Bartender Diaries - ADULT ENTERTAINMENT

Seven Ways to Treat A Lady: A Bartender’s Confession by Joseph P. Palmese is a raw, gripping, and unexpectedly tender memoir that takes readers from the jungles of Vietnam to the neon-lit bars of Las Vegas. At just eighteen years old, Palmese faced a fateful choice: serve probation and risk jail time, or enlist in the military. Choosing the latter, he joined the United States Marine Corps and was thrust into the heart of the Vietnam War. For nearly three years he endured the harsh realities of combat, an experience that left its scars but also instilled an unshakable resilience. Beneath the turmoil, however, lived a dream that war could not extinguish—the desire to become a bartender.

What follows is Palmese’s unforgettable chronicle of fourteen years behind the bar, where he discovered not only the art of pouring drinks but the deeper craft of connecting with people. He paints bartending as more than just a job—it is a calling, a stage, and at times a battlefield of its own. Through humor, grit, and brutal honesty, Palmese recounts the lessons learned while mixing cocktails for strangers, offering a sympathetic ear, and observing the wide spectrum of human behavior. His voice is both entertaining and poignant, reminding readers that behind every glass served lies a story waiting to be heard.

Yet, Seven Ways to Treat A Lady is not simply about bartending—it is about passion, survival, and respect. Palmese’s affection for women and fine wine is not written as indulgence but as a philosophy of gratitude and appreciation. The “seven ways” of the title emerge as guiding principles he gathered through trial, error, and reflection, offering wisdom on how to treat women with honor while also embracing life with joy and authenticity. These lessons elevate the memoir into something more than confessions; they become reflections on love, relationships, and what it means to live fully.

The allure of Las Vegas runs like electricity through Palmese’s story. The city becomes a character in itself—glittering, intoxicating, and merciless. Through its bright lights and shadows, Palmese shares not only the glamour of nightlife but also the hidden struggles beneath it. He balances tales of indulgence with moments of vulnerability, creating a narrative that is as layered as the cocktails he once poured.

What sets Palmese’s memoir apart is its daring contrast: a Marine’s brutal combat memories woven alongside the elegance of wine, women, and bar culture. Few writers capture both worlds with such honesty. His story resonates not only with veterans searching for life after service but also with dreamers, wanderers, and anyone who has ever reinvented themselves after hardship. By laying bare his struggles and triumphs, Palmese creates a space for readers to reflect on their own lives, their own choices, and their own ways of seeking meaning.

In the end, Seven Ways to Treat A Lady is more than a bartender’s confession—it is a testament to survival, reinvention, and the courage to follow one’s passions even when life takes the hardest detours. With its mix of grit, humor, sensuality, and heartfelt wisdom, this memoir ensures that Joseph P. Palmese is not only remembered as a Marine or a bartender but as a storyteller who lived unapologetically and invites others to do the same.

-Reviews by Kelly Johnson