From the Ground Up: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America

by Howard Schultz

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the longtime CEO and chairman of Starbucks, a bold, dramatic work about the new responsibilities that leaders, businesses, and citizens share in American society today—as viewed through the intimate lens of one man’s life and work.  What do we owe one another? How do we channel our drive, ingenuity, even our pain, into something more meaningful than individual success? And what is our duty in the places where we live, work, and play? These questions are at the heart of the American journey. They are also ones that Howard Schultz has grappled with personally since growing up in the Brooklyn housing projects and while building Starbucks from eleven stores into one of the world’s most iconic brands. In From the Ground Up, Schultz looks for answers in two interwoven narratives. One story shows how his conflicted boyhood—including experiences he has never before revealed—motivated Schultz to become the first in his family to graduate from college, then to build the kind of company his father, a working-class laborer, never had a chance to work a business that tries to balance profit and human dignity. A parallel story offers a behind-the-scenes look at Schultz’s unconventional efforts to challenge old notions about the role of business in society. From health insurance and free college tuition for part-time baristas to controversial initiatives about race and refugees, Schultz and his team tackled societal issues with the same creativity and rigor they applied to changing how the world consumes coffee. Throughout the book, Schultz introduces a cross-section of Americans transforming common struggles into shared successes. In these pages, lost youth find first jobs, aspiring college students overcome the yoke of debt, post-9/11 warriors replace lost limbs with indomitable spirit, former coal miners and opioid addicts pave fresh paths, entrepreneurs jump-start dreams, and better angels emerge from all corners of the country. From the Ground Up is part candid memoir, part uplifting blueprint of mutual responsibility, and part proof that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. At its heart, it’s an optimistic, inspiring account of what happens when we stand up, speak out, and come together for purposes bigger than ourselves. Here is a new vision of what can be when we try our best to lead lives through the lens of humanity. “Howard Schultz’s story is a clear reminder that success is not achieved through individual determination alone, but through partnership and community. Howard’s commitment to both have helped him build one of the world’s most recognized brands. It will be exciting to see what he accomplishes next.”—Bill Gates

Genres: Biography, Business, Nonfiction, Politics, Memoir, Leadership, History

345 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 28, 2019

About the author

Schultz is an author and businessman. He was born on July 19th of 1953. He is mostly known for owning Starbucks; he is also the CEO and chairman of that company.
He graduated Northern Michigan University with a bachelor's degree in Communication.
Schultz authored the book Pour Your Heart Into It How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time with Dori Jones Yang in 1997. His second book Onward How Starbucks Fought for Its Life Without Losing Its Soul with Joanne Gordon, was published in 2011.

Reviews

[Jorge Carvalho · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing read for any entrepreneur aiming for leaving a mark in this world, not only by succeeding to create and grow a profitable and sustainable business, but more importantly by using the power that profit offers to “do the right thing”, or even better to do a whole bunch better of good things. I truly believe that everyone is entitled to seek for business success, making loads of profit money, starting from scratch (meaning ascending from a typical middle class family) and making his own way to the highest richnesses imaginable. But then, what to do to all that money and power you can now access? The Gates Foundation, their long time friend Warren contribution and his decision regarding the destiny of the majority and f his wealth come to mind, naturally.
This is the focus of this book, I believe, the process of choosing the causes your business will support, even if they mean less profit. I love and utterly respect and admire Schultz’s response to some grumpy shareholders that not everything Starbucks does is intended to maximize profit but rather to support good causes like veterans unemployment, fighting racism bias or promoting growth and helping disadvantaged communities.
Your business and your wealth, be it big or small should always aim “to do the right thing”, succeed will surely follow… even if it takes time and is still hard to see… :-).
Moreover, it’s stunning to say the least to learn about his humble early life, it not only brings hope to many of us (you can be born in a low income family and still aim to become a billionaire) but it also reveals a lot about Schultz’s drive. I admire him for being so open about himself and his personal life, not everyone who n his position would do it.
All in all, a great book, a marvelous read, you can still believe in doing good and lead a profitable business, I hope anyone will say the same about the one I own and am leading. Should be mandatory read for several corporate roles, offered a copy to my HR VP, CFO, COO and Sales VP.

