Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business

John Mackey · Rajendra Sisodia

Dec 2012 · Harvard Business Press

About this ebook

As seen on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday

A New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestseller

In this book, Whole Foods Market cofounder John Mackey and professor and Conscious Capitalism, Inc. cofounder Raj Sisodia argue for the inherent good of both business and capitalism. Featuring some of today’s best-known companies, they illustrate how these two forces can—and do—work most powerfully to create value for all stakeholders: including customers, employees, suppliers, investors, society, and the environment.

These “Conscious Capitalism” companies include Whole Foods Market, Southwest Airlines, Costco, Google, Patagonia, The Container Store, UPS, and dozens of others. We know them; we buy their products or use their services. Now it’s time to better understand how these organizations use four specific tenets—higher purpose, stakeholder integration, conscious leadership, and conscious culture and management—to build strong businesses and help advance capitalism further toward realizing its highest potential.

As leaders of the Conscious Capitalism movement, Mackey and Sisodia argue that aspiring leaders and business builders need to continue on this path of transformation—for the good of both business and society as a whole.

At once a bold defense and reimagining of capitalism and a blueprint for a new system for doing business grounded in a more evolved ethical consciousness, this book provides a new lens for individuals and companies looking to build a more cooperative, humane, and positive future.

Ratings and reviews

An eye-opening and recalibrating book. There are many misconceptions held about capitalism, both by its supporters and detractors. Mackey and Sisodia offer some excellent corrections about what capitalism is, is not, and must be in order to regain its position in the public narrative as the heroic institution it is. Business is not a shameful institution that must be atoned for, nor is it a "greedy" force in society that must be counteracted by some other "noble" social institution.

There is no ethical consumption in global capitalism

AAA

About the author

John Mackey is co-CEO and cofounder of Whole Foods Market and cofounder of the nonprofit Conscious Capitalism, Inc. He has devoted his life to selling natural and organic foods and to building a better business model. Dr. Rajendra (Raj) Sisodia is cofounder and trustee of Conscious Capitalism, Inc. and professor of marketing at Bentley University. He has authored seven books, including Firms of Endearment.