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Do the KIND Thing: Think Boundlessly, Work Purposefully, Live Passionately
For the socially conscious, the intellectually curious, or the creative soul comes an inspiring, New York Times bestselling handbook for success in business, life, and the all-important task of building a more compassionate world—by the visionary founder and CEO of KIND Healthy Snacks.
When Daniel Lubetzky started KIND Healthy Snacks in 2004, he aimed to defy the conventional wisdom that snack bars could never be both tasty and healthy, convenient and wholesome. A decade later, the transformative power of the company’s “AND” philosophy has resulted in an astonishing record of achievement. KIND has become the fastest-growing purveyor of healthy snacks in the country. Meanwhile, the KIND Movement—the company’s social mission to make the world a little kinder—has sparked more than a million good deeds worldwide.
In Do the KIND Thing, Lubetzky shares the revolutionary principles that have shaped KIND’s business model and led to its success, while offering an unfiltered and intensely personal look into the mind of a pioneering social entrepreneur. Inspired by his father, who survived the Holocaust thanks to the courageous kindness of strangers, Lubetzky began his career handselling a sun-dried tomato spread made collaboratively by Arabs and Jews in the war-torn Middle East. Despite early setbacks, he never lost his faith in his vision of a “not- only -for-profit” business—one that sold great products and helped to make the world a better place.
While other companies let circumstances force them into choosing between two seemingly incompatible options, people at KIND say “AND.” At its core, this idea is about challenging assumptions and false compromises. It is about not settling for less and being willing to take greater risks, often financial. It is about learning to think boundlessly and critically, and choosing what at first may be the tougher path for later, greater rewards. By using illuminating anecdotes from his own career, and celebrating some past failures through the lessons learned from them, Lubetzky outlines his core tenets for building a successful business and a thriving social enterprise. He explores the value of staying true to your brand, highlights the importance of transparency and communication in the workplace, and explains why good intentions alone won’t sell products.
Engaging and inspirational, Do the KIND Thing shows how the power of AND worked wonders for one company—and could empower the next generation of social entrepreneurs to improve their bottom line and change the world.
Advance praise for Do the KIND Thing
“An enjoyable read . . . wise advice about matters from product development to people management.” — Financial Times
“By sharing the ten tenets that helped KIND grow, Daniel Lubetzky has given entrepreneurs a road map to success that includes both passion and purpose.” —Arianna Huffington, president and editor in chief, Huffington Post Media Group
“Lubetzky uses the power of kindness to build purpose into his business and his community. He’s a role model for future leaders.” —Mehmet Oz, M.D., professor of surgery, Columbia University
“I’ve always been a fan of the KIND brand. This engaging and inspirational book shows how coupling a social mission with creativity can spark change and empower a generation.” —Bobbi Brown, founder and CCO, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
When Daniel Lubetzky started KIND Healthy Snacks in 2004, he aimed to defy the conventional wisdom that snack bars could never be both tasty and healthy, convenient and wholesome. A decade later, the transformative power of the company’s “AND” philosophy has resulted in an astonishing record of achievement. KIND has become the fastest-growing purveyor of healthy snacks in the country. Meanwhile, the KIND Movement—the company’s social mission to make the world a little kinder—has sparked more than a million good deeds worldwide.
In Do the KIND Thing, Lubetzky shares the revolutionary principles that have shaped KIND’s business model and led to its success, while offering an unfiltered and intensely personal look into the mind of a pioneering social entrepreneur. Inspired by his father, who survived the Holocaust thanks to the courageous kindness of strangers, Lubetzky began his career handselling a sun-dried tomato spread made collaboratively by Arabs and Jews in the war-torn Middle East. Despite early setbacks, he never lost his faith in his vision of a “not- only -for-profit” business—one that sold great products and helped to make the world a better place.
