A Literary Analysis of Beer for Dummies by Marty Nachel and Steve Ettlinger Essay

Beer for Dummies by Marty Nachel with Steve Ettlinger. Let's start with how I came about getting a copy of this book. Back around Christmas time last year I saw a copy of Wine for Dummies. I picked it up and noticed that the "Dummy" had expanded into the non-computer field. I didn't give it much thought until around Dec. 31st, I saw CNN do a piece of what's hot for 1996. Beer was at the top of the list. Not just any beer, but craft beer. I saw a similar 'What's Hot' article in a local newspaper and again Beer was listed. Within a few weeks I saw an article on the Dummy books. After reading that I knew that 'Beer for Dummies' would soon be out. The article did not list Beer for Dummies asa new title, I just put a few pieces together and knew. Next I wrote an article about it. See View From Here 26. In the article I ranted on how the current beer renaissance does not need a dummy book, that it should not be written, and to please drive a stake through the person who is planning to write it. About three weeks later I got a letter from Marty Nachel telling me it was too late, that Beer for Dummies had already been written and if I wanted to receive a free copy of the book to let him know. At the beginning of September a copy of the book arrived at my door. I wanted to hate this book. I was sure that it would be filled with poor attempts at being clever and waste ink about how the major swill makers produce substandard barley beverages. I was going to apply a few Dorothy Parker quotes and rip the book to shreds. I was sure that the covers of this book would be too far apart. Then something happened... I read it....