Books: A Pint of Plain

"The Workman's Friend"
When things go wrong and will not come right,
Though you do the best you can,
When life looks black as the hour of night -
A pint of plain is your only man.

When money's tight and hard to get
And your horse has also ran,
When all you have is a heap of debt -
A pint of plain is your only man.

When health is bad and your heart feels strange,
And your face is pale and wan,
When doctors say you need a change,
A pint of plain is your only man.

When food is scarce and your larder bare
And no rashers grease your pan,
When hunger grows as your meals are rare -
A pint of plain is your only man.

In time of trouble and lousey strife,
You have still got a darlint plan
You still can turn to a brighter life -
A pint of plain is your only man.
by Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan)
The poem above was the inspiration for the title of the book, A Pint of Plain: Tradition, Change, and the Fate of the Irish Pub by Bill Barich. It's basically raises questions regarding the commercialization and mass-marketing of Irish culture and about one man's quest to find a traditional Irish pub in and around Dublin. You know the kind, like the one as seen in the John Wayne classic, The Quiet Man - rolling green hills, ancient castles, traditional Irish music, where the whiskey and stout poured, and the craic was plentiful, what Barich often refers to as 'Fairytale Ireland'.
I initially bought this for my love of Guinness. And I do mean love. Of the 2 or 3 times a year I'll have a drink, more often than not it's a pint or two of the good stuff. It was an interesting read and a good beginner's look into a "blow-in's" pub travels, and just one of many books about the perfect pint. What can I say? Guinness lovers are passionate about their pints, the world over.