[LeeAnn Balbirona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in one sitting, over several hours and four cups of coffee. Some tough stuff in here; genuinely moving, personal stories. I appreciated the thorough coverage of his/Starbucks’ missteps as well as his successes.

[Chris Norbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this after Schultz announced he was running for President as an independent. Since I'm neither a democrat or a republican, I'm usually more interested in what an indie has to say.

The book is laid out roughly chronologically in the beginning but jumps around from issue to issue more in the rest of the book. I admire Schultz's rise from relative poverty and dysfunctional home life. He has tried some innovative things at Starbucks, for which he gets huge props. That tells me he'd be open to thinking-outside-the-box solutions to problems if he somehow got elected POTUS.

Despite those innovative ideas and courage to seek solutions to chronic social problems like racism, equality, affordable education and health care, the man comes across as a bit bland. Goodhearted--yes. Well-intentioned--yes. But charismatic--not so much.

I hope he lasts a long time in the campaign and forces fresh debate on the topics the dems and reps have been dancing around for decades. And who knows? One businessman with no political experience just got elected. Why not a second? Personality-wise, Schultz would be a quantum leap breath of fresh air compared to what we have today.

[Daniel Simmons · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s easy to sneer at Howard Schultz — his hucksterism and hokeyness can be a turn-off, and certainly there have been tone-deaf moments in his long Starbucks career (“Race Together,” anyone?). But darn it, I like the man. He seems to genuinely believe in the ideas behind his platitudes and panaceas, and he possesses a kind of wide-eyed (okay, occasionally wild-eyed) idealism that I find sorely lacking in a lot of business leaders. I like that he takes risks, that he takes progressive stances on important issues, and that he owns up to his mistakes when things go badly. He seems like a stand-up guy who genuinely cares about his employees, his customers, and his country.

All of that comes across much better, though, in his TV and radio interviews. On the page he seems, well, bland and uninspiring, no matter how inspiring the topic is: veterans support programs, youth job fairs, facilitating small business loans, and offering critical condition medical insurance for Chinese employees’ family members. I turned the last page of this possible-presidential-run-preview feeling that Schultz is a guy who really has put his money where his mouth is. Four stars for the man, then... but two for his book.

[Sharon Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had an affinity for Starbucks for many years. It isn’t just to do with the coffee, it’s because I have learned about the start, purpose and community outreach of the company. If you’ve read Schultz’s first two books, then part one of this book will sound familiar. At times, the second part felt more informational as if you’re reading a Starbucks policy brochure, but there were enough human stories and personal insights, to include more of Schultz’s upbringing and early experiences, that it was balanced. It’s the stories where I feel Schultz’s writing shines. By part three, however, I realized that it could have been challenging to put all of the philanthropic and community programs Starbucks has developed in one book. The company has done well to keep themselves accountable to their employees and social reform; ever-evolving with each year. So hang in there with the familiar and informational, by the end you will be inspired, as with Schultz’s first two books, and you’ll prob feel better about where your latte money goes. I personally appreciate all they’ve done to partner with the American military.

[Liz Lazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

After hearing an interview with Howard Schultz on a recent podcast, I was intrigued by his comments about corporate social responsibility, which is what led me to pick up this book.

As someone who typically picks an independent cafe over a Starbucks, when I have ended up at one of their locationslI’ve nonetheless noticed that employees often seem happier than typical retail and service industry staff. I’d heard from various sources over the years that the benefits program at Starbucks was second to none, including health insurance and free college tuition available to both full and part time employees. Reading this book really helped open my eyes to how truly unique the Starbucks culture is and how admirable Howard Schultz is for never losing site of his vision to create a company that treats its employees with dignity, welcomes everyone, and maintains a sense of responsibility towards the local, national and global communities in which it lives. Schultz exemplifies the ethos that wealth and success are not synonymous with greed and crushing your competition, and that there is great importance to insuring the dignity of work and the dignity of every human being. In this age of Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Brett Kavanaugh, I’m so very glad there is also a Howard Schultz and a Starbucks, proof that good things and good people can succeed while simultaneously lifting up those around them.

