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Onward
- How Starbucks Fought for Its Life Without Losing Its Soul
- Narrated by: Stephen Bowlby
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
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Onward
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-
The Story of Lululemon: Little Black Stretchy Pants
- Written by: Chip Wilson
- Narrated by: Chip Wilson
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 372
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 311
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 313
The unauthorized story of Lululemon. Chip Wilson’s part in this story comes from the learning of thousands of mistakes. He set the culture, business model, quality platform, and people development program and then got out of the way. Lululemon’s exponential growth, culture, and brand strength have few peers, and it is because of those employees who choose to be great. This book is also about missed opportunity - five years of missed opportunity. Chip was playing to win while the directors of the company he founded were playing not to lose.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Simply, a great book and guide for entrepreneurs
- By Tyler B on 2018-11-25
Written by: Chip Wilson
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Sam Walton
- Made in America
- Written by: John Huey, Sam Walton
- Narrated by: Henry Strozier
- Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 237
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 199
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Story5 out of 5 stars 198
Meet a genuine American folk hero cut from the homespun cloth of America's heartland: Sam Walton, who parlayed a single dime store in a hardscrabble cotton town into Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the world. The undisputed merchant king of the late 20th century, Sam never lost the common touch. Here, finally, inimitable words. Genuinely modest, but always sure of his ambitions and achievements. Sam shares his thinking in a candid, straight-from-the-shoulder style. In a story rich with anecdotes and the "rules of the road" of both Main Street and Wall Street, Sam Walton chronicles the inspiration, heart, and optimism that propelled him to lasso the American Dream.
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5 out of 5 stars
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What it means to commit everything to your dream.
- By Rondon Tahal on 2019-06-05
Written by: John Huey, and others
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Grinding It Out
- The Making of McDonald's
- Written by: Ray Kroc, Robert Anderson
- Narrated by: Stephen Bel Davies
- Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 72
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 60
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Story5 out of 5 stars 60
Few entrepreneurs can claim to have radically changed the way we live, and Ray Kroc is one of them. His revolutions in food-service automation, franchising, shared national training, and advertising have earned him a place beside the men and women who have founded not only businesses, but entire empires. But even more interesting than Ray Kroc the business man is Ray Kroc the man. Not your typical self-made tycoon, Kroc was 52 years old when he opened his first franchise.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A man to remember
- By Joel Gutib on 2023-05-09
Written by: Ray Kroc, and others
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The Founders
- The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley
- Written by: Jimmy Soni
- Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
- Length: 18 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 49
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 40
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 40
Today, PayPal’s founders and earliest employees are considered the technology industry’s most powerful network. Since leaving PayPal, they have formed, funded, and advised the leading companies of our era, including Tesla, Facebook, YouTube, SpaceX, Yelp, Palantir, and LinkedIn, among many others. As a group, they have driven twenty-first-century innovation and entrepreneurship. Their names stir passions; they’re as controversial as they are admired.
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3 out of 5 stars
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it's fine
- By Ono Northey on 2023-06-08
Written by: Jimmy Soni
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Pour Your Heart into It
- How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time
- Written by: Howard Schultz, Dori Jones Yang
- Narrated by: Eric Conger
- Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 40
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 31
The success of Starbucks is one of the most remarkable business stories in decades. Since 1987, the coffee merchant has grown from a single retail store on Seattle's waterfront to a company with more than 1,000 stores nationwide and a new one opening somewhere every business day. According to Fortune magazine, Starbucks "has changed everything...from our tastes to our language to the face of Main Street."
