TLDR: This book is inspired. Yes, It's about venture capital, but the principles explored, the anecdotes shared, those concrete situations specific to venture capital are so artfully told that they become applicable to all business, even life. The book also serves as a harvest of other brilliant work to fill your To Read list
THE REVIEW: "You" may seem really generic, as if it can apply to anyone, but in this case it does. It's rare to read a book that is not only encompassing in its treatment of a subject, but also inspired.
There are books of the "for dummies" genre that take you on a tour of the forest without examining a single tree... and then there are those more academic in nature, where every chapter is a tedious examination that robs you of context.
The Business of Venture Capital serves not only as an introduction for those beginning a journey into VC (as investors or founders), but I imagine something of a memoir for those who are approaching (or have reached) a summit (as a founder or investor) and are eager to reflect on where they've been... perhaps from "the other side of the coin"; alternately, this book might serve as a "return to base camp" so that their next summit may be even higher. It's both forest and trees, and conveys the same awe you'd experience as if there.
Getting specific as to why I found this book so valuable as to claim you would need it, I recollect upon a personally transformative read: Thomas Sowell's Knowledge and Decisions. The more you know, the more options you have, the better choices you can make.
Though you'll learn a lot about the business of venture capital, and the promise of the book is fulfilled... much of the book can be taken as a metaphor for life, especially in the context of pursuing any impossible thing. By means of a wild example: 100-years from now, I imagine this book could be inspiring for someone assembling a team of astronauts to settle Mars, determining which team members to "invest" in as well as the individual astronauts attempting to convince some sponsor for the right to make history and conquer new worlds.
Reading The Business of Venture Capital provides you with the ultimate foundation to scale what you need to know about venture capital, but also (I believe) the foundation you need to succeed in any business. I say any business, because it would seem that VC backed businesses are like any other, except their highs to the moon, and bottomless lows. Not only that, but from seed to exit, the life cycle of VC Investor + VC Backed Founder feels in some aways akin to one of those fast-forwarded videos where you watch a seed grow into a tree flower, die, and be reborn again.
As with great works of fiction where the heroes and villains are larger than life, their actions exaggerated and revealed in a timeline compressed, the lessons reaped from "Venture Capital" appear almost archetypal. Universal. Timeless.
And the opportunity to encounter something that borders on universal or timeless while being highly specific, that's probably something we all need.
***
I made my first real life referral of this book last weekend, before I completed it. Hopefully this anecdote provides some additional context as to the "why" of this review in a "concrete" setting.
I was at Blaze Pizza in Brentwood with my mom, my wife and kids, the waiter was a sharp teenager that didn't want to leave a personal pizza for my 5-year old son while he was in the bathroom because, as the waiter said: "I promised him 'extra cheese' and wanted him to know I got it." Later, while conversing about vacation with my 2nd grader and unaware of the last day of school, we ask the high schooler if he knew off hand when it was. He gives a date, but casually drops the fact that he's done several weeks earlier than anyone else because of 4 AP courses. It begged the follow up question: "do you know what you want to do?" with the answer "Mechanical Engineering, but with the aim of starting a business." Now, if you've never been to Blaze, it's one of those places where you tip the cashier so waitstaff is not tipped individually, so I figure to pass on a life tip, and tell him he ought to read The Business of Venture Capital.
I say something to the effect of "You know, if you're thinking about launching a company one day... not everything in this book will apply to you now, but if you read it and keep it filed away in your mind, you might have a stronger frame of reference for while you're in college. You'll be more keyed in to recognizing opportunities and may have a stronger frame to view things that may not seem immediately relevant. Tangibly speaking, the book also makes reference to VC funds that look for 'dorm room startups' so that might help you be on the look out for firms that recruit wherever you're going." I wanted to ask where, but thought that might be tacky.
The kid then asks: "How much is this book?" to which I respond: "It's cheaper on Audible, around $50 or more on Amazon, but I got both. So you might want to just do audible." He responds "that's pricey, I'll have to save up."
Long story short: I made an angel investment of $20 towards his purchase of the book, and whatever unicorn this kid might one day build. It was also meant as much as an example to my own kids that: working hard, having vision, and being personable are not just fulfilling ends in and of themselves but traits that increase your chances of having good things happen to you. ((elementary school perspective of $20 is like 20k, so i hope my kids remember this forever))
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Similar items that may ship from close to you
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Reviews with images
Excellent content, but arrived damaged.
The book is great. But arrived with several pages at the back thorn apart.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2021
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2021
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2023
Excellent content, but arrived damaged.
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2023
The book is great. But arrived with several pages at the back thorn apart.
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2023
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2023
Top reviews from other countries
Amazon Customer
True to Title: A good read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 10, 2022Cliente Amazon
Articolo ricevuto danneggiato
Reviewed in Italy on December 24, 2021
Cliente Amazon
Reviewed in Italy on December 24, 2021
Images in this review