[Roy Murry · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the Ground Up

HOWARD SCHULTZ

Review by Roy Murry, Author

When I read, I like to be entertained or learn something. I didn't enjoy Mr. Schultz's history lesson about Starbucks.

I do not know what I expected, but the chronicles of a company and its CEO is what I got. The story went deep into his management style which shows he does have the abilities to start a company and bring it to fruition. To run the USA is another question.

He makes his points but embellishes on each way too much to the near boredom. Other than that, the writing was easy to follow, and the story is somewhat unusual.

I admit though; I did not finish the story because of what I just stated. I started to read 'From the Ground UP' because of Mr. Schultz's claim that he may run for President of the United States of America.

It was my error reading his book, and his mistake if he runs for President as an Independent candidate.

[Vasco · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bad: for all that Schultz claims to have done, I see some incongruences here. Despite being a heavy consumer of Starbucks, I recognize the lack of recycling and ecological practices just to sustain higher margins. So when the book indirectly claims to be mostly about helping people and doing good, I have to say... No, it's not. At least not in its entirety.

The good: it's a heavily polished and embellished story of everything of good Schultz and Starbucks have done throughout the years. Good to read if you're a Starbucks investor or shareholder trying to get another polished, edited story about Schultz, Starbucks and their success. Not that good if you're looking for something else, I reckon.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any Starbucks drinking should see how it started because at one point it almost didn't start at all....

Pretty good read. Howard has a very interesting beginning. I will say that some stories he was telling he starts saying to read it in his other book so not sure if he was pedling for sales or not.

[Sab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool story of Starbucks birth and Schultz’s devotion. Hard to not love Starbucks after this book! They truly put their money where their mouth is to be a force of good for society.

I really loved the different narratives of people who were highlighted. The book touched most of the social injustice/inequalities that exist today (racism, gaps in opportunity, poverty, education crisis, health insurance system, veterans returning to work, opioid crisis, etc) & how Starbucks made a change in these spaces

[Joaquin T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howard Schultz is a great character and his story is remarkable. He started from the rock bottom and built Starbucks ground up. The first half of the book was really interesting. He explained all his childhood and development through life. The second half is more rubbish and propaganda, better to skim read. Overall recommended but can be boring

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pre-campaign book. His earlier book Onward is a better read.

[Steve Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was Stevo's Business Book of the Week for the week of 1/27, as selected by Stevo's Book Reviews on the Internet. You can find me at http://forums.delphiforums.com/stevo1 (or search for me on Google) for many more reviews and recommendations.

[Sarah Chogsom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly immersive and personal book filled with emotional stories and take aways.

[Tangled in Text · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was extremely political. I had no idea the depths Starbucks has gone through to make sure it is respectful and accommodating to all. They definitely try to support everyone and are volunteering for callings bigger than themselves making sure not only their employees, but America thrives. Some things they have done seem like they went a little too far, but I applaud them for deciding to confront all issues heart first and head strong. From racism to unemployment to veterans they have gone above and beyond. I was able to get some personal background on Starbucks' former CEO and also an overview of the companies evolution.

I've wanted to work at Starbucks solely to learn how they make my life blood that consists of Caramel Macchiatos and White Chocolate Mochas, but after reading this book I want to be apart of this family for so many more reasons. They seem to truly care about their work force and have a great sense of community!

[Bob Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have this reoccurring nightmare. I’m back in high school and my classmates line the walls of the gym, right against the walls on all sides and I’m forced to stand before them right in the middle, all staring at the lonely boy in the center.

Maybe that’s a metaphor for our American life today - too many judgmental radicals on all sides and too few seeking common ground in the middle.

