BookPeople Presents: John Mackey - The Whole Story
BookPeople welcomes John Mackey to celebrate the release of The Whole Story - Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism.
Date and time
Location
BookPeople
603 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78703About this event
- 2 hours
Please welcome John Mackey to celebrate The Whole Story - Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism!
This event is free and open to the public.
- Start time: 7:00 P.M.
- Run time: 45-60 minutes, followed by a signing line.
- Location: The second floor of BookPeople.
The author will be signing copies of the book after the speaking portion of the event.
- To get a book signed, a copy of the event book or an item of equal value must be purchased from BookPeople.
Guidelines:
- Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
- There will not be a live stream or recording available.
- BookPeople reserves the right to cancel or postpone this event if necessary.
- If you have any other questions, please visit our Eventbrite FAQ. If your question isn't covered in the FAQ, feel free to email us at online@bookpeople.com.
About the book:
Whole Foods Market’s 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 isn’t just a business success story—it’s 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 company’s 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, Mackey’s 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.
About the author:
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.” His newest book, “The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism,” was published in May 2024. 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.
By purchasing a book from BookPeople, you are not only supporting a local, independent business – you’re showing publishers that they should continue sending authors to BookPeople.
Thank you for supporting John Mackey and your local independent bookstore!
Frequently asked questions
For most events, we will begin with an introduction at the start time, followed by a reading or moderated author conversation, an audience Q&A, and finally our book signing portion of the event. However, please check the Eventbrite details for each event for further information.
RSVPs are encouraged in order to reserve a spot at the event. While most of our events won't reach the capacity of our event space, certain titles and/or authors may surpass what our space can hold. In this case, customers with RSVPs will be prioritized for entry to the event.
MOST of our events take place at our store at 603 N Lamar Blvd. However, please make sure you check the location for each event, as some larger events are put on in conjunction with outside venue partners. Please note that our events program is not affiliated with the BookPeople at the AUS airport.
For free events, you may proceed to the 2nd floor and find a seat whenever you arrive, though you may wish to make your book purchase downstairs before start time. For ticketed or large events, an events staff member will be waiting near the front door to check you in.
To attend the talk/Q&A portion of the event, you do not need to purchase a copy of the event book. To participate in the signing line after the talk, you WILL need to purchase a copy of the book OR make a purchase of equal value from BookPeople. Thank you for supporting our events program!
If you already own a copy of the event book and would like to join the signing line, we ask that you make a purchase of equal value from BookPeople and be prepared to present your receipt to an events staff member upon joining the line. Thank you for supporting our events program!
For free events, you may pick up your book at BookPeople on the night of the event (or on release date, if you keep your receipt to bring on event night). For ticketed events, if you preordered BEFORE the event was announced, please contact us at online@bookpeople.com. Thank you!
If we have a waitlist available, Eventbrite will give you an option to join it on the ticket purchase or RSVP page. If the event is sold out AND the waitlist option is unavailable, the waitlist has unfortunately met its cap and we are not accepting further names in an effort to avoid false hope.
For free events, we ask that you cancel your RSVP via Eventbrite so another customer may have your spot. For ticketed events, we ask that you submit a refund request 7+ days in advance. You may also keep your ticket and pick up your book at the registers within 30 days of the event night.
Please place an order for the event book via bookpeople.com at least 24 hours before the event and make your request in the order notes field at checkout. Our events and Internet Orders teams will do their best to fulfill your request.
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BookPeople is the largest independent bookstore in Texas. For more information, visit BookPeople.com.