The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism

(Hardback)

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Featured in The Economists Best Books of 2024

An Adam Grant Summer Reading Pick 2024

Whole Foods Markets Cofounder and CEO for 44 years, John Mackey offers an intimate and provocative account of the rise of this iconic company and the personal and spiritual journey that inspired its remarkable impact.

The growth of Whole Foods isnt just a business success storyits the story of a retail, cultural, and dietary revolution that has forever changed the industry and the way we eat. After more than four decades at the helm, John Mackey is ready to share never-before-told tales of the people and passions behind the beloved brand.

The Whole Story invites readers on the adventure of building Whole Foods Market: the colorful cast of idealists and foodies who formed the companys DNA, the many breakthroughs and missteps; the camaraderie and the conflict, and the narrowly avoided disasters. Mackey takes us inside some of the most consequential decisions he had to make and honestly shares his regrets looking back.

Beyond the Whole Foods story, Mackey also dives into his:

• Spiritual journey: from Christianity to New Age mysticism, Eastern wisdom, and life-changing awakenings through psychedelics
• Political and intellectual development: from countercultural co-op dweller to libertarian and Conscious Capitalist
• Philosophical and ethical awakenings: especially with regard to animal welfare and the tension between his personal values and industry practices
• Personal passions: most notably, his love of long-distance, ultra-light backpacking on the great trails of our country and planet
  
  For the millions of people who know and love Whole Foods, Mackeys story is a candid look at the fellowship and meaning born of a shared mission and how an inimitable entrepreneur shepherded a startup hippy food store into the market-leading international brand it is today.

Reviews

Business has been his primary playing field, a place for him to create and improvise, to embody the competitive and cooperative requirements for commercial success. Peculiar as he is, the world could use more of his kind.
Wall Street Journal

An upbeat self-portrait of a business titan."
Kirkus Reviews

"Not your usual business book . . . as many twists and turns as youd optimistically hope for from a narrator with Mackeys life story.
The Financial Times

"Excellent . . . [a] wonderful book."
John Tamny,Real Clear Politics

""Readers may come for the business lessons but they'll stay for the stories, characters, and genuine insights into what makes for a meaningful life.""
Matthew McConaughey, Academy AwardWinning Actor and #1New York TimesBestselling Author,Greenlights

""A phenomenal read . . . John Mackey gives us a front-row seat as he cobbles together a small natural foods store from salvaged equipment and grows it into the $14 billion behemoth Amazon acquired. Along the way we learn the mindset necessary to buildand consciously leada great company.""
Dan Buettner, Founder, Blue Zones;New York TimesBestselling Author; and Host, Netflix'sHow to Live to 100

""Join John Mackey as he shares his joyful adventure of life, love, and community. His story is written the way he lives his life: raw, open, and playful . . .The Whole Storyis magnificent, fun reading.""
Kimbal Musk, Chef, Entrepreneur, Food Activist, and Founder, The Kitchen

""John Mackey is responsible for creating a massive shift in food consciousness andThe Whole Storyreveals howand whyhe was able to do so. This inspiring book offers rare insight into what it takes to build a long, healthy, purposeful life, in all its many dimensions.""
Michael Greger, MD,New York TimesBestselling Author,How Not to Die

""It's rare to find a business leader who is as comfortable writing about his psychedelic explorations and spiritual insights as he is detailing boardroom battles and high-stakes mergers and acquisitions. John Mackey moves fluidly between the many dimensions of his whole story,' illuminating the oft-neglected relationship between personal growth and business success.""
Rick Doblin, PhD, Founder, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)"

Author Bio

John Mackey is an entrepreneur and the co-founder and visionary of Whole Foods Market. In his 44 years of service as CEO, the natural and organic grocer grew from a single store in Austin, Texas, to 540 stores in the U.S., U.K. and Canada, with annual sales exceeding $22 billion. Mackey co-founded the Conscious Capitalism Movement and co-authored a New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling book entitled Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business and follow up, Conscious Leadership: Elevating Humanity through Business. He is also the co-author of The Whole Foods Diet: The Lifesaving Plan for Health and Longevity and The Whole Foods Cookbook: 120 Delicious and Healthy Plant-Centered Recipes. Mackey currently serves on the board of directors for Conscious Capitalism, The Motley Fool, CATO Institute, The Institute for Cultural Evolution, and Students for Liberty and is pursuing his next business venture, Love.Life.