A review by commemorativeplague
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou

5.0

I'm someone who struggles to focus on a book that has too many spelling/grammar/syntax issues, which is part of why reading this was an absolute joy and pleasure. Carreyrou's acumen as a professional journalist shines through in every sentence of this meticulously-researched and expertly-plotted exposé. Rather than following a strict chronology, this account of the downfall of Theranos focuses on a different individual in each chapter, including their initial interactions with Theranos and Holmes, through to the impending realizations of what the company was hiding. This structure helps to humanize the perspectives of the story, while Carreyrou takes care to remind the reader of the places in which those perspectives interact (i.e., as _ blank was doing this, _ started happening here). Although Carreyrou would have had plenty of reason to write a revenge book, the tone of this account is not vindictive. Rather, he presents the facts with journalistic integrity and allows the reader to follow along on his journey to uncover the truth. I had already watched the documentary, listened to the podcast, and watched the dramatized series, and even then, this book held me as captivated as if I hadn't known what was coming.