Onward

After eight years in a backseat role, Howard Schultz returned as CEO of Starbucks in 2008. To reverse the company's unprecedented decline, Schultz resolved to reinvigorate Starbucks with the heart of the coffee retailer he had developed more than 20 years earlier. ONWARD is Schultz's recollection of the tough decisions and stalwart vision that marked the turnaround. Stephen Bowlby's blunt, hard-driving narration is well matched to Schultz's direct account. Bowlby portrays Schultz's passion for the soul of Starbucks: unwavering commitment to the customer's coffee experience. He excels at voicing Schultz's confidence and occasional insensitivity to subordinates. This work should be inspirational for managers who seek to anchor daily decisions with guiding principles. N.M.C. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

Starred review from February 7, 2011
In 2000, Starbuck's founder and CEO Schultz (Pour Your Heart into It) stepped down from daily oversight of the company and assumed the role of chairman. Eight years later, in the midst of the recession and a period of decline unprecedented in the company's recent history, Schultz—feeling that the soul of his brand was at risk—returned to the CEO post. In this personal, suspenseful, and surprisingly open account, Schultz traces his own journey to help Starbucks reclaim its original customer-centric values and mission while aggressively innovating and embracing the changing landscape of technology. From the famous leaked memo that exposed his criticisms of Starbucks to new product strategies and rollouts, Schultz bares all about the painful yet often exhilarating steps he had to take to turn the company around. Peppered with stories from his childhood in tough Canarsie, N.Y., neighborhoods, his sequel to the founding of Starbucks is grittier, more gripping, and dramatic, and his voice is winning and authentic. This is a must-read for anyone interested in leadership, management, or the quest to connect a brand with the consumer.