Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company
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Only the Paranoid Survive: How to Exploit the Crisis Points That Challenge Every Company Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Andrew S. Grove (Author), Jason Leikam (Narrator), Upfront Books (Publisher)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,478 ratings
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Andy Grove, founder and former CEO of Intel shares his strategy for success as he takes the listener deep inside the workings of a major company in Only the Paranoid Survive.

Under Andy Grove's leadership, Intel became the world's largest chip maker and one of the most admired companies in the world. In Only the Paranoid Survive, Grove reveals his strategy for measuring the nightmare moment every leader dreads - when massive change occurs and a company must, virtually overnight, adapt or fall by the wayside - in a new way.

Grove calls such a moment a Strategic Inflection Point, which can be set off by almost anything: mega-competition, a change in regulations, or a seemingly modest change in technology. When a Strategic Inflection Point hits, the ordinary rules of business go out the window. Yet, managed right, a Strategic Inflection Point can be an opportunity to win in the marketplace and emerge stronger than ever.

Grove underscores his message by examining his own record of success and failure, including how he navigated the events of the Pentium flaw, which threatened Intel's reputation in 1994, and how he has dealt with the explosions in growth of the internet. The work of a lifetime, Only the Paranoid Survive is a classic of managerial and leadership skills.

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  1. Listening Length
    5 hours and 15 minutes
  2. Author
    Andrew S. Grove
  3. Narrator
    Jason Leikam
  4. Audible release date
    June 21, 2021
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Upfront Books
  7. ASIN
    B097CGG6ZB
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 5 hours and 15 minutes
Author Andrew S. Grove
Narrator Jason Leikam
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date June 21, 2021
Publisher Upfront Books
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B097CGG6ZB
Best Sellers Rank #26,853 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#76 in Organizational Behavior (Audible Books & Originals)
#137 in Company Business Profiles (Books)
#265 in Business Management (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,478 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

L. Alexander
5.0 out of 5 stars Still Relevant and Worth Reading
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2020
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I’ve wanted to read this book for many years, finally ordered a copy and was not disappointed.

“Only the Paranoid Survive” was published in 1996 during Andy Grove’s tenure as CEO of Intel. At the time Intel was reaping the benefits of their strategic shift from memory chips to microprocessors. Mr. Grove describes the challenges that Intel faced when it became apparent to him that the profitability and viability of their core memory chip business was threatened by lower cost competitors. The situation exemplified what Mr. Grove terms a “strategic inflection point”, when a fundamental change in the business environment forces a company to make substantial changes to survive. Mr. Grove uses his experience navigating the transformation from memory chips to microprocessors to illustrate the multifaceted challenges posed by strategic inflection points. Further he explains how to mobilize an organization and lead through the uncertainty (referred to as “the valley of death”) to achieve transformation.

Chapter 9 discusses the growth of the Internet and considers if the Internet will pose a strategic inflection point for Intel’s business. Mr. Grove anticipated the potential for the Internet to transform the media and telecommunications industries, and the opportunities that the Internet would create for Intel’s business (for example the need for more powerful microprocessors to enable PCs to replace televisions).

The last Chapter was written in 1999 after Mr. Grove stepped down from his CEO role. This chapter applies the strategic inflection point concept to career management, asserting that the reader is the CEO of their career, and urging vigilance and preparedness to effectively respond to changes in the business environment that could threaten their career. This chapter resonated with my own experience working in technology-based industries for the past 30 years.

Mr. Grove’s clear and candid writing style makes this book an enjoyable and enlightening read. His ability to analyze a problem holistically and draw on diverse perspectives from across his organization is well demonstrated. The need for clear messaging and decisive action is also emphasized.

I found “Only the Paranoid Survive” to be an engaging and informative read, still relevant twenty-five years after publication.
14 people found this helpful
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Dr. C.H.E. Sadaphal
4.0 out of 5 stars A blueprint to conquer crises, whether in business or life.
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
Simply put, being “paranoid” about your business means that your alarm systems are tuned to be more alert to potential “strategic inflection points” that can beget chaos and radical change. For those who go through mental fire drills in anticipation of a time when a real fire (crisis) happens, they will be better prepared to chart a clear path forward through the “valley of death.” Those who fail to adapt and only stick to what worked before will perish. Those who do adapt will take advantage of disruption and capitalize. Hence, only the paranoid survive.

