Dean's Book Recommendation: The Forty Year Bender
In all my years at Merlo, I've only ever talked to you about coffee. Today I'm making one exception - for family. And if you know anything about an Italian family, you'll know we don't do things by halves when it comes to looking after our own.
This is for everybody out there who feels life is going off track. My cousin, Chris "Merls" Merlo, has written a book - and it's one I'm proudly behind...
THE FORTY YEAR BENDER - When life goes off track, there's a way back
That promise on the cover isn't a throwaway line. Merls would know. He spent forty years living the hard version of it - addiction, rehab, rock bottom in places most people don't return from - and somehow clawed his way back into daylight. The book is the whole honest, often very funny story of how he did it, and the way back he found. I watched him launch it to a packed room earlier this month, and I have never been prouder of him.
I asked him to record something short, so you could hear it straight from him. It's 55 seconds - have a watch.
If it speaks to you, or to someone you love, here's the part I'm proud to offer.
20% OFF FOR MERLO CUSTOMERS
- Paperback: $29.99 -> $23.99
- eBook & Audiobook: $14.99 -> $11.99
- Use code MERLO20 at checkout. Offer ends Tuesday 21 July 2026.
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Get the book here.
Buy it for yourself. Buy it for the mate you've quietly been worried about. Books like this have a way of ending up in exactly the right hands.
Follow Merls:
Thank you for reading a coffee man's first and only book recommendation. We've spent over thirty years looking after you a cup at a time - today I'm simply asking you to look out for someone I love. I wouldn't put my name to it if I didn't believe in it - and in him - with everything I've got.
With love, and a good strong coffee,
Dean Merlo,
Merlo Coffee
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The Forty Year Bender deals honestly with addiction, depression and recovery. If you or someone you care about is doing it tough, you don't have to wait - in Australia, Lifeline is on 13 11 14, any time.
