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

Howard Schultz’s book, "From the Ground Up: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America," details his quest to restore the American Dream and reimagine the country’s future. Written in an intimate, personal style, Schultz’s book offers an insider's look at his experiences from his childhood to his career as a coffee-house entrepreneur, and from his first political campaign to his most recent concerns about economic and social mobility.

The book begins with Schultz’s early life. Born in a two-bedroom Brooklyn apartment to an experienced chauffeur and a homemaker, Schultz was determined to better his situation and worked hard to succeed. He attended Northern Michigan University on a football scholarship and graduated with a degree in business and communications. After graduation, Schultz found success in the business world in marketing and sales. It was while working in sales he first became interested in coffee, and soon made the leap to own his own business.

Schultz’s first company, Starbucks, expanded rapidly. Around the time of its IPO, Schultz had another idea, this time one that would combine his success in business with his interest in politics. He decided to run for US Senate, and lost in the primary. But the campaign planted the seed of Schultz’s interest in restoring the American Dream.

The following chapters of the book detail Schultz’s journey as he meets with experts, politicians and citizens to learn more about the current state of the economy. Through his travels and conversations, Schultz begins to piece together a framework for how to rebuild the economic opportunities for the middle class and reduce economic inequalities. He reaches out to policy makers and business leaders and outlines strategies for getting the country back on the right path.

Throughout the book, Schultz shares his own story of reaching his goals and his hopes for America’s future. He emphasizes the power of belonging and inclusiveness, stressing that everyone deserves a fair chance of reaching their goals and that economic and social mobility are essential for a strong future. He stresses that every American should have access to opportunity and should not be held back by an elitist, privileged few.

Finally, Schultz concludes with a call to action. He advocates for policies that will restore the promise of the American Dream and encourages everyone to become engaged in the political process. He argues that everyone -from the budding entrepreneur to the career professional- should be willing to battle the odds and fight for a better future.

In "From the Ground Up: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America," Howard Schultz breaks down the current issues facing the country and puts forth his plan for rebuilding the American economy. He speaks directly to each reader, as if they are part of the conversation. He makes an inspiring and powerful case for how America can rise above its current situation and become the beacon of hope and prosperity for the world. With honest, personal insight and a no-nonsense approach, Schultz provides an inspiring roadmap for the nation’s future.