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Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices

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I must confess that I'm not a big wine drinker . . . nor is poetry
necessarily "my thing" . . . however after reading Michael Gelb's
WINE DRINKING FOR INSPIRED THINKING (see also Section 11), I
might want to revisit both topics.

Gelb, author of the bestselling HOW TO THINK LIKE LEONARDO
DA VINCI, is a self-employed creativity consultant . . . as he
sometimes describes himself, he's also a professor at M.S.U,
which isn't Michigan State University, but rather he replies,
I "Make Stuff Up."

Somehow, he managed to do just that by combining his lifelong love of wine
with poetry:

* Why poetry? I was inspired to inspire others toward a more poetic,
right-brained approach to wine because, as I attended a variety
of wine-related events--tastings, dinners, seminars--it was apparent that
many folks took the proceedings, and themselves, much too seriously.
Just like many seminars on classical music or art appreciation, participants
often seemed to indulge in one-upmanship and snobbery. Pretension was
rife, and many people seemed to be driven by the fear of making mistakes.
Although the best educators, like Kevin Zraly, always included a hearty
dose of humor, this was more the exception than the rule. The majority of wine
education events were just plain boring, suffering from an overly analytical
"left-brain" approach. Moreover, I sensed that a more experimental approach
to appreciating wine might be helpful in encouraging people to think
outside the box.

The author also concluded that there were and are better ways to
bring people together, especially at the corporate level . . . and
especially since some of the existing methods just weren't very
effective:

* The article described an event held in Florida featuring an exercise
that required participants to walk on hot coals. The result, according
to the Times: "About a dozen . . . marketing department workers burned
their feet last week when they walked over white-hot coals at a meeting
intended to promote bonding. One woman spent a day in a hospital . . . a
doctor (was called) to treat others whose feet were blistered. Some workers
used wheelchairs when they went to the airport to leave for another
company retreat."

Believe it or not, they were all employees of a national hamburger chain
known for their "flame-broiled" product.

Gelb proceeds to give a brief but enlightening history of wine, as well
as information on what you need to set up your own event--be it for
business purposes or just a pleasant evening with friends . . . along
the way, he includes a helpful jargon guide and several poems
that just about anybody will find enjoyable.

What I especially liked about INSIPIRED THINKING was that
it didn't belittle anybody with little knowledge of wine and/or poetry . . . rather,
it did its best to put a smile on any reader by sharing such stories
as the following:

* Craig Williams shares this true story of a quirky cork assessment:
"One of my friends went to a family get-together at a prestigious restaurant
in the Monterey are of California. They select a wine, the sommelier opens it
and presents the cork on a small silver plate, which he places next to my
friend's mother-in-law. She picks it up, gives it a quizzical once-over, and
proceeds to take a bite out of the cork!"

Another delightful read from Michael! Its great to have experienced several of the food and wine pairings, and I can say these combinations truly bring out the best in each other. What a joy for a novice like myself to explore the pleasure of wine and food together with direction from a master like Michael. This book is fun to read and a great guide for planning a memorable dinner party, including the entertaining chapter "Wine Geek Jargon Guide".
Leslie

I know almost nothing about wines except that I am happy when I drink one I like. Until now, I avoided wine books and classes on wine, thinking I just didn't have the time or the money to get seriously interested in the subject. Then someone gave me this book and I became a convert. With great good humor Michael Gelb opened the doors to the vast, wonderful world of wine. To think what I missed all these years! The book is welcoming, unintimidating, very knowledgeable and lots of fun. It teaches you how to buy good wine on a budget (and great wine for a lot more if you have the chance). It gives you excellent suggestions for pairing up wines and foods. And it gives you a subject for meditation. At the end of the day, when you're tired or stuck in some piece of work, you can pour a glass of wine, contemplate its color, its aroma, its taste and let your mind ease itself away from its confining thoughts. This I believe is Michael Gelb's aim - to give you a way to become more receptive to your own ideas and to the people around you.