While other companies let circumstances force them into choosing between two seemingly incompatible options, people at KIND say “AND.” At its core, this idea is about challenging assumptions and false compromises. It is about not settling for less and being willing to take greater risks, often financial. It is about learning to think boundlessly and critically, and choosing what at first may be the tougher path for later, greater rewards. By using illuminating anecdotes from his own career, and celebrating some past failures through the lessons learned from them, Lubetzky outlines his core tenets for building a successful business and a thriving social enterprise. He explores the value of staying true to your brand, highlights the importance of transparency and communication in the workplace, and explains why good intentions alone won’t sell products.
Engaging and inspirational, Do the KIND Thing shows how the power of AND worked wonders for one company—and could empower the next generation of social entrepreneurs to improve their bottom line and change the world.
Advance praise for Do the KIND Thing
“An enjoyable read . . . wise advice about matters from product development to people management.” — Financial Times
“By sharing the ten tenets that helped KIND grow, Daniel Lubetzky has given entrepreneurs a road map to success that includes both passion and purpose.” —Arianna Huffington, president and editor in chief, Huffington Post Media Group
“Lubetzky uses the power of kindness to build purpose into his business and his community. He’s a role model for future leaders.” —Mehmet Oz, M.D., professor of surgery, Columbia University
“I’ve always been a fan of the KIND brand. This engaging and inspirational book shows how coupling a social mission with creativity can spark change and empower a generation.” —Bobbi Brown, founder and CCO, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2015
102 people are currently reading
1921 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Lubetzky
2 books21 followersDaniel Lubetzky is a pioneering social entrepreneur known for integrating social objectives with sustainable market-driven forces to forge new business models that build bridges between people. He is the CEO and founder of KIND Healthy Snacks and the KIND Movement, founder of PeaceWorks and OneVoice, and cofounder of the apparel company Maiyet. Lubetzky has received numerous awards and recognitions for his humanitarian efforts and his business practices. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
March 12, 2015
I had the opportunity to read this as an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley. It is not due out until March 31st, so I am grateful to the publisher, Ballantine books for allowing me to preview this book.
First, this was an AMAZING book! I loved the author's raw and emotional look at what it was like to set something up and get it going from scratch. Daniel walks the reader through his family history, and how his childhood gave him the inspiration to start KIND as well as another company. He talks openly about not just the successes of each company (the other being PeaceWorks), but also the failures. It was refreshing to know the reality of being an entrepreneur from someone who has been there.
Another part of the book that touched me, and that made me love it more is how Daniel talks about the importance of respecting both your employees and your distributors and business partners. He talks about how to properly hire and if need be, fire someone. He also talks about how letting someone go should be the last resort. On the business partner side, he talks about being open and honest with them too. It is all about respect and "doing the Kind thing" which I loved.
I do not want to give a lot of the book away, but I want to say that this was an eye opener for me as a regular worker so I suggested this to my VP of Customer Service because, even though it is an entrepreneur's story, it can relate to every company because it gives practical and honest things to think about. I would recommend this book to any business owner, VP, etc. There are so many great lessons in this book that should not be ignored.
First, this was an AMAZING book! I loved the author's raw and emotional look at what it was like to set something up and get it going from scratch. Daniel walks the reader through his family history, and how his childhood gave him the inspiration to start KIND as well as another company. He talks openly about not just the successes of each company (the other being PeaceWorks), but also the failures. It was refreshing to know the reality of being an entrepreneur from someone who has been there.
Another part of the book that touched me, and that made me love it more is how Daniel talks about the importance of respecting both your employees and your distributors and business partners. He talks about how to properly hire and if need be, fire someone. He also talks about how letting someone go should be the last resort. On the business partner side, he talks about being open and honest with them too. It is all about respect and "doing the Kind thing" which I loved.
I do not want to give a lot of the book away, but I want to say that this was an eye opener for me as a regular worker so I suggested this to my VP of Customer Service because, even though it is an entrepreneur's story, it can relate to every company because it gives practical and honest things to think about. I would recommend this book to any business owner, VP, etc. There are so many great lessons in this book that should not be ignored.
April 18, 2015
After spending almost 20 years refining and building his business practices, KIND Healthy Snacks CEO Daniel Lubetzky shares his philosophy for those practices and his life in his brand new book, Do the KIND Thing: Think Boundlessly, Work Purposefully, Live Passionately. Lubetzky uses the book to recount the history of KIND as well as his life story: what prompted him to start KIND as well as his personal commitment to peace in conflict-ridden areas.
