Good To The Last Drop

by Garry Cooper

380 pages, Paperback

Published March 24, 2025

Reviews

[Allie Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admittedly this a bit of a biased review, but, Good to the Last Drop is truly is one of the best things I’ve read in my adult life. You are taken on a journey from my father’s childhood through his senior years, but that isn’t what this book is about. The real through line is his journey of self-actualization and his crescendoing awareness of his mortality. Sometimes through his own experiences and sometimes through the lens of others.

This isn’t a self-help book, so if that’s what you’re looking for, continue searching elsewhere. It’s also not a book for the fearful. My dad bravely, candidly, and, yes, humorously, writes about hard truths of the world and our human nature. It’s something we all inevitably will face, but it’s up to us how we face it, whether it be head on or head-in-the-sand.

[Tom Babbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author’s authenticity and examination are matched by his wit and self-deprivation. Garry’s story is a man grasping for meaning and connection. It’s relatable and enjoyable.

[gradedog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot. I think. I read almost exclusively Science Fiction and Fantasy novels and comics which I find are usually entertaining at the very least and occasionally more thought provoking. Very occasionally I read something outside the SF/F genre (genres?). Like a mystery or something. Very rarely, do I step out into the realm of non-fiction. Hell, I rarely even watch documentaries. Non fictional media is beyond the energy I am willing to expend away from the joys and travails of actual life. Actually I don’t know what the fuck about the whys and wherefores about what I decide to pursue outside of living. But here I find myself having just read Good to the Last Drop, by Garry Cooper. Not just non-fiction, but a memoir for fucks sake.

I confess. I know the guy. He was one of my grad school professors who had made the trials of academic control, the oppression of higher education and jumping through the tortuous hoops of academic rigor, not just a bit more bearable, but actually inspiring on occasion. I liked the dude. Heard he wrote a book so decided to check it out. It’s short thankfully. I started it this morning. It was at times funny, melancholy at others. There were times I laughed out loud, times I sighed, and times my eyes threatened to get leaky. There were even a few times of - oh shit, I need to stop, close the book, and think about what I just read for a bit.

It helps I am sitting next to a river pretty much as far in the middle of nowhere in Northern California one can still drive to and park a camp trailer. Mountains, river, and solitude.

The book is good. I should have had a highlighter. Perhaps I’ll read it again next to some other river, or maybe this one, only with a highlighter. Good stuff here. Thanks Garry.

Now back to literature of the fictional variety.