Howard Schultz doesn’t see it that way. He finds hardworking, noble common people ready to live up to America’s promise around every corner and sees our salvation in them.

Writing this book may be his intro into a run for president - who knows - but regardless, his perspective is valid and affirming. He reminds us that America doesn’t need to be great again, it never lost that capacity, but we could stand to reimagine what that “greatness” should look like. And more than likely, a successful re-imagination won’t come from blowhard politicians but from decent, hardworking people with boots on the ground and their hearts rooted in love ... and honest compromise.

This book can remind us of our goodness.

[Annie Aine Goolie · Rating 1 out of 5]

At the heart of this polemic is the lie of Snowpiercer: that once the glorious Revolutionary Leader takes control of the Engine from the evil Political Class, his just and benevolent hand will restore the world. Also, this is a billionaire who will beat the piñata of his dead parents to elicit pity from the public. And he likes to beat that piñata, including using the funeral of his mother to try to earn votes.

Which is something to keep in mind as you plow through Schultz's newest book. At first, the meandering narrative seems poorly managed.... until you realize how much dog-whistling is going on, and how much of his years after his return to Starbucks have been spent working on credentials for a possible Presidential run. Undeniably, Schultz has done well by many people, but at the heart of it all, he is as much a political creature desiring the reward of power as the "political class" he decries.

And in between the hard work of other people's lives, is the dog-whistling. While many have noted Schultz' prominent promise to make the national debt the core of his Presidential run, there are plenty of other winks. He will not reinstate environmental protections or address global warming. He will not address human rights violations outside of the United States. He will lower government spending without touching the military budget. Public money will be handed over to private businesses wholesale in the pursuit of economic growth. The government will not intervene in the pricing of pharmaceuticals. There will be no regulation of the financial markets.

He literally thinks Democrats will vote for him because we like Starbucks.

And Schultz is not shy about the myths and lies that he is willing to embrace in the pursuit of the highest office in the land. The war in Iraq (2003-2010) cost the U.S. over one trillion dollars, and came about as a result of lies and treason on the part of our military and intelligence services- not "faulty intelligence and wrongheaded assumptions." But he will not allow the military to be questioned about it- now or ever- because think of the soldiers. And he continuously castigates the American public as uninformed and ignorant about Iraq. (Dear Reader: that's hardly me, and I doubt you either.) And nowhere does he address the well documented and extensive theft of funds by private businesses and military contractors. Or the civilian death toll.

Also, the Great Recession was merely a natural disaster with no real cause that hurt some nice people and shame on the public for not cleaning up the mess. You will not find any admission that the collapse of the financial markets was the cause of inherent corporate greed, predatory loans, toothless regulatory agencies, and Wall Street playing cake-walk. Schultz blames the current political climate on government shutdowns... and not the fact that the public bailed out Wall Street, and several hundred executives weren't given life sentences in federal prison, they just got to skip town to go live out billionaire lifestyles with tax-payer money. And that the public bailed out the economy only to have the rescued businesses close down their factories anyway, and ship their jobs overseas. Yes, General Motors, we're looking at you.

We, the American public, do need to start having adult conversations about money and public governance. We hand over more money blind to military contractors than we spend on public education, and no democracy can survive without educating and trusting its voters. Though to be fair, we spend more on legalized gambling than we spend on public education, and we need public leaders willing to talk about that. And this can't be done by someone who thinks city governments exist to build multimillion dollar buildings for a business, for that business to be viable by then selling a product to the public-even if that is tickets to a basketball game.

In the end, Schultz' campaign is dead-on-arrival, for largely the same reason that he equates the opinions of the corporate culture of Starbucks at its Seattle headquarters with the opinions of its actual baristas. His promises and efforts are aimed at a few huge political donors, not at any level of grassroots necessary to run a campaign. The rage of the youth vote against the War in Iraq was a huge part in the 2008 election. Likewise, the feeling that its pointless to build a future that the financial elite will destroy again was a large part of the 2016 elections. My mortgage bill is sitting on my coffee table; so are the dozen mortgage scam offers I've gotten so far this month. And a smattering of references to Twitter doesn't conceal his disconnect with this country.