This is a MUST BUY MANY! I have to quote Michael, himself: (quoted in this book from his best seller How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci)"Although it is hard to overstate Leonardo's da Vinci's brilliance, recent SCIENTIFIC research reveals that you probably underestimate your own capabilities." IF YOU WANT A BOOK TO INSPIRE you...you will want to buy this book. There is a reason wine was Jesus' first miracle and a part of almost every civilization since the beginning. Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking gives each of us a WAY to access a little bit (or a lot) of Leonardo. As a wine bar owner and wine enthusiast, I can attest to wine's power to bring us to our center, our core, (a smiling place) that is closer to our human potential than when we are plugged into the "world wide web". But, more importantly,as a human being, I am so grateful for Gelb's voice in this book that "cheers" across the table, "YOU can do IT!" I second that! A warning! Michael also writes, the "scorch-the-Earth, exploit-the-worker types usually don't hire me. My clients tend to be visionary, humanistic leaders who are devoted to developing the creative potential of their people." Either way, you should buy this book and prepare to have FUN and be inspired by YOUR OWN magic!Do you know anyone who does not want an excuse to drink more wine? Great gift! Cheers!

Michael J. Gelb's "Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking" covers every imaginable contemporary wine topic. From teaching you how to buy wine, to how to drink wine, to how to entertain with wine, to how to bring people together with wine. Suffused with humor, Gelb makes a normally stuffy topic accessible and fun.

My favorite aspect of Gelb's work is his unbridled enthusiasm for all things vino. His passion allows for an effective wrangling together of what could have been considered disparate parts. That joie de vivre for wine makes the book go down like the best aged port; sweet, true and poignant.

My other favorite part of the book is the large number of wine-related quotes, missives, poems, confessionals and soulful testimonials. These myriad voices from myriad enthusiasts give the book an expansive quality and creates a sense of a lovely wine homage.

Well done...a 96!

The luscious muse of a fine wine ignites currents through our blood stirring our senses to glow with freshly illumined perceptions....

Michael Gelb once again sparks & gathers us to embrace a remembering of our deepest desire to play and taste with one another
the rich, engaging passions for life that move in our bones....

With an eagle's eye and global wingspan spread wide, he helps us clearly
navigate thru an infinite number of choices to wisely combine sublime wines, food and creative inspiration...

This treasured vine of a book, WINE DRINKING FOR INSPIRED THINKING, weaves and alchemizes a delicious gift of nourishing,
enlivening experience for Body, Mind & Soul...... Molte Grazie!

Katharine Menton/ Movement & Touch Therapist

Yes, this is a wonderful book about wine and I'm definitely one of those who has dreaded when the wine list gets anywhere near me. Michael Gelb's "Drinking Wine for Inspired Thinking" changes all that. Not only has it given me new courage to learn about wine, but within a few minutes of reading, you start to remember to savor life with friends, and take life's pleasures seriously without taking yourself seriously. He talks to the reader in a playful, knowledgeable and irreverent voice -- informing, cajoling and extolling the virtues of "La Dolce Vita" and guiding you along the path of learning about and enjoying wine. Whether you skip straight to the chapter on "The Seven Food and Wine Pairings You Must Experience Before you Die" (as I did), or need some practical tips for buying wine, or want to create your own wine gathering event, you will enjoy these pages again and again. Cheers!

This is more than a book, its a guide to experiencing wine, and maybe even life, in a new way. Reviewing the book really requires one to experience what the author calls the "Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking exercise." Fortunately, Gelb provides step-by-step instructions for holding this event including lots of very useful information on how to buy great value wine to inspire your friends to write poetry. This may seem contrived or even absurd to some at first but once you experience the flow of creative expression that Gelb insists is available to all you will get the juicy message of this original and wonderful book. I plan on conducting a New Symposium myself - it is that clear about how to facilitate this experience!

In the final section Gelb offers a "Wine Geek Jargon Guide." The guide made me laugh-actually the whole book is rich with humor- but it also transformed my understanding of the sometimes confusing world of Winespeak. Gelb devotes a few pages to positive wine description terms and many of them are helpful in appreciating this charming work. It is:
Balanced: Gelb complements his right-brain creative approach with practical down-to-Earth consumer guidance
Robust: Each chapter brims with passion for wine and life
Complex: Its funny, serious, quirky, wise and silly. I imagine that I will re-read this book many times and will continue to deepen my understanding and appreciation
Elegant: The poetry and musical/artistic and historical references in the book gave me a sense of connection with the more uplifting aspects of Western culture.

I've already bought more than a dozen copies and will buy even more as gifts for all my friends and colleagues who enjoy wine!

This book serves as a practical guide to deepen your enjoyment of wine, poetry, music, art, architecture and life. It's also a wonderful guide for the consumer. After reading this book I can navigate through a wine list and find the best value. And, best of all, I'm no longer intimidated by sommeliers or wine shop sales people!