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4 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyed this read
- By Amazon Customer on 2019-07-02
Written by: Howard Schultz, and others
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The 5 Love Languages for Men
- Tools for Making a Good Relationship Great
- Written by: Gary Chapman
- Narrated by: Chris Fabry
- Length: 3 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 75
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 58
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 58
The love she craves. The confidence you need. At the heart of every man is a desire to master what matters. Getting a compliment at work or on the court is nice, but nothing beats hearing your spouse say, "You make me feel loved." If you haven't heard that in a while or feel like you’re not bringing your A-game to your relationship, this audio book is for you.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Cringy
- By sebastian on 2019-02-11
Written by: Gary Chapman
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The Story of Lululemon: Little Black Stretchy Pants
- Written by: Chip Wilson
- Narrated by: Chip Wilson
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 372
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 311
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 313
The unauthorized story of Lululemon. Chip Wilson’s part in this story comes from the learning of thousands of mistakes. He set the culture, business model, quality platform, and people development program and then got out of the way. Lululemon’s exponential growth, culture, and brand strength have few peers, and it is because of those employees who choose to be great. This book is also about missed opportunity - five years of missed opportunity. Chip was playing to win while the directors of the company he founded were playing not to lose.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Simply, a great book and guide for entrepreneurs
- By Tyler B on 2018-11-25
Written by: Chip Wilson
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Sam Walton
- Made in America
- Written by: John Huey, Sam Walton
- Narrated by: Henry Strozier
- Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 237
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 199
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 198
Meet a genuine American folk hero cut from the homespun cloth of America's heartland: Sam Walton, who parlayed a single dime store in a hardscrabble cotton town into Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the world. The undisputed merchant king of the late 20th century, Sam never lost the common touch. Here, finally, inimitable words. Genuinely modest, but always sure of his ambitions and achievements. Sam shares his thinking in a candid, straight-from-the-shoulder style. In a story rich with anecdotes and the "rules of the road" of both Main Street and Wall Street, Sam Walton chronicles the inspiration, heart, and optimism that propelled him to lasso the American Dream.
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5 out of 5 stars
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What it means to commit everything to your dream.
- By Rondon Tahal on 2019-06-05
Written by: John Huey, and others
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Grinding It Out
- The Making of McDonald's
- Written by: Ray Kroc, Robert Anderson
- Narrated by: Stephen Bel Davies
- Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 72
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 60
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Story5 out of 5 stars 60
Few entrepreneurs can claim to have radically changed the way we live, and Ray Kroc is one of them. His revolutions in food-service automation, franchising, shared national training, and advertising have earned him a place beside the men and women who have founded not only businesses, but entire empires. But even more interesting than Ray Kroc the business man is Ray Kroc the man. Not your typical self-made tycoon, Kroc was 52 years old when he opened his first franchise.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A man to remember
- By Joel Gutib on 2023-05-09
Written by: Ray Kroc, and others
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The Founders
- The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley
- Written by: Jimmy Soni
- Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
- Length: 18 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 49
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 40
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 40
Today, PayPal’s founders and earliest employees are considered the technology industry’s most powerful network. Since leaving PayPal, they have formed, funded, and advised the leading companies of our era, including Tesla, Facebook, YouTube, SpaceX, Yelp, Palantir, and LinkedIn, among many others. As a group, they have driven twenty-first-century innovation and entrepreneurship. Their names stir passions; they’re as controversial as they are admired.
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3 out of 5 stars
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it's fine
- By Ono Northey on 2023-06-08
Written by: Jimmy Soni
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Pour Your Heart into It
- How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time
- Written by: Howard Schultz, Dori Jones Yang
- Narrated by: Eric Conger
- Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins
- Abridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 40
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 31
The success of Starbucks is one of the most remarkable business stories in decades. Since 1987, the coffee merchant has grown from a single retail store on Seattle's waterfront to a company with more than 1,000 stores nationwide and a new one opening somewhere every business day. According to Fortune magazine, Starbucks "has changed everything...from our tastes to our language to the face of Main Street."