TLDR: Get a bottle of vodka and take a shot every time you identify someone in this fantasy league of Promised Cabinet Positions.

[Winnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“From the Ground Up” by Howard Schultz is a compelling and sincere narrative, more than a mere chronicle of Starbucks' history. It reflects Schultz's personal values and demonstrates how he implemented these into his company. The accessible and engaging prose primarily sheds light on Schultz’s personal journey, with an assumption that his earlier works might provide more insights into the rise of Starbucks.

The book provides an insightful look into Schultz’s childhood, marked by poverty, a depressed mother, and a physically abusive father. These personal history elements offer readers a deeper understanding of what shaped his character and serve as an inspirational testament encouraging personal improvement.

Schultz also devotes a significant portion of the book to discuss his advocacy for racial equality and his efforts to assist veterans in reintegrating into society after returning from war zones. His commitment to these causes reflects his broader vision for a more inclusive and supportive community, emphasizing his call to action for readers to contribute positively to American society.

However, the narrative might place excessive focus on Starbucks’ community initiatives, such as extending medical loan coverage to employees’ families. While commendable, the extensive exploration of these efforts could lead to a perceived imbalance in the content.

The sections covering Schultz’s venture into China and his interactions with its political leaders are particularly engaging. Despite monetary challenges, his determination to establish Starbucks in China highlights his visionary foresight and commitment to global engagement.

Schultz is depicted as a true American patriot, his love for the country subtly embedded within the lines. His sincerity is unmistakable, embodying the essence of the “American Dream” and inspiring readers to reflect and act upon their contributions to society.

The closing chapter, emotionally charged yet inspiring, leaves readers with a sense of motivation and reflection on what constitutes a “good” book. If a good read is one that provokes thought, inspires the pursuit of goodness and beauty, and calls readers to action, “From the Ground Up” undoubtedly qualifies as an excellent read.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I want to say that I read this book because Howard Schultz has been saying that he is running for POTUS, or rather, he’s THINKING about it. I was intrigued by this, because it seemed that he has a lot of common sense and let’s be honest, we don’t have a lot of that in DC these days. He would be running as an Independent Centrist, which is where most of my values and beliefs lie.

I apparently didn’t realize who he was, or just didn’t make the connection between HS and one of my favorite companies, Starbucks. When I read the title, my first thoughts were initially, “OMG. This is too good to be true. Starbucks’s creator and former CEO is thinking about running for POTUS?!” I’ve always liked Starbucks’s morals and principals, but man...I just didn’t realize the magnitude of all of the things they have done for this country. From community outreach to veteran support to race relations to immigration programs to PAYING FOR COLLEGE FOR EMPLOYEES...seriously, there aren’t many companies out there that have that kind of attitude towards bettering not only themselves, but the country as a whole.

I was amazed to read his story...about coming from poverty to being now worth more than Trump...starting as a working as an employee in a fur factory to being the creator of a company that is international (58 countries and almost 20k stores) and one of the most well-known brands in the world. They’ve lost tons of money before and have come back from that and have been even more successful than before. They’ve fallen into touchy subjects, and have gone through massive amounts of training to better handle conflict. I could just go on and on. The company is truly impressive.

I’m even more intrigued after having read this book. I think he has got what it takes to truly make America great again. If the next election doesn’t pan out, maybe he will be ready in 2024.

As a Independent voter, I will continue to do research on him to make sure he is truly the best one for the job. This book gave me hope for this country, and that is something that is very hard to do.

[Larry · Rating 2 out of 5]

In and of itself, the book is kind of bland - the stories feel like political campaign where the candidate pulls a name out of their binder ("Joe the Plumber") as an example of a point they want to make. I do much the same thing in interviews, pull a work experience out and tailor it to the situation/question at hand, with most of the experiences being interchangeable with the right spin. It feels forced in most cases.