Lubetzky offers readers several interesting tidbits about his past: his parents lived through the Holocaust, and he learned from them the significance of kindness. Coupled with the entrepreneurial spirit that developed at a young age, Lubetzsky made a conscientious decision to emphasize kindness in all he did and couple that with business success. He refused early on to believe that he had to choose between the two; instead, he decided he would achieve both.
His life story emphasizes the necessity of hard work and perseverance. In 1994 Lubetzky lived in a miniscule apartment in New York City, trying to sell products for his company PeaceWorks. Lubetzky had developed PeaceWorks on the tenet of what he calls the AND principle: the idea that an organization can make a positive social change while turning a profit by offering the market something new.
Because of his lack of experience in business practices, however, PeaceWorks floundered in its early days. Lubetzky’s intentions brought Arabs and Israelis together to create Dead Sea products for sale; his inexperience prevented him from effectively marketing and selling the products. But Lubetzky didn’t let the setbacks discourage him. He continued to develop PeaceWorks and eventually create the KIND snack line.
Entrepreneurs may find Lubetzky’s book a source of inspiration, albeit a somewhat confusing one to follow. Following a coil-like pattern, Lubetzky moves from his personal experiences to his philosophies then to his business practices and back again. This format may make readers forget information from one track while Lubetzky follows a different one. Also his impassioned words emphasize his philosophies on every page. As a result readers may find the book well-intentioned but also a little heavy-handed.
In the end, however, readers will take away one main idea: Daniel Lubetzky harbors a deep commitment to making the world a better place. By using KIND as a platform, he intends to bring his ideas to fruition. Regardless of the minor flaws in the book, readers will appreciate Lubetkzy’s thoughts and will feel inspired to perform their own acts of kindness.
I recommend readers Borrow Do the KIND Thing.
Lubetzky offers readers several interesting tidbits about his past: his parents lived through the Holocaust, and he learned from them the significance of kindness. Coupled with the entrepreneurial spirit that developed at a young age, Lubetzsky made a conscientious decision to emphasize kindness in all he did and couple that with business success. He refused early on to believe that he had to choose between the two; instead, he decided he would achieve both.
His life story emphasizes the necessity of hard work and perseverance. In 1994 Lubetzky lived in a miniscule apartment in New York City, trying to sell products for his company PeaceWorks. Lubetzky had developed PeaceWorks on the tenet of what he calls the AND principle: the idea that an organization can make a positive social change while turning a profit by offering the market something new.
Because of his lack of experience in business practices, however, PeaceWorks floundered in its early days. Lubetzky’s intentions brought Arabs and Israelis together to create Dead Sea products for sale; his inexperience prevented him from effectively marketing and selling the products. But Lubetzky didn’t let the setbacks discourage him. He continued to develop PeaceWorks and eventually create the KIND snack line.
Entrepreneurs may find Lubetzky’s book a source of inspiration, albeit a somewhat confusing one to follow. Following a coil-like pattern, Lubetzky moves from his personal experiences to his philosophies then to his business practices and back again. This format may make readers forget information from one track while Lubetzky follows a different one. Also his impassioned words emphasize his philosophies on every page. As a result readers may find the book well-intentioned but also a little heavy-handed.
In the end, however, readers will take away one main idea: Daniel Lubetzky harbors a deep commitment to making the world a better place. By using KIND as a platform, he intends to bring his ideas to fruition. Regardless of the minor flaws in the book, readers will appreciate Lubetkzy’s thoughts and will feel inspired to perform their own acts of kindness.
I recommend readers Borrow Do the KIND Thing.
April 12, 2015
Tries to be too much at once. You've probably seen those KIND bars at the grocery store, at festivals and fairs, as a sample, etc. As an alternative to candy or granola bars, KIND uses granola, fruit, honey, chocolate, etc. in bars and have been expanding more and more in the healthy food arena. Here is what I thought would be the story of the company.