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4 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyed this read
- By Amazon Customer on 2019-07-02
Written by: Howard Schultz, and others
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The 5 Love Languages for Men
- Tools for Making a Good Relationship Great
- Written by: Gary Chapman
- Narrated by: Chris Fabry
- Length: 3 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 75
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 58
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 58
The love she craves. The confidence you need. At the heart of every man is a desire to master what matters. Getting a compliment at work or on the court is nice, but nothing beats hearing your spouse say, "You make me feel loved." If you haven't heard that in a while or feel like you’re not bringing your A-game to your relationship, this audio book is for you.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Cringy
- By sebastian on 2019-02-11
Written by: Gary Chapman
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The Ride of a Lifetime
- Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company
- Written by: Robert Iger
- Narrated by: Jim Frangione, Robert Iger
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,164
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 969
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Story5 out of 5 stars 964
Robert Iger became CEO of The Walt Disney Company in 2005, during a difficult time. Competition was more intense than ever, and technology was changing faster than at any time in the company’s history. His vision came down to three clear ideas: Recommit to the concept that quality matters, embrace technology instead of fighting it, and think bigger - think global - and turn Disney into a stronger brand in international markets.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great listening
- By Jean-Alexandre Meunier on 2019-11-22
Written by: Robert Iger
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The Harvard Business Review Leader's Handbook: Make an Impact, Inspire Your Organization, and Get to the Next Level
- HBR Handbooks Series
- Written by: Ron Ashkenas, Brook Manville
- Narrated by: Daniel Henning
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 1
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Performance0 out of 5 stars 0
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Story0 out of 5 stars 0
The critical leadership practices - the ones that will allow a leader to make the biggest impact over time - are well established. They're about how you create a vision and inspire others to follow it. In this comprehensive handbook, strategy and change experts Ron Ashkenas and Brook Manville distill proven ideas and frameworks about leadership from Harvard Business Review, interviews with senior executives, and their own experience in the field - all to help rising leaders stand out and have a big impact.
Written by: Ron Ashkenas, and others
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Traction
- How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth
- Written by: Gabriel Weinberg, Justin Mares
- Narrated by: Gabriel Weinberg
- Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 69
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 58
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 57
Most startups don't fail because they can't build a product. Most startups fail because they can't get traction. Startup advice tends to be a lot of platitudes repackaged with new buzzwords, but Traction is something else entirely. As Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares learned from their own experiences, building a successful company is hard. For every startup that grows to the point where it can go public or be profitably acquired, hundreds of others sputter and die.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Must read for any startup founder
- By Brandon on 2018-09-19
Written by: Gabriel Weinberg, and others
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Who Is Michael Ovitz?
- Written by: Michael Ovitz
- Narrated by: Michael Ovitz - prologue, Dennis Boutsikaris
- Length: 11 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 47
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 38
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Story5 out of 5 stars 38
As the cofounder of Creative Artists Agency, Michael Ovitz earned a reputation for ruthless negotiation, brilliant strategy, and fierce loyalty to his clients. He reinvented the role of the agent and helped shape the careers of hundreds of A-list entertainers, directors, and writers. But this personal history is much more than a fascinating account of celebrity friendships and bare-knuckled deal making. It's also an underdog's story: How did a middle-class kid from Encino work his way into the William Morris mailroom and eventually become the most powerful person in Hollywood?
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5 out of 5 stars
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Definitely exceeded my expectations
- By snapmedia on 2023-02-20
Written by: Michael Ovitz
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What You Do Is Who You Are
- How to Create Your Business Culture
- Written by: Ben Horowitz
- Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly
- Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 105
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 85
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Story5 out of 5 stars 85
Ben Horowitz, a leading venture capitalist, modern management expert, and New York Times best-selling author, combines lessons both from history and from modern organizational practice with practical and often surprising advice to help executives build cultures that can weather both good and bad times. What You Do Is Who You Are explains how to make your culture purposeful by spotlighting four models of leadership and culture-building.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great
- By boyincity on 2020-11-06
Written by: Ben Horowitz
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Shoe Dog
- A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
- Written by: Phil Knight
- Narrated by: Norbert Leo Butz, Phil Knight - introduction
- Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 2,847
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,423
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Story5 out of 5 stars 2,430
In this candid and riveting memoir, for the first time ever, Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight shares the inside story of the company's early days as an intrepid start-up and its evolution into one of the world's most iconic, game-changing, and profitable brands.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Better Than Expected
- By PDubya on 2021-02-18
Written by: Phil Knight
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American Prison
- A Reporter's Undercover Journey into the Business of Punishment
- Written by: Shane Bauer
- Narrated by: James Fouhey, Shane Bauer
- Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 28
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 20
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Story5 out of 5 stars 20
In 2014, Shane Bauer was hired for nine dollars an hour to work as an entry-level prison guard at a private prison in Winnfield, Louisiana. An award-winning investigative journalist, he used his real name. Four months later, his employment came to an abrupt end. But he had seen enough and wrote an exposé about his experiences that won a National Magazine Award. In American Prison, Bauer weaves a much deeper reckoning with his experiences together with a thoroughly researched history of for-profit prisons in America from their origins in the decades before the Civil War.