My politics are very different, but was curious about a more-or-less-independent presidential candidate. Didn't realize he had other books, was a little disappointed not to read too much about the makings of Starbucks. I feel like either things were not truthful or a big part of the story was missing in going from "coming from the projects" to working for a coffee roaster to getting angel investors to front the cash to buy out an established Starbucks.

There are some good and bad bits. Working to hire vets was nice, as was the way the charitable foundation was set up. What stuck with me the most was the bit about the mug/pottery company in Ohio. From my business school days (and reading "The Goal"), the purpose of the company is to deliver shareholder value, which is normally realized in keeping costs down. But if you get to a point where there are no local customers because you've outsourced all of the manufacturing overseas to get the rock bottom price on everything, can you still deliver value? Twice Schultz denies that he offers "charity" (also in giving employees "free" college tuition). I'd argue that his logic is flawed for phrasing things the way he does, but the truth is that we need to think about these things from more than a bottom line aspect. On other topics, I was less impressed. As a businessman I expected more economic arguments from Schultz, but he keeps pushing the emotional aspect and feelings. I'll steer clear of commentary on the chapters on race, my take is his honest dialogues didn't come across as honest. I would have liked to see the health care and education benefits frames as a competitive advantage for the company, rather than something "we should do because it's right". And the last few chapters were just disingenuous. Any social capital he had built up with me early on was lost when he juxtaposed Trump and the Holocaust. Disappointing.

Not something I'd really recommend, though it wasn't an awful read, and had a few things that made me think deeply.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

”Every day, human joys, routines, and even traumas take place in our stores: People young and old celebrate birthdays. They visit with friends and relatives in person and online. They come in before work, between classes, and after church. They go on first dates and kiss while waiting in line. They open laptops to surf, shop, pay bills, and do homework. They read The New York Times and stream Fox News. They cry quietly. Laugh out loud. Get mad. They listen to hip-hop on headphones, and to symphonies and podcasts and books. They argue about politics. They attract attention and keep to themselves. They cut business deals and rock babies. The unemployed have sat for hours at a table because they have nowhere else to be. People without homes have slept on our chairs. Those struggling with mental illness have wandered in lost. Drug users have shot up and smoked in our bathrooms; some have died. People have robbed our registers at gun point, protested, and caused fellow human beings discomfort in ways seen and unseen. What happens in America happens at Starbucks.”

Howard Schultz has made a name for himself: first as the king of coffee, and now as a potential presidential nominee. There’s a fair amount of people out there saying that another billionaire has no place in office, and based on the track record of the current one I can see why they’re responding that way.

While I don’t know how a presidential run will pan out for Schultz, what I do know is this: Schultz has written a heartfelt and genuine account of his own life, his successes and failures, all while highlighting stories of some of America’s most inspiring citizens. It’s clear he cares for this country, and even if this book isn’t the night before the dawn of his political success it is a wonderful reminder of the important things.

[Mel McIvor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally, this book is extremely well written. I especially appreciated the framing of Starbucks stories within other contextsーfor example, a chapter will start out with a recollection of a ball game with Schultz's father or the harrowing story of a Rwandan genocide survivor before making the connection to how these life experiences or acquaintances translated later to business decisions. This made the book much more readable.

I also appreciated that Schultz didn't shy away from addressing the down points in his career, even the racial scandals Starbucks has suffered. He explains the intentions behind decisions that turned out poorly (such as #RaceTogether), but doesn't make excuses for when or how they went (in some cases very) wrong.

The strength of this book is in the storytelling and look into how Schultz's corporate philosophy shaped the company.

The weakness is in how it does, in places, really drag on.