Instead the reader is treated to part autobiography, part-business/entrepreneurship how-to, part story of the KIND company. I wasn't really interested. I wanted more of a traditional "history" of the company and really don't care for the business-side or his own personal story. Blending of the genres can be done well and can be a great read, but the author doesn't have the skill to really make it work.
Like other reviews have said, the author's obvious enthusiasm for KIND and what he does is clear. Unfortunately that does not carry over well into his writing, and I found it to be a real slog to try to keep going and staying attached to the story. I personally would have gotten rid of the business stuff (and left that as a separate book) and combined his personal story and KIND. That he shares what he learned is great, and shows he really thought about his failures and how KIND came to be, but I felt it really dragged down the text.
Business-types and those who try to be socially aware (as well as fans of the KIND brand) will probably like this. But it's not just the story of the KIND bars. I borrowed it from the library and am glad I did.
Instead the reader is treated to part autobiography, part-business/entrepreneurship how-to, part story of the KIND company. I wasn't really interested. I wanted more of a traditional "history" of the company and really don't care for the business-side or his own personal story. Blending of the genres can be done well and can be a great read, but the author doesn't have the skill to really make it work.
Like other reviews have said, the author's obvious enthusiasm for KIND and what he does is clear. Unfortunately that does not carry over well into his writing, and I found it to be a real slog to try to keep going and staying attached to the story. I personally would have gotten rid of the business stuff (and left that as a separate book) and combined his personal story and KIND. That he shares what he learned is great, and shows he really thought about his failures and how KIND came to be, but I felt it really dragged down the text.
Business-types and those who try to be socially aware (as well as fans of the KIND brand) will probably like this. But it's not just the story of the KIND bars. I borrowed it from the library and am glad I did.
March 7, 2018
This is a fantastic book that explores building a successful business that is intertwined with your personal values. I would describe it as part business book and part auto biography that shows Daniel’s interesting learnings in life and in business. Daniel is the CEO and founder of KIND - a food brand which make healthy, nutritious and convenient snacks. His father and mother survived the holocaust by various acts of kindness during WW2 including a Nazi soldier risking his life to give Daniel’s father a rotten potato when he needed food most. Daniel and his various businesses revolve around that acts of kindness, even the smallest ones, can change the world.
This book has cemented the idea in me that it is not necessary to give up your personal values and goals in order to build a successful business!
This book has cemented the idea in me that it is not necessary to give up your personal values and goals in order to build a successful business!
October 5, 2020
A very interesting story from a son of a holocausts survivor who grew up in Mexico. I could have done with a little less KIND Bar marketing. But it does show his passion for what he does. I would love to hear his perspective for 2020.
March 15, 2023
This book is such a disorganized mess. He will go from talking about KIND, to some tangent about his family, then back to his other company, then some mistake he made then back to KIND. Also the whole chapter about him shooting down ideas from his team or the random tangent about how he met his wife in the middle of a strategy chapter?
+1 star for useful strategic insights. You can learn a little if you stick it out through the mess
+1 star for useful strategic insights. You can learn a little if you stick it out through the mess
March 23, 2015
Is this an autobiography or a business guidance book? Looking at it, it seems to be a bit unsure and thus does both tasks in a less-than-optimal manner.
The publicity blurb says that it is an “… inspiring handbook for success in business and in life and for the all-important task of building a more compassionate world by the visionary CEO of KIND Healthy Snacks.” Maybe it is an American thing, as this reviewer’s first response was “Who? What? Why?” Things didn’t really improve after this.
Some of the stories detailed are quite interesting, looking at elements relating to social enterprises, product development, sales, entrepreneurship and international trade. It is just that the whole entity lacks a clear focus and the occasional highlights are swamped by a sea of mediocrity and padding. The comparatively high price means there is a greater expectation too that just isn’t being reached.
As one progressed through the book it was noticeable that the reader would skim read here, skip there and defocus on all too many occasions. That is a bad sign, as the underlying story should and could be interesting. Cutting the book down by one-third and tightening up the focus (and downplaying the overt ego and commercial promotion) might yield dividends.
