KNOXVILLE — Companies like Whole Foods and Ben and Jerry's may have minted a new corporate mindset known as "conscious capitalism." Their brands rely on their social promise to put the good of the world before their profits, which can be very profitable indeed. But is this a viable formula for business in general? Are companies responsible for making the world a better place? Join Joan Heminway, University of Tennessee’s W.P. Toms Distinguished Professor of Law, in an exploration of ways business can win by building a more cooperative, humane, and positive future as discussed in the book Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the heroic spirit of business by John Mackey in Knox County Public Library’s Book Sandwiched In, Wednesday, May 21, 12:00 p.m. in the East Tennessee History Center auditorium, at 601 South Gay Street.

"There has been a longstanding debate in business and legal circles about whether corporations exist solely or primarily to maximize shareholder wealth or whether the corporate form serves—or even is permitted to serve—a larger purpose,” Heminway says. “Conscious Capitalism engages this debate and encourages a more broadly inclusive definition of the corporation—of capitalist business enterprises as a whole—that involves deliberate business choices made to serve a more wide-ranging set of objectives," Heminway says.

The authors, Whole Foods Market cofounder, John Mackey, and professor and Conscious Capitalism, Inc. co-founder Raj Sisodia, argue that both business and capitalism are inherently good, and they use some of today’s best-known and most successful companies to illustrate their point. From Southwest Airlines, UPS, and Tata to Costco, Panera, Google, the Container Store, and Amazon, today’s organizations are creating value for all stakeholders—including customers, employees, suppliers, investors, society, and the environment.

Conscious Capitalism argues that four specific tenets—higher purpose, stakeholder integration, conscious leadership, and conscious culture and management—can help build strong businesses, move capitalism closer to its highest potential, and foster a more positive environment for all of us.

The public is invited to join the conversation. Bring your favorite sandwich or pick up something from a downtown restaurant. Copies of the books are available at the Library if you'd like to read one before the program.

On June 18, Dean Rice, Knox County Chief of Staff, will share author George Friedman’s predictions for the future as he reviews The Next 100 Years: A forecast for the 21st century.

On July 16, Dr. Ed Caudill, will discuss The Influencing Machine: Brooke Gladstone on the Media by Brooke Gladstone.

On August 20, Alvin Nance, Executive Director/CEO at Knoxville's Community Development Corporation, will discuss The American Way of Poverty: How the other half still lives by Sasha Abramsky.