It's clear that Schultz's passion lies with supporting the troopsーabout a third of the book seems to be devoted to that. When he gets into these areas, the storytelling suffers a bit and goes a bit too deeply into the play-by-play: "We wanted to support the troops, so we had a meeting with Mr. X, Ms. Y, and Mr. Z to discuss what we could do. Then we had an idea. Then we discussed how we could pursue the idea. Then these people supported it. Then we rolled it out." It's great that Schultz is so committed to giving shout-outs to the people responsible for great successes, but as an outside reader, these areas really dragged for me.

Still, if you approach From the Ground Up wanting to learn about how the Starbucks CEO shaped his company around his values (many times in the face of naysayers), this is a valuable read.

[W. Whalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howard Schultz Knows How to Tell Vivid Stories

In the opening chapters of FROM THE GROUND UP, Schultz recalls the poker games late at night in his Brooklyn apartment which his parents and grandmother ran during his childhood. It’s just one example of the fascinating stories in this book.

In chapter 7, Schultz tells the remarkable story about when he almost lost Starbucks during the company history. He met Bill Gates, Senior, the legal giant in Seattle and father of Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder. Schultz told Gates about his dilemma and then the attorney went with Schulz to confront his situation. Through this amazing story, Schultz learned that a stranger can change the life of another stranger. It is just one of the numerous lessons tucked into the stories of this audiobook of FROM THE GROUND UP.

Howard Schultz has guided one of the largest corporations in America. His stories about evoking discussions within the company and outside it related to race were a fascinating part of this book. His personal experiences combined with his insights make this audiobook a terrific experience. For example, his years of experience in China and how Starbucks started a parental insurance benefit were insightful. The stories of how something like this parental insurance benefit developed and the risks and rewards were some of the terrific business and personal insight inside this book. I highly recommend this audiobook version of FROM THE GROUND UP.

W. Terry Whalin is an editor and the author of more than 60 books Straight Talk From the Editor

[Ian Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starbucks. It’s a business as ubiquitous as Target, Wal-Mart, Google, or Amazon in the modern age. While he didn’t create the original Starbucks Coffee Company, Howard Schultz’s ideas and concepts made it the coffee company it is today with thousands of cafés worldwide.

Schultz has written other books about Starbucks, but From the Ground Up is more autobiographical in nature. It gives readers a glimpse into the challenges he faced as a child growing up in the projects of New York. It’s a story of a man’s determination to grow, thrive, and succeed in ways his upbringing may have prevented.

With each story from his past, Schultz links them to a modern-day problem he faced while CEO of Starbucks. Each chapter is filled with challenges, mistakes, and PR nightmares that could have taken the company down, but Schultz shows how he and his team worked through these complex problems and came out stronger on the other side.

Like most books written by CEOs or other business leaders, there’s a lot that can be learned from Schultz’s successes, failures, trials, and tribulations. He’s a problem-solver, a man who is determined to use his power as the leader of a major company to do good in the world. I liked that he wasn’t afraid to admit when he made mistakes and was impressed by how he was determined to resolve these errors in professional and compassionate ways.

If you’re curious about how the minds of successful CEOs function, how they approach problems, and how they take on challenges, I highly recommend From the Ground Up.

[Dennis Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's face it, this book is a lightning rod for those who are afraid that Howard Schultz could play spoiler and deliver the 2020 Presidential to their candidate's opponent. Same for those who blame him for the loss of the Seattle Supersonics or for the handling of the "Let's talk about race" initiative at Starbucks.
I encourage you to read it to get both sides of the story and make your own judgement. Even if Howard never runs for president it is an excellent way to understand the thought processes of one of today's more successful and ethical business leaders. It's also an inspirational story of an American who started from very humble beginnings in Brooklyn public housing and rose to be a billionaire--while creating a company that helped others improve their lives. It reveals a lot more of the conflict that marred his upbringing and challenged his business life.
I also appreciated that Howard had many chances to dish out well deserved dirt on individuals--but he showed class and didn't name names. Because my wife spent over twenty years working at Starbucks HQ she had an inside view of some of these events--the good, the great, and...the ugly.
Even if Schultz never throws his hat in the ring it's a great book, one with excellent life lessons. If he does, you'll have a solid understanding of his philosophy and way of thinking.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many top CEO's are egotistical, somewhat cutthroat members of elite families who didn't bat an eye at the cost of their kid's MBA. Not so in this case. No Trump, Bush, Romney, or Kennedy, Schultz came from very humble beginnings, and one of the nice things about this biography is that he never seems to forget that. He weaves his childhood and his families money woes into many of his decisions, and it's probably the source of the empathy that makes him stand out in the corporate world.
It's a biography that he wrote while probably already toying with running for office, however, and there is a bit of self-aggrandizing going on. While he is up front about some mistakes he's made, from Starbucks to the Sonics, the never ending list of good he's done for the employees of Starbucks and the world gets a bit hard to believe.

