Structure

The Monk of Mokha proceeds in a mostly linear fashion, progressing from Mokhtar’s childhood to his early adulthood and the beginning of his professional development. One of the most pivotal moments in the narrative is when Mokhtar learns about the connection between coffee and Yemeni history. After making this discovery, Mokhtar became determined to become a coffee exporter and revitalize Yemen’s coffee industry. In these pursuits, Mokhtar used many skills and moral lessons developed in his youth. Thus, even though Mokhtar was struggling to find success in his earlier years, the book emphasizes the usefulness of his experiences. His business sense, work ethic, and commitment to moral scruples all seem to have roots in his earlier years.

The major exception to the book’s nonlinearity is the fact that it opens with an episode from his early 20s. He decided to finally attend college, but...