Too young to ever know a time when Starbucks was a leader in quality of coffee (if there ever was a time) but that's how Howard describes the 70s-80s. The book is pretty apologetic and romantic about the commercialization of the original stores. His and Starbucks' emphasis on ethical treatment of workers (including the unprecedented healthcare and stock options for even part time workers) is interesting. ( )

The first few chapters depicting the origin story were worth the read. The author is too ernest and the voice rubbed off the wrong way. It's just difficult to like big corporations, even if those running the show don't mean any harm. ( )

2 1/2 Sterne

Eine beispiellose Erfolgsgeschichte, aber das Buch war dennoch nicht super interessant
- es wird einem nicht klar, warum der Autor den Drive hatte, solch einen Konzern aufzubauen, anstatt sein Leben zu genießen (Arbeitssucht, Machtstreben, langweiliges Privatleben aber Scheidung nicht möglich, Bedeutungsstreben - ich kann es auch nach der Lektüre des Buches nicht sagen). Das einzige was ich sagen kann, ist, dass es nicht die Liebe zu Kaffee ist.
- es gibt viele Abschnitte, die bestehen nur aus aneinandergereiten Marketing-Phrasen
- in einem Konzern wie Starbucks passiert sehr viel und alles wird kurz beschrieben, aber nichts im Detail
- ich habe wenig gelernt, da dies zu weit entfernt ist von meinem Leben ( )

I found this book to be informative, inspiring and very interesting. It gave me an entirely new perspective on Howard Schultz and a new appreciation for Starbucks and the heartfelt beginnings from which it was founded. ( )

I'm new to management and this book is a very interesting view into how Shultz built a very successful company. It is nice to read about someone who knows that what is best for the employee is what is best for the employer or stock holder. ( )