In a perfect world, this nice guy could become president. He certainly has a nice balance between believing hard work should result in success and seeing that not everyone gets the same opportunities. But he's spent decades proffering great ideas on how to help people and having his staff and friends say 'that's a great idea, Howard! Let's come up with a solution and throw some money at it!'. Sadly for us, that's not the way politics and countries work.

[Ayibatari Ogounga · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book, my favorite part:
" What would I say to that little boy now? I would hug him. I would take his hand. I would tell him that he has the fortitude, the resilience—the gumption—to get through the day, the week, whatever he finds on the other side of any door. I would tell him that he is not now nor would he ever be alone. He has Billy Block and Michael Nadel and his cousin Alan. One day he will have Sheri and two wonderful children and countless loyal friends. He will be surrounded by passionate, intelligent people, and his ambitions will become theirs and theirs will become his. He will also have angels who swoop in from time to time—people who have his back and share his dreams.
I would also remind him that he has his mother and father. His parents would not always show up in the ways he wanted them to, even in the ways he needed them to, but they would do the best they could with the tools they had. In time, he would come to accept that they were imperfect, and that all he had experienced and learned from his parents would drive him to lead a life that exceeded anything he or they dared to imagine. He would live the American Dream, and he would pay it forward.

"

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspiring examples of how a retail company can be socially responsible and uplifting to its communities and employees.

-health insurance
-education benefit
-engagement in and education of social issues

It's not that these "benefits" are unique; it's that these benefits are accessible for even the most entry level employee.

I must admit, there were times during the book when I found myself questioning whether it was appropriate for Starbucks/Schultz to take their own spin on these matters. Shouldn't the government be providing accessible health insurance? Is Starbucks the place to disseminate BLM? It doesn't matter.

Schultz saw needs. Some needs he personally connected with, like health insurance and veteran employment. Others required research and understanding. Regardless, an attempt was made to help make the world a better place and we are better for it.

Let us all try to do the same.

[Lillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I expected when I picked up this book. What I found was a read as mediocre as Starbucks coffee.

Yet, it was interesting to read about an entrepreneur who started with nothing, not even outside encouragement and support, but he tried anyway. And at first, he was successful. And to my thinking, he was successful not because of profit but because even when the going got tough, he kept going. He wasn't afraid to think outside of the box and take a good look at his employee's needs. The author writes about not only his successes but also his mistakes.

One thing that I found odd and bothersome is that the book starts chronologically and makes sense. But then it morphs into this "all over the place" format that I found hard to follow. For this reason, I found myself picking up the book and putting it down, meaning that it took several months for me to read cover to cover. I wasn't miserable reading it, just restless.

[Kristin Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook read by the author. I listened to this after hearing Howard Schultz is considering running for President. I was curious about his background and views. I really appreciated his apparent desire to "do the right thing" in helping people get educated, get and retain jobs, have access to healthcare, help the underprivileged, veterans, refugees, race relations, and more. He seems to have a track record of listening well, learning from others, think outside the box, problem solve, and respect all people while communicating clearly/honestly and providinga safe place for others to communicate clearly/honestly.

This book has renewed hope in my heart for the potential future of America and for the prospect of potential future government leaders. I look forward to watching and seeing what continues to unfold in his life.