For Love of Country

October 1, 2014
An upbeat book about contemporary military veterans, the men and women of America who are "brave enough to assume the ultimate risk so that others could live." Starbucks chairman and CEO Schultz (Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life Without Losing Its Soul, 2011, etc.) and Washington Post senior correspondent and associate editor Chandrasekaran (Little America: The War Within the War for Afghanistan, 2012, etc.) provide case studies of combat heroism and of individuals returning from recent foreign invasions who have contributed to the building of a better society in the United States. The book's release is tied to Schultz's initiative to hire more military veterans at Starbucks and to generally raise awareness of how surviving veterans can serve their nation in classrooms, medical facilities and other institutions. In a relentlessly optimistic narrative, which is certainly inspiring at points, Schultz and Chandrasekaran avoid almost all mention of female soldiers who are sexually assaulted, of returning veterans who murder innocent civilians, and other commonly told dark case studies. Schultz demonstrates the enthusiasm of a converted zealot-he never served in the military, had no close friends or family who had served recently, and had never spent significant time with soldiers or their family members. That changed after he visited Lewis-McChord and other military bases and sought the counsel of high-profile warriors, including former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, "one of our country's most distinguished public servants." The many case studies and interviews will certainly move readers who have served in the military, as well as other highly patriotic Americans. Though fervent anti-war readers will find much of the narrative overly positive and even naive, the case studies are mostly well-reported and often feature individuals who have been unsung until now. A rah-rah effort that will appeal to fans of military histories and those who have close contact with the courageous soldiers who put their lives on the line.

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Starred review from November 1, 2014

Starbucks CEO Schultz was so moved by a 2011 visit to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point that he admits to being "embarrassed" at his disconnection with the military until that time. Schultz has since become a passionate advocate for American veterans and this book, coauthored with the Washington Post's Chandrasekaran (Little America), is one part of his effort to enlist more Americans to the cause. The first section consists of five stories of heroism and sacrifice from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. The authors continue by relating five more tales about how veterans are putting their leadership and skills to use in their communities by assisting with disaster relief, helping fellow veterans who have been severely wounded during battle, or by lobbying for better research on traumatic brain injury. VERDICT Timed to coincide with Veterans Day, the book is filled with inspiring narratives, and while most readers will be unable to support veterans in the manner Schultz now does through his company and foundation, the authors will likely have some success in "bridging the civilian-military divide."--Robert Nardini, Niagara Falls, NY

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