Beer Money

“Beautiful and unflinching . . . a riveting story about the fall of an American family, an American city, and possibly the American Dream itself.” —Janis Cooke Newman, author of Mary, Mrs. A. Lincoln Frances Stroh’s earliest memories are ones of great privilege: shopping trips to London and New York, lunches served by black-tied waiters at the Regency Hotel, and a house filled with precious antiques, which she was forbidden to touch. Established in Detroit in 1850, by 1984 the Stroh Brewing Company had become the largest private beer fortune in America and a brand emblematic of the American dream itself; while Stroh was coming of age, the Stroh family fortune was estimated to be worth $700 million. But behind the beautiful façade lay a crumbling foundation. Detroit’s economy collapsed with the retreat of the automotive industry to the suburbs and abroad and likewise the Stroh family found their wealth and legacy disappearing. As their fortune dissolved in little over a decade, the family was torn apart internally by divorce and one family member’s drug bust; disagreements over the management of the business; and disputes over the remaining money they possessed. Even as they turned against one another, looking for a scapegoat on whom to blame the unraveling of their family, they could not anticipate that even far greater tragedy lay in store. Featuring beautiful evocative photos throughout, Stroh’s memoir is elegantly spare in structure and mercilessly clear-eyed in its self-appraisal—at once a universally relatable family drama and a great American story. “Stroh’s absorbing memoir suggests that most cocoons are permeable and that privilege is relative.” —The New York Times Book Review

German, Czech, and Irish immigrants poured into America in the mid-1800s. They brought their language and traditions with them…and their love of brewing and drinking beer. In 1881, Iowa City was a bustling town full of immigrants. The population was exploding, and that meant two things: Fortunes were being made overnight and trouble was afoot. Three large breweries had taken root, sprouting strong and proud in the “Northside” neighborhood. In one generation the brewers became wealthy and powerful men. They also came to be known as “The Beer Mafia.” The more powerful the brewers grew, the more passionate the ladies of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union became about abolishing alcohol altogether. They took their fight to the saloon, the street, and the Statehouse, preaching prohibition. Conrad Graf, J.J. Englert and John Dostal thought of themselves as honest businessmen capitalizing on America’s explosive growth by simply providing a product people wanted. Vernice Armstrong thought they were selling sin and destroying everything that made America great, one beer at a time. She made it her mission in life to bring them down, but they weren’t about to go down without a fight. Blending real-life historical figures with compelling fictional characters, Beer Money is the story of how the brewers and “Teetotalers” slammed head-on into each other, turning the prairie red with blood. This is a tale of how the seemingly innocuous love of brewing and drinking beer became the flashpoint, sparking events that would shape America for a generation.

The problem with most personal finance and investing books is that they complicate simple ideas and contain so much detail nobody ever actually reads them. Beer Money is different. It can be read in an afternoon and presents financial concepts using something you're already familiar with: Beer. Beer Money is organized as a “Pub Crawl to Financial Success.” Each chapter is a clear, actionable step with guidance on financial decisions you may face. Excruciating detail such as valuation metrics for stocks, estate planning, complicated options strategies, etc. are NOT part of this book. Beer Money is written for anyone who wants the basic building blocks of personal finance and investing.You'll learn the differences between investing in stocks, bonds, real estate and commodities. You'll see how to best use a retirement plan like a 401(k), how to budget better and the importance of insurance. There are examples of different investment portfolios, automatic saving and spending plans and a discussion about the different types of investment accounts such as Traditional and Roth IRA's. The use of beer, easy to understand text and pictures (yes, pictures!) and humor make this a book you will actually read and understand. So grab a cold six pack and a comfortable chair and get started on your own pub-crawl to financial security. Cheers!

Today's Canadian student faces an uphill battle. Many young people can only look on as tuition fees and student debt loads skyrocket while their job prospects simultaneously plummet. Though More Money for Beer and Textbooks won't change this reality, it will help students navigate their way through the post-secondary landscape and emerge unscathed. Find out how a couple of dudes who drank too many frosty beverages and had as much fun as legally possible managed to finish their post-secondary journeys with no debt and promising careers. More Money for Beer and Textbooks includes updated information on: How Much Post-Secondary Education Will Cost Student Housing Options Applying for and Repaying Student Loans Partying without an Empty-Bank-Account Hangover Getting Great Part-Time and Summer Jobs Preparing Student Tax Returns What a Student Budget Should Look Like Saving Money on Textbooks Responsibly Using Credit Cards More tips for university can be found at http: //youngandthrifty.ca or http: //myuniversitymoney.com.

A biblical companion to the happy life ... Learn how gnostic dualism invaded the early church, killed the party and taught you the world was evil. Exposing the lies of religious asceticism, John Crowder hits the controversial topics of cash, booze and nookie - stuff your pastor is scared to talk about!