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The Cult of We: Wework, Adam Neumann, and the Great Startup Delusion by Eliot Brown, Maureen Farrell
cal337's review
5.0
I am fascinated by the collapse of WeWork, and I would've been interested in this book even if it were poorly written. Luckily, it is extremely well written, with complex financial structures and corporate human resources disputes summarized into digestible bits. The authors bring to life the personalities of Adam, Rebekah and Masayoshi Son. I generally buy their premise of how this happened:
1. Good timing - deserted office space after the recession, then a decade where venture capital got FOMO.
2. Investors will value something high if someone they respect also valued it high.
3. It's easy to run a big company if losses don't matter.
1. Good timing - deserted office space after the recession, then a decade where venture capital got FOMO.
2. Investors will value something high if someone they respect also valued it high.
3. It's easy to run a big company if losses don't matter.
blueceliac314's review
5.0
The Cult of We shows the successes and failures of Adam Neumann as Wework's CEO. On one hand, his charisma helped secure massive funding, led to rapid expansion, led to a fast-paced work culture, and created a compelling story for the public. On the other hand, his delusional grandeur, self-centered focus, and inability to listen to critical feedback are some of the key factors in the failure of the company. The book leaves you wondering what makes a good leader, and if you need some downsides and grandeur to succeed in the first place.
The book also showed what happens when people are reeled in by a compelling story and mistakenly want to join in for a fear of missing out. Business decisions must be made out of cautious analysis, and less emotion or relationship driven. Investors were seduced by Neumann's personality, and this led to colossal losses on their part.
Overall, the story was well-written, fast-paced, and engaging through to the end. One of my favorite company history/biography focused books.
The book also showed what happens when people are reeled in by a compelling story and mistakenly want to join in for a fear of missing out. Business decisions must be made out of cautious analysis, and less emotion or relationship driven. Investors were seduced by Neumann's personality, and this led to colossal losses on their part.
Overall, the story was well-written, fast-paced, and engaging through to the end. One of my favorite company history/biography focused books.
bloomsburybaker's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Loved this!! It was so gripping - especially for a non fiction. Perfect if you loved the Theranos book.