

From 1899 to 1920, Sir Thomas built four unsuccessful America's Cup challengers (Shamrock I, II, III, IV). About half of A FULL CUP is devoted to these years of Sir Thomas' life. Sir Thomas was always a gracious loser, which he could afford to be, because he was obtaining priceless publicity for the Lipton's empire. A FULL CUP includes quite a bit of historical detail about the preparations for each America's Cup challenge, the races themselves, and the parades and publicity that surrounded each event. However, it is about Sir Thomas Lipton's life, not yacht racing, so it probably adds little to what is already known about the history of the America's Cup races.

A FULL CUP is an example of biography at its best. It presents a well-rounded picture of a truly one-of-a-kind individual, who started with nothing, and, through his own hard work, became one of the wealthiest men in the world, a philanthropist, and a popular hero. In particular, I enjoyed this book because there has always been Lipton's tea on my kitchen pantry shelf. It amazed me to learn that the brand was founded by a single, colorful, successful entrepreneur--a businessman who was far ahead of his time in understanding the value of advertising and publicity.

This book is not only an exploration of the life of Sir Thomas Lipton, it is a fascinating exploration of social history, both in the US and the UK. Raised in a slum in Scotland, rising to dizzying heights among the nobs and swells - Sir Thomas led a rich and varied life.

The book is not only a spirited description of the rise of the middle classes and those who enabled such, but also an absorbing story describing the rise of a UK version of Horatio Alger. The details of Lipton's poverty-stricken childhood and his brilliance in assessing a need and filling it - cheap, good quality food stuffs , is beautifully presented in this fine book.

Contrary to the title,the book not only offers a riveting description of one mans quest for a yachting victory, but also allows for a riveting view into the life and times of a fascinating individual.

From giant cheeses, to elephants on parade, dining with the King of England and hobnobbing with American Presidents....this book has it all. Sir Thomas Lipton seems to have invented self-promotion and developed that skill to dizzying heights, yet, he demonstrated a compassionate, honorable and caring side to one and all. This book is well worth the read, a parable of all that can be accomplished with hard work, dedication and a certain flair for life. A highly recommended book!

Like many people of a certain age, I associated Lipton with tea and the America's Cup. I had not known how much more there was to his life and career. Born into poverty in 1848, a childhood spent in horrific slums in Scotland, traveling to America for fame and fortune - and then returning to Scotland with a small amount of money and some big ideas; that alone could be an interesting tale. Lipton went far beyond that however, and is still - in a sense - with us today.

D'Antonio has worked through what must have been vast amounts of material to chronicle how Lipton developed his ideas for selling food and other goods into a globe-spanning commercial empire through buying in bulk and selling quality food to the public at low prices - and through incredible self-promotion. Lipton grasped the power of advertising from his first travels to America, and turned himself into an icon. Becoming wealthy in his own right, he was able to hob-nob with royalty, hang out with the gilded-age robber barons, yet still remember enough of his roots to be beloved by the common man. Yet while Lipton was constructing an impeccable public persona, D'Antonio also throws a light on some less than flattering sides of his private life. All in all, Lipton is a fascinating example of a human being.

It doesn't hurt the tale that Lipton lived through some extraordinary times - and had a genius for inserting himself into the story of the moment. He was a media celebrity in the age of yellow journal tabloids, the era of telegraphy, and eventually the rise of radio. His picture was in the papers constantly at the height of his career, nearly as much as his name and image adorned the products in his stores.

He entered sail boats into challenges for the America's Cup at a time when such called for millions of dollars. And yet the way he conducted himself in this sport of the super-rich endeared him to millions of Americans of all levels of income. His graciousness in his string of defeats was such that he had millions of Americans rooting for him to win - and after his last attempt, popular sentiment culminated in a vast public display of appreciation.

It's telling that years after his death, Lipton Tea is still one of the biggest brands of tea in the world. His face used to prominently adorn the box. It shrank somewhat in more recent years, but when the current owners of the brand removed it seeking a more 'contemporary' image for tea drinking, the outcry and brand confusion was such that they had to restore it, if in a more discreet size.

A Full Cup is a good read; a fascinating study of a remarkable man, and a window on the times in which he lived.

For those who enjoy this book, another likely to prove of interest is: Appetite for America: How Visionary Businessman Fred Harvey Built a Railroad Hospitality Empire That Civilized the Wild West A contemporary of Lipton's (though if they ever met, I was not able to find mention in either book) Harvey came to America from poverty in England, and after several false starts, built a fortune in the business of serving food to rail travelers in the west - and doing it with style. It's a multi-generational saga, with famous names, more than a touch of scandal at times, and some surprising history.

He began life in the humblest of surroundings. His parents were working-class folk who emigrated to Glasgow from Northern Ireland in search of a better life for themselves and for their family. His father Thomas Lipton Sr. had been a common laborer for most of his adult life and upon his arrival in Glasgow he decided to open a tiny grocery store. Thomas and his wife Frances made a go of the store and improved their lot in life. But their son Thomas Jr. had much bigger dreams. He was bound and determined to try his luck in America. So at the age of 17 Thomas Lipton Jr. went to work for a steamship company and eventually earned enough money to purchase a steerage ticket to New York. And although he was never able to find permanent work during his initial stay in the United States young Tommy was an extremely quick study and learned an awful lot about how to make a buck. Upon his return to Glasgow he took those lessons he learned "across the pond" and made a name for himself. "A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and Quest for the America's Cup" tells the remarkable story of a young man who would build a mammoth worldwide business empire from scratch while at the same time becoming one of the most recognized figures in the world. It is a compelling tale to be sure!

