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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
An okay book, mediocre for a person who presents himself as an especially creative mind because he molds his own future and so on. Some preaching about altruism and a whole lot of Biz. Apparently he has a supporting wife. Not a complete waste of my time, but I didn't warm up, and since this doesn't pass for a biography, I was left questioning the point of this book. I do like birds, though.
This gets four stars not for stellar writing (that it is lacking), but for the behind-the-scenes look at tech startups and the personalities and politics involved. This was particularly interesting since I had just (finally) read the NYT article from last October about the founding of Twitter (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/magazine/all-is-fair-in-love-and-twitter.html), in which Stone is mentioned only once, as I recall. Fascinating, this comparative history telling.
Anyway, this book was kind of a sludge of stream-of-consciousness and time skipping, but there are some gems of insight here about the workings of the entrepreneurial mind and some bits that resonated very strongly with me about taking risks, forging your own path, and being willing to fail. (It's that latter one I have the most trouble with.) Worth the quick read.
Anyway, this book was kind of a sludge of stream-of-consciousness and time skipping, but there are some gems of insight here about the workings of the entrepreneurial mind and some bits that resonated very strongly with me about taking risks, forging your own path, and being willing to fail. (It's that latter one I have the most trouble with.) Worth the quick read.
I pretty much finished this book in an hour and a half sitting. I really enjoy reading about start-ups and companies and behind the scenes failures and successes. It's so strange to think of a world before twitter, and how Biz originally came up with the concept with his friend. It's also frightening how fast your own company and the business world can turn against you for not being "good enough". There were a lot of great ideas here, I learned a lot!
So what does Biz Stone have to write a book about? He was there. He showed up. Sometimes, when someone needed a nudge, he nudged.
I am not entirely sure whether the great takeaway is supposed to be that even when you aren't a technical genius or a business guru, you can still be in the room, or whether I think Twitter is really kind of pointless. (I actually use Facebook messenger a lot. I am sure Facebook would love to put me in a focus group to find out why, and how they can make more people like me).
Other takeaways:
'
1. Only build the features you really actually need.
2. No one understands why podcasting is a thing. It is also quite possible no one actually wants them.
3. And related, only build a product you want to use.
Disclaimer: This book came from Netgalley.
I am not entirely sure whether the great takeaway is supposed to be that even when you aren't a technical genius or a business guru, you can still be in the room, or whether I think Twitter is really kind of pointless. (I actually use Facebook messenger a lot. I am sure Facebook would love to put me in a focus group to find out why, and how they can make more people like me).
Other takeaways:
'
1. Only build the features you really actually need.
2. No one understands why podcasting is a thing. It is also quite possible no one actually wants them.
3. And related, only build a product you want to use.
Disclaimer: This book came from Netgalley.
informative
slow-paced
Okay, So this one was largely a bust, I had to read it though. It was the least boring sounding book from the title list. And had the shortest page count.
It does have some good points to it though. The key take away being that Failing is an integral part of the recipe for success, if you aren't screwing up then you are missing huge opportunities to improve.
The second take away is that if opportunity knocks take it no matter how inconvenient, or if it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
It does have some good points to it though. The key take away being that Failing is an integral part of the recipe for success, if you aren't screwing up then you are missing huge opportunities to improve.
The second take away is that if opportunity knocks take it no matter how inconvenient, or if it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
As a pretty avid Twitter user, I've been meaning to read this as well as Hatching Twitter. Biz Stone writes in a very fun and playful way; there were several laugh out loud moments, as well as really cool insights into Twitter. Alas, I thought it was a little hokey and that it ought to be in the 'Self-Help' section of the library.
"I'm a talker", Stone says several times in this book, and you better believe it. I enjoyed reading this book; I laughed and learned valuable lessons about life and business. I also like the author's practice of adding or showcasing the humane side of a business.