Read by Howard Schultz
What books does Howard Schultz recommend?
Howard Schultz's book recommendations reflect a leader who insisted business could carry a conscience. The former chairman and CEO of Starbucks, who grew a regional coffee chain into a global brand while pioneering the idea of the "third place," reads across leadership, character, and social responsibility. This collection of 6 titles is drawn from an Entrepreneur Magazine interview, Starbucks reading initiatives, and book blurbs he has written, with themes of business and strategy, leadership and management, and biographies and memoirs. He points to Warren Bennis's On Becoming a Leader, quoting its insistence that a leader "never lies to himself, especially about himself." He shared Bryan Stevenson's Just Mercy with Starbucks partners as "one of the most powerful and important stories of our time," and praised David Brooks's The Road to Character as "a fantastic journey of learning from the lives of some of the greatest leaders and thinkers of our time."
Last updated February 2026 · Every recommendation cited to its original source.
On Becoming a Leader
The Leadership Classic
byWarren Bennis
2009304 Pages“The leader never lies to himself, especially about himself, knows his flaws as well as his assets, and deals with them directly.”
— Howard Schultz
Source: Entrepreneur Magazine interview
Read by Howard Schultz
Just Mercy
A Story of Justice and Redemption
byBryan Stevenson
2014336 Pages“Perhaps one of the most powerful and important stories of our time.”
— Howard Schultz
Source: Starbucks Partner Discussion & Internal Reading List
The Road to Character
How to Build a Life of Moral Depth
byDavid Brooks
2015320 Pages“A fantastic journey of learning from the lives of some of the greatest leaders and thinkers of our time.”
— Howard Schultz
Source: Starbucks Upstanders Project / Venture Book Club
Read by Sheryl Sandberg, Richard Branson, Jamie Dimon and 2 others
Play Nice But Win
A CEO's Journey from Founder to Leader
byMichael Dell
2021336 Pages“Michael Dell is a legendary entrepreneur... Play Nice But Win is a must-read for any entrepreneur.”
— Howard Schultz
Source: Official book blurb
Read by Howard Schultz
The Politics Industry
How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy
byKatherine M. Gehl, Michael E. Porter
2020272 Pages“A revealing perspective on why our $16 billion political industry is failing the American people.”
— Howard Schultz
Source: Official book blurb
Read by Howard Schultz
Winners Dream: A Journey from Corner Store to Corner Office
A Journey from Corner Store to Corner Office
byBill McDermott, Joanne Gordon
2014336 Pages“Bill McDermott's story shows how to grow a business as well as a career with authenticity and respect. A heartfelt read, there is much to learn from Bill's journey.”
— Howard Schultz
Source: Official book blurb
Also recommends books in
Frequently asked questions
What books does Howard Schultz recommend?
His 6 recommendations include On Becoming a Leader by Warren Bennis, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, The Road to Character by David Brooks, Play Nice But Win by Michael Dell, and The Politics Industry.
What is Howard Schultz's top book recommendation?
Warren Bennis's On Becoming a Leader, from which he quotes that a leader "never lies to himself, especially about himself, knows his flaws as well as his assets, and deals with them directly."
Where do Howard Schultz's book recommendations come from?
They come from an Entrepreneur Magazine interview, Starbucks partner discussions and reading initiatives like the Upstanders project, and official blurbs he wrote for books by Michael Dell and others.
Has Howard Schultz written any books?
Yes, four: Onward, For Love of Country, From the Ground Up, and Pour Your Heart Into It, chronicling Starbucks and his views on leadership and service.
Why does Howard Schultz recommend Just Mercy?
He shared it with Starbucks partners and internal reading lists, calling it "perhaps one of the most powerful and important stories of our time," in keeping with his emphasis on social responsibility.