Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days (Recipes: a Problem-Solution Ap)
by Jessica Livingston
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List Price: $17.99
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Manufacturer: Apress
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 338.040973
EAN: 9781430210788
ISBN: 1430210788
Label: Apress
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 488
Publication Date: 2008-09-15
Publisher: Apress
Studio: Apress
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: Compelling Look @ the Minds Behind Some of the Most Famous Technology Companies
Comment: Jessica Livingston's Founders at Work is a collection of interviews with an interesting array of entrepreneurs, engineers, and tactful business people (many being all three) who started successful companies in the high technology field. The main focus of the interviews is not necessarily what the company has become, but how it had gotten there. Livingston seemed most concerned with having the people she interviewed focus mainly on the start up days when they didn't know when the next paycheck was coming, or if their "crazy" idea would even work and be something that people would use. Through asking questions about how they received funding, hired new employees, and dealt with possible takeovers and competitors, Livingston is able to share with the reader an interesting glimpse of what makes these people "tick", as well as how a startup goes from someone's garage to a well respected company in record time.
Livingston does a wonderful job of allowing these people to tell their own stories, which gives wonderful insight to both themselves and their companies. Her questions are usually short and to the point, yet highly relevant. She certainly knows her history and comes off as very prepared in what questions she asks, and when she asks them. When interviewing Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer Inc., she lets him ramble on about different soldering techniques, processor specs, and experiences with writing his own code. But within this jumble of numbers and archaic processor specs, we begin to see what made him so successful. It is amazing, that nearly thirty years later, he is able to recant how many bytes went into the first Apple computer, what processor model it used and how much it cost. Livingston does a wonderful job of teasing this out of Wozniak, and many other people that she had interviewed for the book. Most people would either cut him off and ask another question about Steve Jobs, or never include the long paragraphs of technical terms that Wozniak had listed when determining what to put in the book. It seems as if she took it to heart when many of these "tech gurus" told her how important attention to detail is. Wozniak gives us little nuggets of his true character, hidden between the technical jargon that Livingston wisely decides to leave in.
Livingston does not shy away from including many technical terms. This may scare off the casual reader, but for many it is a way that you can fully appreciate someone (granted that you speak the same language). The stories that Livingston decided to include in the book were not the regular snippets about someone starting a successful business. Instead, it offers a look into the lifeblood of startups, and the true thoughts in the minds of those that were involved. Time and time again, patterns emerged between the stories. From being paranoid about competitors, to debating whether to drop out of school or not, the issues at hand for many of these companies seemed to be eerily similar.
Jessica Livingston's interviews have given us a wonderful view of the founders, entrepreneurs, and employees behind some of todays most influential technology companies. Though the book was written this year, it can certainly be enjoyed and applied for years to come, even in the quickly changing world of technology. Obviously the ideas and business of "the next big thing" will change in no time, but the patterns of success, and the drivers of those people that are able to deliver these to the masses have remained strinkingly similar for the past thirty years. From the two Steves of Apple thirty years ago, to Mark Zuckerberg in 2004, the motivations are seldom money. Instead, there is always a need that nerds, hobbyists, and creative minds are looking to fill, which quite often has the ability to grow into a successful business. But the successful business is a result of their passion, drives, and intellect, not the force behind it. In order to fully grasp the power of the internet and technology, one must understand the impetus of those that influence and shape it's landscape. Fortunately, Jessica Livingston is there to show us the early stages of these forces, and perhaps give us a glimpse of where they are yet to go.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Y Combinator Interview in Paperback Edition
Comment: It is worth buying the paperback even if you own the hardcover. An additional chapter consists of Jessica Livingston being interviewed (by Paul Graham) about the early days of Y Combinator. It is filled with interesting information about Y Combinator itself and great anecdotes about the first batch of founders, such as the Reddit guys.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Essential reading for someone thinking about starting a software company
Comment: As someone who is in the middle of trying to get a software company off the ground, I can say that the stories in this book tell the real story of what it means to found a startup. I highly recommend it to anyone thinking about starting a software/tech company, because it will give you a great insight into what to expect.
The book can get technical at times, so it will be best appreciated by someone with a background in computer science. And all the stories are about software companies as well (not apparent from the title). All in all, a great book!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing
Comment: Inspiring and amazing! Originally borrowed from library, then decided I had to own a copy of my own. One of the best purchases I've made all year!
Customer Rating:
Summary: a reward for those who struggle
Comment: This book's stories will reward anyone struggling with a start-up idea, especially whether or not to go for it. In combination with books that more straightforwardly tell the reader how to get up to speed (like my own book "The Expert's Edge") and outdistance the competition, "Founders At Work" will help you survive your ups and owns, i.e., doubts and emotions, as you battle your way through the process. Don't give up the fight!
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Editorial Reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Compelling Look @ the Minds Behind Some of the Most Famous Technology Companies
Comment: Jessica Livingston's Founders at Work is a collection of interviews with an interesting array of entrepreneurs, engineers, and tactful business people (many being all three) who started successful companies in the high technology field. The main focus of the interviews is not necessarily what the company has become, but how it had gotten there. Livingston seemed most concerned with having the people she interviewed focus mainly on the start up days when they didn't know when the next paycheck was coming, or if their "crazy" idea would even work and be something that people would use. Through asking questions about how they received funding, hired new employees, and dealt with possible takeovers and competitors, Livingston is able to share with the reader an interesting glimpse of what makes these people "tick", as well as how a startup goes from someone's garage to a well respected company in record time.
