Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices [Hardcover]

Michael J. Gelb (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Author and "self-employed creativity consultant" Gelb (How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci) offers a robust but cloying at-home seminar in expanding creativity through wine appreciation. Gelb walks readers through a brief but high-minded education in wine, from training on the sensations and vocabulary involved in tasting, to an "inspired thinking" wine party complete with poetry writing and sharing. Besides tasting, Gelb offers generally useful advice, including tips on toasting, the role of the sommelier, food pairings, and optimum serving temperatures, though digressions on classic paintings and opera run long, while other passages (pairing wine with clothes and unconventional foods like nachos) come across as glib and a bit ridiculous. Poets-in-training with a flair for melodrama will likely get the most out of this passionate guide.
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Review

The Bookseller (UK) 2/12/10
"An excuse for wine lovers everywhere to open that second bottle in search for their creative right brain. Think outside the bottle for Inspired Thinking wine parties but beware for in vino veritas."

The Bookseller (UK) 2/12/10
"An excuse for wine lovers everywhere to open that second bottle in search for their creative right brain. Think outside the bottle for Inspired Thinking wine parties but beware for in vino veritas."

Robert Parker Jr., The Wine Advocate
“WINE DRINKING FOR INSPIRED THINKING is one of the most practical and useful books about a consumer’s experience in dealing with the subject of wine that I have ever read. There is an enormous amount of terrific, and more importantly, reliable and useful information in this book by Michael Gelb. Highly recommended.”

Kevin Zraly, Author of The Complete Windows on the World Wine Course
"There are more books on wine available now than ever before, but this one is special. In WINE DRINKING FOR INSPIRED THINKING, Michael Gelb has taken a totally different approach to understanding and having fun with wine by combining poetry, philosophy, art, music, and science…Gelb inspires us to enjoy a more creative approach to the art of living and drinking."

Natalie MacLean, four-time James Beard award-winning author of Red, White and Drunk All Over
“Michael Gelb takes a mind-altering, life-changing approach to wine and the mind in this wonderful book. Drink deeply from his delightful perspective and savor life fully lived.”

Jennifer Rosen, author of The Cork Jester's Guide to Wine and winner of the 2005 James Beard Award for Internet Wine Writing
“If you cannot imagine having Socrates, Shakespeare and Da Vinci over to laugh at your jokes, weep at your poetry and beg for your advice on wine, then your work/play balance might need serious adjustment. Your only hope is to go immerse yourself in Michael Gelb’s delightful new book, and discover why the best things in the world to open together are a bottle of wine and your mind.”

Gary Vaynerchuk, Host of Wine Library TV (tv.winelibrary.com) and author of 101 Wines Guaranteed to Inspire, Delight, and Bring Thunder to Your World
“WINE DRINKING FOR INSPIRED THINKING is an essential addition to your wine library. Michael Gelb's unique "right brain" approach makes wine appreciation easy and fun. This book offers exceptional insights into the creative process and a truly delightful way to bring people together. It will bring thunder to your world!”

Don Campbell, musician and author of The Mozart Effect and Sound Spirit
“Open the taste buds of your mind, ears, eyes and heart with WINE DRINKING FOR INSPIRED THINKING. Michael Gelb brings us to our senses with a magical, fresh approach to deepening our appreciation for the art of living, tasting and listening.”

Daniel H. Pink, author of A Whole New Mind
"Few things in life are as invigorating as great wine and bold ideas. And only Michael Gelb could combine the two into a single masterful book. WINE DRINKING FOR INSPIRED THINKING is an engaging and inspiring guide for everyone who wants to drink well and think big."

Sir Ken Robinson, author of The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything
“You want a world expert in creativity to be highly creative too and Michael Gelb is both. After revealing the creative processes of Da Vinci and Edison in earlier books, he now uncorks some of his own creative secrets in this masterful and captivating exploration of the connections between wine and insight, the mind and the senses, pleasure and wisdom. He also tells you lot about wine. Here's the full proof that in vino there really can be veritas.”

SARK, author/artist of Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper
“What a luscious, poetic, creative exploration WINE DRINKING FOR INSPIRED THINKING is! I became intoxicated just from reading it, and am glad to recommend that you read and experience it too."

Chef/Restaurateur Daniel Boulud
“This book will teach you the pleasure of drinking - not just for the flavor - but for an intellectual purpose.”

Sergio Esposito, Author of Passion on the Vine
“In his original and captivating style, Michael Gelb shows us how we can deepen our appreciation of wine in a way that also enriches our minds. Brimming with passion for wine, life and creativity, this treasure chest of wine-related poetry, philosophy, music, and art will bring more dolce to your vita.”

Wendy Dubit, founding editor of "The Wine Enthusiast" and creator of "The Wine Workout"
“In WINE DRINKING FOR INSPIRED THINKING, Michael Gelb captures the magic of wine at its best and fullest. He demystifies and elucidates the multi-faceted magnificence that is wine as he enlightens us about wine’s influence on art, architecture, music and poetry throughout the ages. Most importantly, he guides us to unleash the joyous wonders of sense, creativity and memory that take place within us when we enjoy wine mindfully."

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Running Press (March 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762438681
• ISBN-13: 978-0762438686
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #361,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A way to open your mind, April 3, 2010

By	C. R. Anderson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices (Hardcover)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brill!!!!, March 28, 2010

By	Leslie Wizner (SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, US) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices (Hardcover)

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

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking, A Gift for Our Senses....., March 26, 2010

By	Katharine Menton - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Wine Drinking for Inspired Thinking: Uncork Your Creative Juices (Hardcover)

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