Books like The Gospel According to Starbucks® by Leonard I. Sweet

Christopher Hitchens: The ultimate case against religion and the case for a more secular life based on science and reason.

Follow the history of Starbucks on its journey from one local retail store in Seattle to a global chain of coffeehouses found in more than 47 countries around the world. It's still there -- the original Starbucks -- in Seattle's Pike Place Market, looking much the same as it did when it opened 38 years ago. But now it is just one of the nearly 16,700 Starbucks spread out over 47 countries, operating under one of the most easily recognizable brands in the world today. Starbucks tells the story of how a single retail outlet opened in 1971 became the world's largest chain of coffeehouses, and for that matter, one of the largest franchises of any kind, with over $10 billion in sales in 2008. Starbucks offers readers the opportunity to get to know this extraordinary corporation's leaders, employees, guiding principles, corporate innovations, competitive strategies, setbacks, and future prospects. Along the way, it explores a number of fascinating issues, including the company's pivotal decision to use Arabica beans instead of mass-produced coffee and its efforts to support sustainable coffee farming worldwide. The book also looks at how Starbucks is coping with the global economic downturn, detailing its recent initiatives to reduce costs, offer healthier food, and re-embrace its coffee-centered, customer-based roots. - Publisher.

A captivating exploration of Christianity's growth and spread across the Roman Empire through quantitative data and groundbreaking insights from prominent historian Rodney Stark.

As conflicts over religious extremism dominate our front pages, the bestselling author of The Harlot by the Side of the Road presents a work of history that could not be more timely: a surprising look back at the origins of religious intolerance during the tumultuous fourth century.This is the epic story of how classical paganism, with its tolerance for many deities and beliefs, lost a centuries-long struggle with monotheism and its chauvinistic insistence on belief in one God. With his trademark blend of wit and scholarship, Kirsch traces the war of God against the gods from its roots in Ancient Egypt to its climax during the last stand of paganism the tumultuous fourth century, when two passionate, charismatic, and revolutionary Roman emperors, the Christian Constantine and the pagan Julian, changed the course of history and shaped the world we live in today.

A comprehensive guide to the beliefs, traditions, and observance of Judaism, suitable for those new to the religion or those seeking to deepen their understanding.

Jonathan Kirsch presents a modern interpretation of Moses, revealing the mysterious and controversial figure behind the biblical narrative.

Michael Moe reveals how star companies like Starbucks, Dell, eBay, and Home Depot were identified early, offering a framework of four Ps—people, product, potential, and predictability—to spot tomorrow’s Wall Street giants.

A sweeping history of the Inquisition, from its medieval roots to its modern-day iterations, revealing the dangerous legacy of absolute power gone awry.

Explore how Starbucks’ focus on personalized customer service, employee empowerment, and community engagement has turned it into a global business powerhouse.

"[The Book of] Revelation has served as a "language arsenal" in a great many of the social, cultural, and political conflicts in Western history. Again and again, Revelation has stirred some dangerous men and women to act out their own private apocalypses. Above all, the moral calculus of Revelation—the demonization of one's enemies, the sanctification of revenge taking, and the notion that history must end in catastrophe—can be detected in some of the worst atrocities and excesses of every age, including our own. For all of these reasons, the rest of us ignore the book of Revelation only at our impoverishment and, more to the point, at our own peril." The mysterious author of the Book of Revelation (or the Apocalypse, as the last book of the New Testament is also known) never considered that his sermon on the impending end times would last beyond his own life. In fact, he predicted that the destruction of the earth would be witnessed by his contemporaries. Yet Revelation not only outlived its creator; this vivid and violent revenge fantasy has played a significant role in the march of Western civilization.Ever since Revelation was first preached as the revealed word of Jesus Christ, it has haunted and inspired hearers and readers alike. The mark of the beast, the Antichrist, 666, the Whore of Babylon, Armageddon, and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are just a few of the images, phrases, and codes that have burned their way into the fabric of our culture. The questions raised go straight to the heart of the human fear of death and obsession with the afterlife. Will we, individually or collectively, ride off to glory, or will we drown in hellfire for all eternity? As those who best manipulate this dark vision learned, which side we fall on is often a matter of life or death. Honed into a weapon in the ongoing culture wars between states, religions, and citizenry, Revelation has significantly altered the course of history.Kirsch, whom the Washington Post calls "a fine storyteller with a flair for rendering ancient tales relevant and appealing to modern audiences," delivers a far-ranging, entertaining, and shocking history of this scandalous book, which was nearly cut from the New Testament. From the fall of the Roman Empire to the Black Death, the Inquisition to the Protestant Reformation, the New World to the rise of the Religious Right, this chronicle of the use and abuse of the Book of Revelation tells the tale of the unfolding of history and the hopes, fears, dreams, and nightmares of all humanity.

Exploring the origins and spread of world religions from the Stone Age to the Axial Age.

A compelling look at the rise and fall of the Fox sisters and the birth of Spiritualism in America, blending historical narrative with supernatural elements.

Inspire Your Life for Eternity

A revealing biography of King David, focusing on his fallibility and humanity rather than the idealized portrayal in popular culture.

Discover the importance of community in God's love and embrace the transformative power of genuine relationships.

A personal journey from despair to hope at the world's most famous coffeehouse chain, as a once-entitled executive learns to appreciate the humanity of a young black woman and the joy of serving others.