Maybe you are a happy customer and feel a connection with the author’s ventures. If so, you might be a little more forgiving although even loyalty can know its limits.
The book is reminiscent of a school report from a potentially talented student. “Could do better…” As it stands, if you see this for a couple of dollars at a remainder sale it might be worth a look, that’s the best one can say.
Do the KIND Thing, written by Daniel Lubetzky and published by Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books. ISBN 9780553393248, 304 pages. YYY
The publicity blurb says that it is an “… inspiring handbook for success in business and in life and for the all-important task of building a more compassionate world by the visionary CEO of KIND Healthy Snacks.” Maybe it is an American thing, as this reviewer’s first response was “Who? What? Why?” Things didn’t really improve after this.
Some of the stories detailed are quite interesting, looking at elements relating to social enterprises, product development, sales, entrepreneurship and international trade. It is just that the whole entity lacks a clear focus and the occasional highlights are swamped by a sea of mediocrity and padding. The comparatively high price means there is a greater expectation too that just isn’t being reached.
As one progressed through the book it was noticeable that the reader would skim read here, skip there and defocus on all too many occasions. That is a bad sign, as the underlying story should and could be interesting. Cutting the book down by one-third and tightening up the focus (and downplaying the overt ego and commercial promotion) might yield dividends.
Maybe you are a happy customer and feel a connection with the author’s ventures. If so, you might be a little more forgiving although even loyalty can know its limits.
The book is reminiscent of a school report from a potentially talented student. “Could do better…” As it stands, if you see this for a couple of dollars at a remainder sale it might be worth a look, that’s the best one can say.
Do the KIND Thing, written by Daniel Lubetzky and published by Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books. ISBN 9780553393248, 304 pages. YYY
April 20, 2015
* I won this book in a goodreads giveaway, they also sent a Kind bar later.
It's an interesting mix of his history and the company's history. however parts when they talk about the company's principles get very repetitive. it took a long time to get to the part about social consciousness in the company.
It would be extremely interesting to read his version of their current problem with the FDA and being transparent. The situation mentioned in the book seemed minor.
While the book is one big commercial, it's still enjoyable.
It's an interesting mix of his history and the company's history. however parts when they talk about the company's principles get very repetitive. it took a long time to get to the part about social consciousness in the company.
It would be extremely interesting to read his version of their current problem with the FDA and being transparent. The situation mentioned in the book seemed minor.
While the book is one big commercial, it's still enjoyable.
April 3, 2019
While he comments about his accent a few times in the book, it did make the audio book a bit harder to follow. There are a number of good points made in this book, however, I was hoping for more about the mission of doing the "Kind" thing, rather than a history of his company with it's ups and downs. Again, there were plenty of good points of how they used the "And" philosophy, and how they try to promote good works and stay true to their original ideas. But it was more of a history than what I had expected.
February 25, 2018
Authentic
I appreciated the authenticity that the author writes with. Daniel is an exemplar for the resilient entrepreneur. This is a must read for all aspiring social entrepreneurs.
I appreciated the authenticity that the author writes with. Daniel is an exemplar for the resilient entrepreneur. This is a must read for all aspiring social entrepreneurs.
March 5, 2018
An intriguing look into a business that went from a one-man operation to a huge business that didn’t lose sight of its core vision of eliminating hatred by being KIND. This book entertains and inspires with plenty of stories and leaves one wanting to run their enterprise the KIND way.
June 23, 2018
What an inspiring mission, led by a leader this deep passion and focus. These are several business, leadership and relationship lessons through out this entertaining read.
Trust, empathy, humility and perseverance are just a few of the topics tackled and explored.
Trust, empathy, humility and perseverance are just a few of the topics tackled and explored.
November 21, 2021
Mr. Lubetzky details the creation of the Kind brand and the philosophies behind the company's success. I recommend the book for any entrepreneur as well as for leadership in all companies, large to small.
May 21, 2015
Great fruit and nut bars ( the best, really!), great company philosophy/mission, mildly interesting book.