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5 out of 5 stars
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incredible.... and disturbing
- By Justin shaw on 2019-06-20
Written by: Shane Bauer
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The Starbucks Experience
- 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary into Extraordinary
- Written by: Joseph A. Michelli
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 52 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 2
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
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Story5 out of 5 stars 1
You already know the Starbucks story. Since 1992, its stock has risen a staggering 5,000 percent! The genius of Starbucks success lies in its ability to create personalized customer experiences, stimulate business growth, generate profits, energize employees, and secure customer loyalty - all at the same time. The Starbucks Experience contains a robust blend of home-brewed ingenuity and people-driven philosophies that have made Starbucks one of the world's "most admired" companies, according to Fortune magazine.
Written by: Joseph A. Michelli
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That Will Never Work
- The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea
- Written by: Marc Randolph
- Narrated by: Marc Randolph
- Length: 11 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 251
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 221
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 221
In the tradition of Phil Knight's Shoe Dog comes the incredible untold story of how Netflix went from concept to company—all revealed by cofounder and first CEO Marc Randolph. From idea generation to team building to knowing when it's time to let go, That Will Never Work is not only the ultimate follow-your-dreams parable, but also one of the most dramatic and insightful entrepreneurial stories of our time.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Nobody Knows Anything
- By Anthony on 2019-11-09
Written by: Marc Randolph
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Exile on Front Street
- My Life as a Hells Angel...and Beyond
- Written by: George Christie
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 79
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 70
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 71
After 40 years in the Hells Angels, George Christie was ready to retire. As president of the high-profile Ventura charter of the club, he had been the yin to Sonny Barger's yang. Barger was the reckless figurehead and de facto world leader of the Hells Angels. Christie was the negotiator, the spokesman, the thinker, the guy who smoothed things out.
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5 out of 5 stars
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loved it, great story. appreciate him sharing it.
- By Mike on 2020-05-28
Written by: George Christie
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The Everything Store
- Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon
- Written by: Brad Stone
- Narrated by: Pete Larkin
- Length: 13 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 477
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 396
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 396
Amazon.com started off delivering books through the mail. But its visionary founder, Jeff Bezos, wasn't content with being a bookseller. He wanted Amazon to become the everything store, offering limitless selection and seductive convenience at disruptively low prices. To do so, he developed a corporate culture of relentless ambition and secrecy that's never been cracked. Until now.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Principals
- By Anonymous User on 2020-07-24
Written by: Brad Stone
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Invention
- A Life of Learning Through Failure
- Written by: James Dyson
- Narrated by: James Dyson
- Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 9
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 9
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 9
Famously, over a four-year period, James Dyson made 5,127 prototypes of the cyclonic vacuum cleaner that would transform the way houses are cleaned around the world. In devoting all his resources to iteratively developing the technology, he risked it all, but out of many failures and setbacks came hard-fought success. In Invention: A Life, Dyson reveals how he came to set up his own company and led it to become one of the most inventive technology companies in the world. It is a compelling and dramatic tale, with many obstacles overcome.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Difficult to listen to
- By Michael Watchorn on 2021-09-11
Written by: James Dyson
Publisher's Summary
In 2008, Howard Schultz, the president and chairman of Starbucks, made the unprecedented decision to return as CEO, eight years after he stepped down from daily oversight of the company to become chairman. Concerned that Starbucks had lost its way, Schultz was determined to help it return to its core values and restore not only its financial health, but also its soul. In Onward, he shares the remarkable story of the company's ongoing transformation under his leadership, revealing how, during one of the most tumultuous economic times in history, Starbucks again achieved profitability and sustainability without sacrificing humanity.
A compelling, candid narrative documenting the maturing of a brand as well as a businessman, Onward represents Schultz's central leadership philosophy: It's not just about winning, but the right way to win.