In the book, the author relies on his experience with Intel to explain exactly how to prepare for change, embrace it, pivot and then re-emerge more vigorous than before. Yet, while this book superficially seems to have relevance to the business world alone, any scrupulous reader will quickly realize that all of the managerial and leadership strategies apply to crisis-management in general. Thus, the wisdom contained in these pages relates to anyone (or group) leading others through turbulent times. The potential areas of application are far-reaching (for example): navigating a pandemic due to a novel pathogen, political revolution, or war.

Ultimately, evergreen advice that likely will prove more valuable with time as the world becomes more and more tumultuous.
2 people found this helpful
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Brandon Nicholson
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2024
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Item as described and worked as expected. No issues or concerns!
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Jason
5.0 out of 5 stars A must have!
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2023
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"Only the Paranoid Survive" is an absolute game-changer! Andy Grove's insights are invaluable, offering a unique perspective on thriving in a fast-paced, ever-changing business landscape. The way Grove seamlessly blends personal anecdotes with actionable strategies is both engaging and enlightening. His emphasis on the importance of being vigilant, adaptable, and willing to challenge the status quo resonated deeply with me. This book is a goldmine of wisdom for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone navigating the complexities of modern business. Grove's writing style is clear, concise, and peppered with real-world examples that make the concepts easy to grasp. "Only the Paranoid Survive" is a must-read that equips you with the mindset and tools needed not just to survive but to truly excel in today's competitive world. I can't recommend it enough!
One person found this helpful
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PL
3.0 out of 5 stars Highly repetitive and out of date - delusional in parts as to cause and effect - some useful gems in the mix
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2016
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The book provides a good understanding of the mindset of Intel culture at its core: it is a factory mentality, not a creative environment. The author leaves out core material on the finances of Intel and their cash flow challenges which is core to the real story of their company.

The book repeats the same story over and over again and one has to wonder what happened to the editor. I always wondered why Intel was obnoxious to work with and why their people argued for no reason, and this book answers that question. Bad manners are encouraged (required) and is core to every meeting-even the obvious must be argued at Intel by mandate. It is a toxic culture and it is no surprise that the topic of employees quitting comes up in Andrew's books.

The lesson the author leaves out is that you can get through the desert if you have more money than the other guy and luck is on your side. An underfunded and incompetent competitor helps a lot too. Intel also did a good job in sales and marketing which is also not covered, but was the core to beating their competitors.

The partnership with Microsoft, Intel and the PC were also core to Intel success/survival story. Had IBM not selected the Intel 8088 for the PC, or if IBM did not open source the hardware/BIOS and Microsoft sold the OS cheaply and broadly, Intel would probably not exist today. Better processors were available, but Intel lucked into the IBM PC ecosystem.

Don't underestimate timing, a big bucket of cash to work with, and a lot of luck as well as a ruthless culture centered on beating people up.
9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Eduardo
5.0 out of 5 stars Interessante!
Reviewed in Brazil on December 26, 2023
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Bom
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Carlos Sanchez Gonzalez
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in Mexico on March 5, 2023
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Every company goes through inflection points and this book helps them get through it.
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Werderwaldi
5.0 out of 5 stars old but gold
Reviewed in Germany on November 8, 2023
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Old thoughts but easy to implement in our world today.
Even more important than ever because the world is changing faster and faster
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mohammad
5.0 out of 5 stars Management
Reviewed in Canada on October 13, 2020
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In my opinion this book should read once a year because you can find appropriate approaches for enhancing your professional careers.Amazing book for all managers.
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Ben
5.0 out of 5 stars 100% d’actualité
Reviewed in France on December 16, 2020
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Écrit il y a plus de vingt ans et tout est encore 100% d’actualité. Un des meilleurs livres business que j’ai lu
One person found this helpful
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