Raising the Bar: Integrity and Passion in Life and Business: The Story of Clif Bar Inc.

If you're ardently concerned about what you eat - and like Clif bars, this book is for you. I've eaten Clif bars for years and recently felt led to revaluate my health/energy bars. I emailed queries to several health/energy bar manufacturers concerning various ingredients (i.e., non-GMO and organic).I was disappointed - all except my email to Clif Bar. At about the same time, I came across this book on Amazon, while shopping for 'priced right' Clif bars. I purchased the book. I read the book in its entirety in two days - some 343 pages. The book made for a very interesting read.My conclusions: "Clif Bar & Co." is a solely owned company that listens to a different drummer. Rather than profit margins being 'Job 1' for corporate stockholders, quality of product and employee relations are paramount. Refreshing!Since 2003, all Clif bars have been certified organic. I also learned that Clif bars have irregular shapes by design.I'm encouraged by Clif Bar & Company's dedication to healthful and quality products. As a result of reading this book, I'm now enjoying more Clif bars - without any questions lurking in the back of my mind as to what I'm consuming.I'm essentially a low fat, low sodium vegan, who goes to considerable lengths to avoid all genetically modified foods {GMO}. My favorite flavors are Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Raisin Walnut.Buy the book - you won't regret it.

A must read for anyone who leads a company, people, or just wants to restore their faith that a different kinds of company still exists. Clif Bar is one of them......walking the talk and leading the way way before being sustainable was a buzz word. People and planet before profits from the get go. Committing to stay privately owned, not selling out for the almighty dollar.So refreshing, so enlightened...just SO GOOD. I will never purchase a bar other than Clif (Luna, Kid Zbar). I know my dollar is fueling the greater not just good tasting, healthy food.Wish I had found this book earlier in my career and required my CEOs to read it. More need to.

This is an excellent, interesting little read that I gave to my uncle for his birthday. He is a hiker and mountain bike rider as well as a traveler so the story of Clif Bars is right up is alley. However, I am a non-outdoorsy, non-sporty non-traveler and I really found it enthralling. Once I had given it to my uncle, my brother needed a copy and several friends gave me the old "Where did you get that book?" routine. You'll enjoy the responsible and inspiring way the company was grown and developed as well as the travel and adventure aspects of the story. It is inspiring and entertaining for all kinds of readers so don't pass it up even if you aren't into Clif Bars ( how could anyone not like Black Cherry Almond?....Sorry, I digress).

I must say I am very pleasantly surprised by the quality of this book! Not only is the publishing/design unlike any book I have seen, the content is AMAZING! I figured this would be an interesting book to read, not expecting it to be the page turner it was for me! Gary really tells the full story of Clif Bar not only from the POV of outsiders looking into the company, but what took place inside his own mind and in his own experiences. Not only does this book feature a fun/very interesting collection of Gary's personal stories, but also an entire business philosophy that IS working inside the Clif company. A very good read that I would recommend to outdoor enthusiasts, business people, and Clif lovers alike. Worth the money!!!

The backstory of Clif Bar is pretty amazing. The entrepreneur, the passion, the principles and the product. Gary went through ups and downs to achieve his success. I would have liked to hear more of the stories of Clif's success and perhaps less autobiography, but the book is a good read overall.

This book was pretty interesting if you enjoy reading about how now large companies got their start. Clif bar uses a lot of ingredients I don't agree with (or consume), so I do not use their products. However, this was a good read!

I started eating Clif Bars when they first came out. I was working at a bike shop in college and would buy a box at a time. Many days they were lunch. Almost twenty years later and I still enjoy them. This book is a good look inside the company culture and the struggles it has gone through to stay independent. It could have been a little shorter, but overall I like it.

I always find it interesting to learn how entrepreneurs make it big and I was curious about the energy bar industry, so I bought this book. It chronicles the ups and downs of Clif Bar. I enjoyed Erickson's analogy of the red road versus the white road. Reading this book gave me a much greater appreciation for the human/culture side of business - something which had not previously occurred to me. Overall a great book. I highly recommend it.

Good easy read and inspirational story from a company who's product I eat on rides too.

A good follow up to let my people go surfing by the Patagonia clothing founder. I had some trouble finding the book in book stores because it's 'old' but I felt it was still relevant.

Recommended... Good book..