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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
A perfect airplane or beach read, Shafrir's Startup is funny, light, and engaging. A gentle satire of tech and startup culture that skewers several archetypes of terrible modern men (really: the men are terrible).
Throughout the book, I found myself wishing that the jokes were more pointed or that the satire was sharper. It's not Silicon Valley. But, I appreciated the underlying cleverness throughout the book, the strong characters, and fast pacing. It's a fun read.
Throughout the book, I found myself wishing that the jokes were more pointed or that the satire was sharper. It's not Silicon Valley. But, I appreciated the underlying cleverness throughout the book, the strong characters, and fast pacing. It's a fun read.
The story is very engaging and has a good aura of truth around it, at least if you’re familiar with the office culture of the last decade or so. But just when a number of threads start coming together, it ends. I’d give the book a 3.5, but Goodreads won’t let me. Recommended read? Absolutely. Probably a good one for a discussion group so that people can pick up where the author left off.
4.5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed this funny, cutting look at the start up culture in Manhattan in the mid 2010’s. I think Tom Wolfe would be proud she was doing what he would call her “sociological duty” as a novelist. While this isn’t a panorama or even a satire, Shafrir gets the dilemmas and absurdities of this culture from several womens’ points of view and doesn’t tie it up too neatly.
I really enjoyed this funny, cutting look at the start up culture in Manhattan in the mid 2010’s. I think Tom Wolfe would be proud she was doing what he would call her “sociological duty” as a novelist. While this isn’t a panorama or even a satire, Shafrir gets the dilemmas and absurdities of this culture from several womens’ points of view and doesn’t tie it up too neatly.
This was a fun read! Definitely resonated with a lot of the things we are seeing in our current work culture and I felt really immersed in the story (probably because I am in my 20s, have worked at/with startups and have known a version of these characters at some point in my career.)
Entertaining quick read. Expertly observed. Relevant (I'm looking at you, Uber).
The first 100 pages of this were TOUGH to get through. They read like the Gossip Girl series; so chock full of needlessly name-checked apps, fashion brands and restaurants that I nearly gave up. While a satire of start-up culture, it's totally toothless - focusing more on annoyances of the scene (endless 'it's like Uber, but for _____ pitches and overflowing corporate snack rooms) than addressing any of the real emptiness or destructiveness that the environment fosters. Even the sexual harassment plot at the center of the novel's conflict lacks any depth or nuance.
While things pick up in the last half of the book, as the characters story lines converge, I didn't end up getting much out of it. It is a quick read that's occasionally funny.
While things pick up in the last half of the book, as the characters story lines converge, I didn't end up getting much out of it. It is a quick read that's occasionally funny.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved it, such a cool cast of characters giving us a peek into the tech world. Was a brilliant satirical analysis of capitalism and different viewpoints of me too while seeming fictional and not preachy. Mac's demise will linger on my mind for a while.
A quick read. Predictable, but I enjoyed the style of the writer. Hope she writes more.
(Reccomended by JZ)
A very light read that I zoomed through. I think I wanted a little more depth from this book. The connections between the women didn’t seem out of genuine connection and more out of need. One thing I did enjoy was how some of shaffirs observation about tech culture were spot on and cutting. I would recommend the non-fiction “Brotopia” for those interested in send ups or tech culture
A very light read that I zoomed through. I think I wanted a little more depth from this book. The connections between the women didn’t seem out of genuine connection and more out of need. One thing I did enjoy was how some of shaffirs observation about tech culture were spot on and cutting. I would recommend the non-fiction “Brotopia” for those interested in send ups or tech culture
A pessimistic look at tech culture, youth, and love with glimmers of interesting characters.