The Monk of Mokha

The Monk of Mokha cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Buy online
Technical
  • ID: 180
  • Added: 2025-09-03
  • Updated: 2025-09-10
  • ISBN: 9780241975374
  • Publisher: Penguin UK
  • Published: 2018-01-25
  • Formats: 34
  • Reviews: 3

From the best-selling author of The Circle - the gripping true story of a young Yemeni American man, raised in San Francisco, who dreams of resurrecting the ancient art of Yemeni coffee but finds himself trapped in Sana'a by civil war Mokhtar Alkhanshali is twenty-four and working as a doorman when he becomes fascinated with the rich history of coffee and Yemen's central place in it. He leaves San Francisco and travels deep into his ancestral home to tour terraced farms high in the country's rugged mountains. He collects samples and organizes farmers and is on the verge of success when civil war engulfs the country. Saudi bombs rain down, the U.S. embassy closes, and Mokhtar has to find a way out of Yemen with only his hopes on his back. The Monk of Mokha is the story of this courageous and visionary young man following the most American of dreams.

Reviews
Barista Magazine · 2025-09-03
inspiring 3.75

The story of Mokhtar resonates more deeply when familiar with the coffee industry, revealing a personal and inspiring journey of passion and perseverance.

The review from Barista Magazine highlights how Mokhtar’s story gains added power through his personal presence and connection to coffee culture. It appreciates the book’s blend of history, struggle, and triumph within the coffee world and notes that knowing Mokhtar or seeing him speak enriches the experience. The review also mentions that some credit is given to Eggers for his writing, but acknowledges mixed views among coffee professionals about the book’s portrayal.


Quick quotes

    I think knowing Mokhtar or seeing him speak makes this book more powerful.

    The Monk of Mokha opens with a story about the actual Monk of Mokha, who brewed the first cup of coffee.

    Eggers gets a lot of credit for the book—and it’s not always positive.

Goodreads · 2025-09-03
gripping 4.00

The book vividly portrays the harsh realities of war-torn Yemen while detailing Mokhtar’s dangerous, determined efforts to revive Yemeni coffee and build an export business.

This review emphasizes the authenticity and drama of Mokhtar's journey through a Yemeni landscape ravaged by civil war and instability. The reviewer values the book for its multi-layered narrative covering politics, history, and human resilience, though they express some skepticism about the full veracity of the story due to the lack of detailed sourcing. Overall, it is seen as a gripping and dramatic read that captures the complexity and peril of Mokhtar’s mission.


Quick quotes

    The book delivers on many levels, showing the real region and what people go through every day in a region plagued with war.

    Most of the book takes place in Yemen detailing many dangerous situations that Mokhtar escapes from.

    I can’t honestly judge if all of this book is true, but it makes for some enjoyable and dramatic reading.

4Columns · Brian Dillon · 2018-09-01
engaging 4.25

The story is engaging and instructive, blending historical coffee lore with a compelling narrative about Mokhtar's entrepreneurial spirit and perseverance amidst Yemen's civil war.

Brian Dillon appreciates the way the book combines detailed coffee history with the personal and political challenges Mokhtar faces in Yemen. He highlights Mokhtar as both a savvy international operator and a lucky novice who quickly learns about coffee and business, making the book a powerful American dream story against daunting odds. Dillon finds the narrative never less than engaging, underscoring the instructive nature of the story and its relevance beyond just coffee enthusiasts.


Quick quotes

    The basic story is never less than engaging and instructive.

    Mokhtar emerges as part canny international operator and part super-lucky naïf.

    Eggers’s book is about a version of the American dream, achieved against political as well as personal odds.

Appears in Lists