August 2, 2025
A very solid 3 1/2 stars. I listened to this book which was narrated by the author. He has an incredibly pleasant and interesting voice, and he absolutely does appear to be an incredibly kind soul so listening to him was a pleasure. This book is the story of Daniel Labiske‘s Journey to build the kind snack brand. He comes from humble and interesting beginnings. His family taught him a work ethic, to value, education, to persevere and do the right thing. His father and in fact entire family Survived the holocaust making his father‘s outlook on life all the more incredible. I knew a bit about Daniel as a shark Tank fan, but enjoyed learning so much more about him through the book. A remarkable man who built a remarkable company and is trying to do wonderful things in the world. For the whole wide world sake, I certainly hope he succeeds.
January 8, 2021
I have read some great business biographies/autobiographies-and this wasn't one of them.. The author tries to feign modesty by talking about his "failures"-which include a bad flavor of his otherwise successful dip from his former "Peaceworks" line. It's hard to tell what was the "ah-ha" moment when he decided to concentrate on his Kind bars. The chapter on his father's and grandfather's Holocaust experience is indeed touching-but that is hidden away in the middle of the book, rather then given as a real touch point in his life. Some good, solid business advice, but much is platitudes and common sense talked about many times.
July 7, 2017
This book was pretty average in its category, but the second half was significantly better than the first. I especially like the chapters on Transparency, Empathy, and Trust. Those three had some really original insights that seemed fresh and new, whereas the first part of the book often seemed to have too much exposition or be repetitive.
I really like KIND as a brand, and saw Daniel speak at a conference a few years ago, which is why I had this book. It's a quick read, and there are some good takeaways if you are willing to indulge a little bit of repetition.
I really like KIND as a brand, and saw Daniel speak at a conference a few years ago, which is why I had this book. It's a quick read, and there are some good takeaways if you are willing to indulge a little bit of repetition.
November 17, 2018
I'm a fan of KIND bars and didn't know much about the company, so reading the book gave me more insight into the origins- great and inspiring story. Though at times, the storytelling could've been better but I think it's in the voice of the founder.
KIND is a great brand, so it'll be interesting to see where it goes.
KIND is a great brand, so it'll be interesting to see where it goes.
April 17, 2021
I really wanted to like this because I enjoy their product and I've heard good things about this book (from previous professors, go figure). I can't get past the blatant zionism that runs through every part of the author's perspective and business plan. It breaks my heart that someone would use the idea of kindness as a way to deny Palestinian people their obviously-deserved humanity.
April 8, 2023
This is a inspirational story of the KIND founder. He talks about his failures, successes and all of the lessons he learned along the way while trying to do good for the society. Author imparts practical wisdom that can be leveraged by any entrepreneur, specially if you are planning to start a business in food/snacks area.
February 3, 2024
A really insightful look at how to build an authentic mission-led business. Although probably a bit dry for the normal reader, it's terrific and an absolute must read for leaders of businesses in the social impact space. Fantastic, first-hand examples and insight from throughout the years of building Kind.
November 20, 2019
Pros: This quick read contains an Impactful message that is lead by example. Author and CEO does not talk the talk but he walks the walk. He gives readers concrete life experiences.
Cons: repetitiveness; more than a few times reader will feel like they are rereading portions of the book.
Cons: repetitiveness; more than a few times reader will feel like they are rereading portions of the book.
May 31, 2017
It just didn't hold my interest.
September 12, 2017
A worthy read for those committed to delivering a socially conscious and financially successful business.
February 27, 2018
A man with a dream, works hard and makes it come true.
April 23, 2018
KIND products now have a deeper meaning to me after reading Daniel's story. It resonates! I'm sold on to the KIND movement.
August 12, 2018
Might be interesting for someone specifically in retail products but not particularly compelling as a general approach to business or company philosophy book.
September 22, 2019
Great book for entrepreneurs. Contains very useful information on the manufacturing process, investors, strategic partnerships, etc. I learned a lot from this book.
April 29, 2020
A social entrepreneurship approach to building a business.
January 19, 2022
A book about the KIND company and its development of natural food products. NOT a book about ethics.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews