From the Ground Up

Howard Schultz, one-time Starbucks CEO and the man who would be president, has written the obligatory quasi-memoir everyone must now pen before seeking higher office. Kudos on his decision to use a bold yet subtle coffee pun in the title: From the Ground Up: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America.

The book posits that his coffee-slinging chain store is a "third place" in a country that desperately needs more of them—a public gathering spot fostering civil discussion and casual fellowship. Of course, it's no coincidence that Schultz's independent candidacy is offering a political third place to those disenchanted with the two major parties.

Amid the relatively vanilla chapters about China, opioids, job fairs, and the importance of hard work, From the Ground Up also offers some surprisingly candid passages about Schultz's unwillingness to reconcile with his dying father. Unlike so many campaign books, this one isn't just about who Howard Schultz is and what he believes; it's about what he has actually done. Refreshing.