Books › Startup
Startup
First published 1995 · 336 pages
A witty, high-stakes plunge into the chaotic, crisis-driven world of a 1980s Silicon Valley tech venture.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like strapping into the passenger seat of a chaotic, high-stakes Silicon Valley rollercoaster. The narrative moves at a propulsive clip, mirroring the frenetic energy of a late-1980s tech venture careening from one crisis to the next. The atmosphere is thick with the friction of brilliant but eccentric minds clashing over a revolutionary idea, fueled by risk-addicted investors and looming industry giants. The prose is sharp, witty, and highly observant, offering a candid look at the tech world that spares no one, not even the narrator. It is a perfect fit for readers who crave the unvarnished, adrenaline-fueled reality of entrepreneurship and the messy, passionate human dynamics behind technological innovation.
- Mood
- frenetic
- high-stakes
- chaotic
- driven
- Tone
- wry
- observant
- candid
- self-deprecating
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- entrepreneurial ambition · technological innovation · high-stakes risk · workplace friction · pursuit of a revolutionary idea
- The writing
- Sharp, witty, and highly observant, capturing the eccentricities of the tech world with candid precision.
- The arc
- From the passionate spark of a revolutionary idea through a chaotic, crisis-ridden journey of high-stakes gambles.
- Who it's for
- Readers fascinated by the chaotic, high-stakes history of Silicon Valley and the candid realities of building a tech company from the ground up.
Content notes
- workplace stress
- financial risk
About the book
Kaplan, a well-known figure in the computer industry, founded GO Corporation in 1987, and for several years it was one of the hottest new ventures in the Valley. Startup tells the story of Kaplan's wild ride: how he assembled a brilliant but fractious team of engineers, software designers, and investors; pioneered the emerging market for hand-held computers operated with a pen instead of a keyboard; and careened from crisis to crisis without ever losing his passion for a revolutionary idea.
Along the way, Kaplan vividly recreates his encounters with eccentric employees, risk-addicted venture capitalists, and industry giants such as Bill Gates, John Sculley, and Mitchell Kapor. And no one - including Kaplan himself - is spared his sharp wit and observant eye.
Description from Open Library.
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