Preview
  • It's Not About the Coffee

  • Leadership Principles from a Life at Starbucks
  • By: Howard Behar
  • Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
  • Length: 4 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (261 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

It's Not About the Coffee

By: Howard Behar
Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $9.32

Buy for $9.32

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Howard Behar is one of three top executives who have helped shape one of the most recognized companies in the world: Starbucks. A widely acclaimed leader, Behar, with his signature energy, smarts, high expectations, and belief in people, has become a symbol of the soul and candor of the Starbucks culture.

In It's Not about the Coffee, Behar outlines his simple yet effective approach to success: focus on people over profits. He offers 10 fundamental leadership lessons we all need to practice as well as preach everyday, including clarity of purpose, listening, truth telling, accountability, and persistence. Each chapter explores one of these principles, incorporating inside stories of turning points in the development of Starbucks' culture and business, and offering inspiring advice.

©2007 Howard Behar (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

"[S]haring anecdotes from Starbucks itself is Behar's strong suit....[T]he voice of experience and in-house examples from a popular company make for a decent read for those wanting to develop or refresh basic business leadership skills." ( Publishers Weekly)
"It's Not About the Coffee offers the true ingredients for enduring results: a set of proven principles we can all aspire to work and live by." (Bob Fisher, former chairman, Gap Inc.)

What listeners say about It's Not About the Coffee

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    146
  • 4 Stars
    63
  • 3 Stars
    33
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    126
  • 4 Stars
    45
  • 3 Stars
    25
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    117
  • 4 Stars
    54
  • 3 Stars
    23
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    5

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great ideas to help the leaders in our company

I enjoyed all of the short stories and experiences of the author. Lots of great leadership tips we will put to use in our company. This book will be required reading for all of the leaders in our businesses.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

it really is not about the coffee

I enjoyed it tremendously. gave me much needed reassurance and clarity about my style and strengths in my quest to start my own business. if I had managers like Howard Behar, I would be still with the corporate world.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A book you can read again and again

I don’t usually write reviews but what I loved about this Book is that the leadership skill taught and incorporate in everyday life if you are starting a business or want to be entrepreneur hands down this is the book to read
And just because you’ve heard it all doesn’t mean you can’t be reminded once in a while

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Top Level Leadership

Behar nails it! One of the top 5 books on leadership I've read/listened to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book!

Book gave out great methods on how to be a leader and how to run your business. narration was great, too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Focusing on people. Creating a business with longevity

Learned and got to reflect on the true importance of building an organization with longevity and putting people first always

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

My absolute favorite

This is absolutely one of my favorite leadership books of all time. I have listened to it maybe 4 times over the last 3 years. I always come away inspired to engage and nurture my team and customer relationships more. This is a must read for any and every leader out there

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding choice

Fantastic book. Excellent content, kept my attention and provided concepts I want to integrate into my habits. I plan to listen again!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

It’s not about Starbucks

While there is a lot of good Starbucks history in this book, it’s not about Starbucks! It’s about leader ship on all levels. It’s about living your life with a purpose and doing the right thing! Everyone can get some thing out of this book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Very drawn out

This book had some good ideas/concepts in it, but it was very drawn out. The content could have easily been condensed by at least half without losing any of the meaning. I have started listening to Dave Ramysey's Entreleadership book and it is much more entertaining and to the point. Enjoying it much more.

It has a similar theme, but goes deeper in a more interesting way, and Dave has a funny and entertaining delivery.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!