What the critics say
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Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2019-08-19
Too Long and Boring
Here's what I liked about the book:
- Written by Howard Schultz (CEO) which gives an insider's perspective to a beloved brand
- Gives a really good look at the inner workings of such a well known consumer brand
- Gives a lot of insight into Howard's leadership style and some of his leadership habits such as a lot of choices they made with the brand were very fascinating (closing stores, getting back to the core competency, investing in training and development, etc).
Here's what I didn't like
- I don't think it was 100% genuine. I thought it was kind of a sales job, in that CEO sales job kind of way. I'd say it seemed less then 75% genuine.
- Telling the results of a turnaround story before time has run its course is ridiculous, as is the general timing of the "turnaround." Hello, we were in a major rebound after a recession.
- Howard comes across as annoying - sounds to me like he believes a lot of his own reerick.
- I found the book to be a couple of hours too long and not a lot of detail into why they opened all those branches and the cost of closing them.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Law
- 2019-05-03
Was Okay
Easy to listen, but was expecting more substance from a successful company. Felt the story was watered down. Was okay overall.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- S.D
- 2019-04-05
Interesting story- worth listening to
This was a very interesting story. If you are a fan of the coffee the story is worth listening to.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Garreth M.
- 2023-02-08
Definitely not a good lesson in Leadership
Some interesting facts about Starbucks but a lot about Howard Schultz telling everyone how great he is and how many problems he solved. He sounds like a nightmare to work with and probably believes he is the only capable of solving every problem.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Patrick
- 2022-07-25
Reads like a training manual for employees
I've never returned a book on Audible...until today. I was listening to the Wondery podcast episode on the story told in this book. At the end of the first episode it mentioned it so I thought what the hell. I love coffee and after reading on how the company turned around, I was intrigued.
The first few chapters are exclusively about:
1. The company had to close its American stores for a few hours in 2008 to retrain their staff
2. The CEO's journey to Milan and how it changed him (this part felt genuine)
3. How Starbucks is the best, how great they treat their employees (which are called partners) and how they were the first to go big on fair trade.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alex Andreopoulos
- 2021-11-03
Great Business Book
Definitely recommended for people interested in businesses. Personally one of my favourites.
There are many business lessons to be learned here. The main one is what can happen to an organization of any size when profits and short term gains, get on the driver seat over long term vision, identity and routes.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joe Chan
- 2021-03-19
Great Inspiring Book.
Love the story and the narrative is great. This give me much more in-depth understand of how Starbuck runs it company.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 2021-02-11
Overwhelming trope
Starbucks is now "pivoting" (insert annoying buzzword here,) to providing coffee via pick up and drive through only. No more 3rd place. Less and less interaction with the barista, friends. I very much enjoyed the first book as just as a novice effort by a musician, the passion was evident, and Howard really had something. This book is like the same thing made for contract fulfillment, under duress. Over and over the same concept driven past. Maybe 10 years ago it might have struck but not any more. Maybe it's me. I couldn't get through it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Francois Sauro
- 2021-02-09
Excellent production but too promotional
I was expecting a better history of what happened. It was a little too self-promotional at moments. I had the impression that I was in a 9 hours Starbucks publicity.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Eric Wikjord
- 2020-08-06
Love what you do
It’s very clear how do you go from chapter to chapter highs and lows that Howard Schultz absolutely loves the process that is involved in every cup of Starbucks coffee. It’s truly a great story for any business person that wants to run their business and operate themselves at the highest standard possible.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Carla
- 2011-06-13
Interesting, but a bit annoying
Here's what I liked about the book:
- Written by Howard Schultz (CEO) which gives a really cool inside perspective
- Gives a really cool inside look into a well known consumer brand
- Gives a lot of insight into HS's leadership style and some of his leadership habits
- A lot of choices they made with the brand were very fascinating (closing stores, getting back to the core competency, investing in training and development, etc).
Here's what I didn't like
- I don't think it was 100% genuine. I thought it was kind of a sales job, in that CEO sales job kind of way. I'd say it seemed 75% genuine.
- Telling the results of a turnaround story before time has run it's course is ridiculous, as is the general timing of the "turnaround." Hello, we were in a major rebound after a recession.
- HS comes across as annoying - sounds to me like he believes a lot of his on BS.
- I found the book to be a couple of hours too long.
