The Hard Thing About Hard Things
Summary:
In “The Hard Thing About Hard Things”, Ben Horowitz, cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz and one of Silicon Valley's most respected and experienced entrepreneurs, draws on his own story of founding, running, selling, buying, managing, and investing in technology companies to offer essential advice and practical wisdom for navigating the toughest problems business schools don't cover. His blog has garnered a devoted following of millions of readers who have come to rely on him to help them run their businesses. A lifelong rap fan, Horowitz amplifies business lessons with lyrics from his favorite songs and tells it straight about everything from firing friends to poaching competitors, from cultivating and sustaining a CEO mentality to knowing the right time to cash in.
His advice is grounded in anecdotes from his own hard-earned rise—from cofounding the early cloud service provider Loudcloud to building the phenomenally successful Andreessen Horowitz venture capital firm, both with fellow tech superstar Marc Andreessen (inventor of Mosaic, the Internet's first popular Web browser). This is no polished victory lap; he analyzes issues with no easy answers through his trials, including (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
This was a business book that I found fascinating despite not having any interest in becoming an entrepreneur. The philosophies and down-to-Earth approach are both refreshing and entertaining. I would recommend this for anyone who has passing interest because I genuinely think it was well-written (for a business book).
The best part is that Horowitz hasn’t written this with rose-colored glasses, he’s honest with his failures and how luck fits into success. I think it’s a good reality check for those who think success comes easy and inspiration for those who are willing to put the sweat into the goal.
Warning: Plenty of swearing.
Rating: 4 stars!
Who should read it? Anyone looking to be an entrepreneur or operating at the top tier of business.