Founders at Work
Founders at Work
Jessica Livingston
Ryan Holiday
Interviews with technology founders from one of the best investors of all time. - Ryan Holiday
Paul Graham
Probably the single most valuable book a startup founder could read. - Paul Graham
Ev Williams
On the "books read" section of Ev Williams' GoodReads profile.
Alexis Ohanian
A bunch of really great interviews [Jessica] did with a bunch of just OGs of entrepreneurship. - Alexis Ohanian
Ron Conway
Collection of interviews with founders of famous technology companies about what happened in the very earliest days. - Ron Conway
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5
All books

Founders at Work

Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days

Jessica Livingston
By
Jessica Livingston
4.0
328
ratings on Goodreads

In "Founders at Work," Jessica Livingston pulls back the curtain on the tumultuous early days of the tech industry's most illustrious pioneers, offering a rare glimpse into the humble beginnings and Herculean struggles behind today's digital behemoths. Through a series of intimate, revealing interviews, readers are transported to the garages, dorm rooms, and makeshift offices where the likes of Apple, Microsoft, and Google were born. Livingston crafts a narrative that's as much about the spirit of innovation as it is about the unpredictable path of entrepreneurship, making it an essential read for anyone fascinated by the intersection of technology, business, and human ambition. Livingston's prose weaves together tales of adversity, ingenuity, and perseverance, painting a vivid picture of what it truly takes to bring a groundbreaking idea to life. From laugh-out-loud anecdotes to moments of stark vulnerability, "Founders at Work" provides an unvarnished look at the realities of startup life, far removed from the polished success stories often depicted in the media. This book is not just a collection of interviews—it's an inspiring testament to the power of determination and a guidebook for navigating the chaos of innovation. For aspiring entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts, and anyone who loves a good underdog story, Livingston's chronicle of creation and resilience is profoundly compelling.

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Released
2001
1 Jan
Length
456
Pages

5

recommendations

recommendation

Collection of interviews with founders of famous technology companies about what happened in the very earliest days. - Ron Conway
A bunch of really great interviews [Jessica] did with a bunch of just OGs of entrepreneurship. - Alexis Ohanian
Interviews with technology founders from one of the best investors of all time. - Ryan Holiday
On the "books read" section of Ev Williams' GoodReads profile.
Probably the single most valuable book a startup founder could read. - Paul Graham
Over the years, I've learned that the first idea you have is irrelevant. It's just a catalyst for you to get started. Then you figure out what's wrong with it and you go through phases of denial, panic, regret. And then you finally have a better idea and the second idea is always the important one.
— Jessica Livingston, Founders at Work

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