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21 people found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
- YB
- 2011-04-01
Too slow and boring
Probably a fair book if you are passionate about knowing everything about Starbucks, but not of much use if you intend to learn anything about running a business or being an entrepreneur.
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13 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Maria
- 2012-01-10
Listen to the story, hear more than the story
I have to admit, towards the end I was looking forward to finishing this audiobook. Sometimes the "name dropping" got long and felt purposeless although I can appreciate that Howard Schultz gives credit where credit is due.
The "story" itself is interesting and several parts felt thoroughly inspiring. I have definitely learned a great deal about Starbucks! Other than the company's navigation through its hardships though, the reader (or better yet, the listeners) can also read, between the lines, a great many lessons. From change management, to marketing, to branding and ultimately, to giving a company a soul, this audiobook covers an interesting array of challenges that a company faces. Definitely an interesting listen!
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Jeff
- 2011-05-15
Not as good as his first but still great
Howard is a bit narcissistic in his portrayal of Starbucks 2.0, but he it an excellent story teller, incredibly articulate, and I learned a lot from reading Onward. Actually, I listened to it on 2x or 3x speed, which was just perfect for the treadmill. Enjoy.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Krissy
- 2021-04-11
Don’t waste your time!
I love Starbucks. I love non fiction. I love reading books about iconic businesses. I figured this book would be great. It wasn’t! I can’t think of any reason to read it. The book was boring, the author was self absorbed, and it was very repetitive. I’ll sum up the 8hrs for you.... Starbucks showed signs of decline. The original CEO comes back. He creates a transformation agenda. Two years later the company is doing much better. In between they go back and forth over breakfast sandwiches, create pike place roast, and launch instant coffee. The end.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Joao
- 2012-03-07
Interesting but longer than it needed to be
I'm a fan of Starbucks and have great respect for what they achieved.
I was aware of the troubles they went through in 2008-2010 and it's good to hear from the CEO's perspective what happened and how they turned around. Gives us good insight on how successful CEO's think and operate and we get a better understanding of what Starbucks is about.
That said, this book could be about half the lenght... at times it goes on and on and on about things that are not relevant. For example at one point Mr Schultz rambles on about what customers might be doing at a store when the point he was trying to make was something else altogether.
Still, a good story about Starbucks' history. Enjoyed it.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Vy
- 2011-12-23
Too sales-y
The audience of this book is people who work for Starbucks. It's a way to reinforce corporate dogma. For everyone else (like me) it's hours and hours of sitting through a corporate sales meeting. Very little strategy, business planning, marketing tips, or anything else. Also the book jumps back and forth through time and it all becomes very confusing. Furthermore, the narrator reads very slowly. Definitely thankful for the 2x speed on my iPhone.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Shari
- 2012-01-03
Could have been said in half the time-
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
If this was available in an abridged format, I would recommend. The issues, commercial and philosophical are interesting, but over a 12-13 hour time frame were very redundant.
What does Stephen Bowlby bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Nothing negative against narrator, but I would prefer the printed version so I could skim and be done with the story in an hour or two. This isn't a story to savor, but basic points are good conversation topics.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- royphotog
- 2011-11-07
A good lesson for any company
I had read Howard Schultz first book and was already a fan of Starbucks but this book made me even more of a fan. Starbucks is one of those rair companies who manages to stay true to ther roots and their small store beliefs even after they turn public and have thousands of stores. But this is the story or a turn around, of seeing the problems even before they affect the bottom line, of making hard decisions, of treating their people, and customers right. I learned a lot from this book and if your at all interested in Starbucks as a company, or if you have a company that's having trubble, then I recommend this to you. The only drawback, and it's a small one is the reading style is a little slow. I wished at times that Bowlby would speed things up a bit.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Pankaew
- 2011-08-07
Stellar Book Into the Mindset of a Top CEO
Ignore the reviews about how Shultz "seems to believe what he says too much." What the heck did you expect - A CEO that doesn't believe in his own company?
For me, this book gave amazing insight into how a top CEO selects his top executives, the challenges in turning a failing company around, how he instills the right company culture and handles Wall Street all at the same time.
First class business book, IMO.
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2 people found this helpful