Ben & Jerry's: The Inside Scoop: How Two Real Guys Built a Business with a Social Conscience and a Sense of Humor

A powerful story, about humanity, focus, values.A must-read for any businessman or wannabee. This does not cover startups that went from 0 to 100 in 6 months and plan to be sold in the next months (or weeks), but instead the basis of a sustainable business, it's human side, it's values, and how you cope with lemons...

Fred Lager tells the entertaining story of how Ben and Jerry created a successful business model consistent with their commitment to enjoying life, honoring the communities that they were part of and people around the world who lacked power and basic necessities. Today, we know that these two real guys worked with total dedication, creativity and intelligence to succeed. Along the way they disproved many principles business development. But this is a story of learning be trial and error, about the value of having and holding to a set of firm values and about creating meaningful relationships and partnerships as you build a business or a meaningful life.

This book came at the right time in my life and I enjoyed reading about two ordinary guys who just started out in a gas station with a few dollars and a taste for ice cream.Before reading this book I had never tried Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. After reading the book I did try their ice cream and what an ice cream it is.I would recommend this book to all the Ben and Jerry Ice Cream eaters out thereand to the non ice cream eaters too.And if you are just starting out in a small business, pick up a copy of this book and you will see how long it takes to make a company big and then what to do when it gets big. Always remember your people (employees) !!!

I love process and journey, and this books delivers on both. The Ben & Jerry's we see in the freezer at the store...it hasn't always been that way. I enjoyed a pint of Chubby Hubby this past weekend more than I ever have; I now know where it came from and the story behind its (and every other aspect of Ben & Jerry's) evolution. Fan of ice cream, business or human connection? This book is for you.

While this can be viewed as a text book of sorts for the aspiring entrepreneur, it also reads like a fun non-fiction work whether you like ice cream or not. Chico did a great job, (although I don't know how he managed to recall with such clarity the very essence of each moment) of telling the story and communicating the emotions that prevailed. It was one of those books that I hated to finish. For those in the business world, it is a great source of lessons..."how to do great things", and "how to not do some things". Fred "Chico" Lager, Ben, and Jerry....Thank you.