Among the many lessons young Tommy Lipton took away from his time in the United States was the incredible power of advertising and promotion as well as the importance of displaying goods in an attractive way. When he opened his own grocery store in Glasgow in 1871 young Mr. Lipton simply blew his competition away. Lipton also proved to be a notorious self-promoter and this trait would serve both himself and his various business interests very well for the rest of his life. Bouyed by the success of his initial venture Lipton opened a second store and then a third. By 1880, Lipton had 20 stores in a dozen Scottish cities and was preparing to expand into England and Ireland. Tommy Lipton had unwittingly created the very first chain of grocery stores in the world! But his extraordinary acumen for business did not stop with his retail stores. Over time Thomas Lipton would also build a vast network of meatpacking plants and warehouses. And when the opportunity presented itself in the late 1880's Thomas Lipton Jr. would become a major player in the worldwide tea trade. Not bad for a kid from the streets of Glasgow!

But as you will discover in "A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup" there was so much more to life of the man who would come to be known as simply Sir Thomas. Lipton was an avid sailor and once he became fabulously wealthy he began a lifelong pursuit of the famed "America's Cup". For those who might might not be familiar, the America's Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup sailing regatta match. Back in Lipton's day winning this biennial event held was the absolute pinnacle of the sporting world. These matches pitted the sailors of the New York Yacht Club against a challenger from Britain. America had wrestled the cup away from the Brits decades earlier and Lipton was bound and determined to win it back for the English. He would mount a total of five challenges for the Cup in his lifetime while becoming one of the most admired public figures on both sides of the Atlantic. Lipton would rub shoulders with royalty, U.S. Presidents and super-rich magnates like Cornelius Vanderbilt. But as author Michael D'Antonio illustrates time and again in "A Full Cup" Sir Thomas was just as popular among working class people. There has probably never been anyone else quite like him.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading "A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup". Being from Rhode Island where America's Cup races were held for nearly seven decades I was happy to learn more about the history of the America's Cup. Prior to reading this book Sir Thomas Lipton was nothing more to me than an image on a box of tea. Meanwhile, I also learned quite a bit about the history of that period that I was simply not aware of. I found "A Full Cup" to be a carefully researched and extremely well-written book. A thoroughly enjoyable read from cover to cover! Very highly recommended!

I chose this book because I usually like biographies of all kinds. I'm not sure what made this one different - it was well written, but it took me forever to get through it, when I usually read good books in a day or a couple of days. I'm guessing it was because Sir Thomas Lipton didn't have a personal life, or, if he did, it's not known about. His personal and professional life seemed to be one and the same. He had no close family (aside from his parents when he was younger), and his close friends seemed mostly to be business friends.

That's not to say that someone who is more interested in Lipton, and things like growing a business in the mid to late 1800's through the early 1900's, and the World Cup races then, wouldn't enjoy it - I just found the book somewhat tedious myself.

The book DID give many glimpses of life in New York City at that time, and the numbers of immigrants who were coming to America. It also spoke of the Victorian age in the UK - I found those things to be of more interest than the subject himself. Sir Thomas Lipton may have been the first "celebrity" who learned how to use publicity to his advantage. He had charisma, was very charitable (and made sure his charity was made public in most cases), and had a lot of parties. He also spent millions of dollars several times, only to lose the World Cup races, and was beloved by Americans because he was such a good loser (which also gave him good publicity).

I WAS surprised that he started out as a grocer, who started what was probably the first chain of grocery stores in the UK. That was how he became wealthy. He didn't start to dominate the tea market until many years after. The author tries his best to spread Lipton's life over 300 pages, but for me, that was far too much.

I don't want to discourage anyone who is interested in Lipton from buying this book. The book is very well-written, and also goes into great detail about the early World Cup races. It's just that I personally did not find Lipton that interesting, and the book never really succeeded in making him that interesting to me.

A great book, especially if you like historical books like those of Eric Larson's. The (true) story is compelling and a joy to read.

This was a pretty good book about some for whom I had little knowledge, Sir Thomas Lipton. Yes, the same person that is known for tea.

The author has written a fascinating account of the man's rise to riches as the English grocer in the late 1800's. And, as many stories go, the rise was from humble Irish roots to a worldwide empire that is still well-known today. Heck, I drink Lipton's tea fairly often. Because of the book, I now understand Lipton's role in making this drink from the East Indies into a British obsession. The role of Lipton himself in utilizing many now common-place tactics to sell goods like tea are fascinating and make parts of this book very compelling. For example, the use of 'branding' to establish a spot in the marketplace and to make that brand a sign of quality for consumers. Using stunts to create a buzz about a business for the consumer is something Lipton used very often and certainly succeeded in making his stores a place to visit for the average English consumer. Lipton certainly knew how to create newsworthy events to get his name in the paper. Reading his story in this book reminded me of the ubiquitous Donald Trump, actually, because both are masters in creating intrigue surrounding their names. It is also amazing to read how a humble Irishman ingratiates himself to the English Crown such that Lipton Tea is given a royal appointment as a supplier of quality tea to the Crown.

As most wealthy men who acquire a fortune, a passion for something that announces one's status as a wealthy man is usually the prize sought after monetary whims have been fulfilled. In Lipton's case, it was directed to the America's Cup yachting race. The desire to acquire a winning bid for the America's Cup yacht race became Lipton's obsession and is the focus of the book.
While interesting, I found the material on Lipton's rise to fortune far more interesting, and the last 1/3 of the book was just moderately interesting to me. The book is certainly well-written and brimming with historical vignettes, relationships and a good narrative. D'Antoni certainly researched his subject thoroughly because there are many interesting details about Lipton and his use of publicity to further his business empire.

Overall, the book is pretty good, and is fairly entertaining.