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

From the #1 bestselling author and former Starbucks CEO, here is a story that is part dramatic memoir, part blueprint of the new responsibilities that leaders and citizens share in America today. The book weaves two parallel narratives to show how experiences from Howard Schultz’s troubled childhood—some of which he has never before disclosed—propelled him out of the housing projects and fueled his efforts to build a global brand and redefine the role of a company in society. Ultimately, Schultz reveals the potential we all have to transform communities and uplift lives.

Howard Schultz is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Starbucks Coffee Company. He grew up in Brooklyn public housing and was the first in his family to graduate college. After founding a small cafe business, he bought Starbucks, which grew from eleven stores to more than 28,000 under his leadership. In 2018, Starbucks ranked fifth on Fortune’s list of “World’s Most Admired Companies.” Howard and his wife, Sheri, co-lead the Schultz Family Foundation. His other books include Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time; Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul; and For Love of Country: What Our Veterans Can Teach Us About Citizenship, Heroism, and Sacrifice. Howard has been recognized for his passion to strengthen communities, and is the recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Award, the Horatio Alger Award, and the Notre Dame University Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Business Ethics. He and Sheri live in Seattle and have two children.