Livingston does a wonderful job of allowing these people to tell their own stories, which gives wonderful insight to both themselves and their companies. Her questions are usually short and to the point, yet highly relevant. She certainly knows her history and comes off as very prepared in what questions she asks, and when she asks them. When interviewing Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer Inc., she lets him ramble on about different soldering techniques, processor specs, and experiences with writing his own code. But within this jumble of numbers and archaic processor specs, we begin to see what made him so successful. It is amazing, that nearly thirty years later, he is able to recant how many bytes went into the first Apple computer, what processor model it used and how much it cost. Livingston does a wonderful job of teasing this out of Wozniak, and many other people that she had interviewed for the book. Most people would either cut him off and ask another question about Steve Jobs, or never include the long paragraphs of technical terms that Wozniak had listed when determining what to put in the book. It seems as if she took it to heart when many of these "tech gurus" told her how important attention to detail is. Wozniak gives us little nuggets of his true character, hidden between the technical jargon that Livingston wisely decides to leave in.
Livingston does not shy away from including many technical terms. This may scare off the casual reader, but for many it is a way that you can fully appreciate someone (granted that you speak the same language). The stories that Livingston decided to include in the book were not the regular snippets about someone starting a successful business. Instead, it offers a look into the lifeblood of startups, and the true thoughts in the minds of those that were involved. Time and time again, patterns emerged between the stories. From being paranoid about competitors, to debating whether to drop out of school or not, the issues at hand for many of these companies seemed to be eerily similar.
Jessica Livingston's interviews have given us a wonderful view of the founders, entrepreneurs, and employees behind some of todays most influential technology companies. Though the book was written this year, it can certainly be enjoyed and applied for years to come, even in the quickly changing world of technology. Obviously the ideas and business of "the next big thing" will change in no time, but the patterns of success, and the drivers of those people that are able to deliver these to the masses have remained strinkingly similar for the past thirty years. From the two Steves of Apple thirty years ago, to Mark Zuckerberg in 2004, the motivations are seldom money. Instead, there is always a need that nerds, hobbyists, and creative minds are looking to fill, which quite often has the ability to grow into a successful business. But the successful business is a result of their passion, drives, and intellect, not the force behind it. In order to fully grasp the power of the internet and technology, one must understand the impetus of those that influence and shape it's landscape. Fortunately, Jessica Livingston is there to show us the early stages of these forces, and perhaps give us a glimpse of where they are yet to go.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Y Combinator Interview in Paperback Edition
Comment: It is worth buying the paperback even if you own the hardcover. An additional chapter consists of Jessica Livingston being interviewed (by Paul Graham) about the early days of Y Combinator. It is filled with interesting information about Y Combinator itself and great anecdotes about the first batch of founders, such as the Reddit guys.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Essential reading for someone thinking about starting a software company
Comment: As someone who is in the middle of trying to get a software company off the ground, I can say that the stories in this book tell the real story of what it means to found a startup. I highly recommend it to anyone thinking about starting a software/tech company, because it will give you a great insight into what to expect.
The book can get technical at times, so it will be best appreciated by someone with a background in computer science. And all the stories are about software companies as well (not apparent from the title). All in all, a great book!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing
Comment: Inspiring and amazing! Originally borrowed from library, then decided I had to own a copy of my own. One of the best purchases I've made all year!
Customer Rating:
Summary: a reward for those who struggle
Comment: This book's stories will reward anyone struggling with a start-up idea, especially whether or not to go for it. In combination with books that more straightforwardly tell the reader how to get up to speed (like my own book "The Expert's Edge") and outdistance the competition, "Founders At Work" will help you survive your ups and owns, i.e., doubts and emotions, as you battle your way through the process. Don't give up the fight!
For would–be entrepreneurs, innovation managers or just anyone fascinated by the special chemistry and drive that created some of the best technology companies in the world, this book offers both wisdom and engaging insights—straight from the source.
— Chris Anderson, editor–in–chief of Wired Magazine, and author of The Long Tail “All the best things that I did at Apple came from (a) not having money and (b) not having done it before, ever.” —Steve Wozniak, Apple
Now available in paperback—with a new preface and interview with Jessica Livingston about Y Combinator! Founders at Work: Stories of Startups’ Early Days is a collection of interviews with founders of famous technology companies about what happened in the very earliest days. These people are celebrities now. What was it like when they were just a couple friends with an idea? Founders like Steve Wozniak (Apple), Caterina Fake (Flickr), Mitch Kapor (Lotus), Max Levchin (PayPal), and Sabeer Bhatia (Hotmail) tell you in their own words about their surprising and often very funny discoveries as they learned how to build a company. Where did they get the ideas that made them rich? How did they convince investors to back them? What went wrong, and how did they recover? Nearly all technical people have thought of one day starting or working for a startup. For them, this book is the closest you can come to being a fly on the wall at a successful startup, to learn how it's done. But ultimately these interviews are required reading for anyone who wants to understand business, because startups are business reduced to its essence. The reason their founders become rich is that startups do what businessesdo—create value—more intensively than almost any other part of the economy. How? What are the secrets that make successful startups so insanely productive? Read this book, and let the founders themselves tell you.
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