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Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos, With an Introduction by Walter Isaacson Audio CD – Unabridged, March 1, 2021

by Jeff Bezos (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 3,390 ratings
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In Jeff Bezos's own words, the core principles and philosophy that have guided him in creating, building, and leading Amazon and Blue Origin.

In this collection of Jeff Bezos's writings—his unique and strikingly original annual shareholder letters, plus numerous speeches and interviews that provide insight into his background, his work, and the evolution of his ideas—you'll gain an insider's view of the why and how of his success. Spanning a range of topics across business and public policy, from innovation and customer obsession to climate change and outer space, this book provides a rare glimpse into how Bezos thinks about the world and where the future might take us.

Written in a direct, down-to-earth style, Invent and Wander offers listeners a master class in business values, strategy, and execution.

Each insight offers new ways of thinking through today's challenges—and more importantly, tomorrow's—and the never-ending urgency of striving ahead, never resting on one's laurels. Everyone from CEOs of the Fortune 100 to entrepreneurs just setting up shop to the millions who use Amazon's products and services in their homes or businesses will come to understand the principles that have driven the success of one of the most important innovators of our time.
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  1. Print length
    1 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Gildan Audio and Blackstone Publishing
  4. Publication date
    March 1, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    5.2 x 5.7 inches
  6. ISBN-13
    979-8200542741
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeff Bezos is the founder and CEO of Amazon, the founder of aerospace company Blue Origin, which is working to lower the cost and increase the safety of spaceflight, and he is owner of the Washington Post. In 2018, he founded the Bezos Day One Fund, which focuses on funding non-profits that help homeless families, and on creating a network of tier-one preschools in low-income communities. Bezos graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa in electrical engineering and computer science from Princeton University in 1986, and was named TIME Magazine's Person of the Year in 1999.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08XGSTNCF
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gildan Audio and Blackstone Publishing
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2021
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Unabridged
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 1 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8200542741
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 5.7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 3,390 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Walter Isaacson

    Walter Isaacson

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    Walter Isaacson is writing a biography of Elon Musk. He is the author of The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race; Leonardo da Vinci; Steve Jobs; Einstein: His Life and Universe; Benjamin Franklin: An American Life; The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution; and Kissinger: A Biography. He is also the coauthor of The Wise Men: Six Friends and the World They Made. He is a Professor of History at Tulane, has been CEO of the Aspen Institute, chairman of CNN, and editor of Time magazine.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Jeff Bezos

    Jeff Bezos

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
3,390 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book insightful, with one review highlighting how it crystallizes Bezos's ideals and thinking. Moreover, the writing is well-crafted, with one customer noting it's a great easy read about Amazon. Additionally, customers appreciate the book's efficiency, describing how it drove extraordinary success. The material quality receives positive feedback, with one review praising its well-structured arrangement of publicly available materials.

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InsightReadabilityEfficiencyMaterial quality
61 customers mention "Insight"53 positive8 negative

Customers find the book insightful and inspiring, with one customer highlighting how it crystallizes Bezos's ideals and thinking.

"...You get to see the consistent threads of his philosophy – the relentless customer obsession, the long-term thinking, the embrace of failure as a..." Read more

"Worth reading. Interesting and quick read. Very inspiring and impressive on how much Amazon has done in such a short period." Read more

"...and reflections, offering a unique perspective on innovation, leadership, and the future of technology during the time when Jeff Bezos was the CEO..." Read more

"This was a great read. Bezos is a wicked smart dude. He quotes Warren Buffet and Benjamin Graham, Buffett’s teacher at Columbia...." Read more

57 customers mention "Readability"53 positive4 negative

Customers find the book readable and well-written, with one customer noting it's an easy read about Amazon.

"...and interviews, and while that might sound intimidating, it's surprisingly accessible and, dare I say, engaging...." Read more

"Worth reading. Interesting and quick read. Very inspiring and impressive on how much Amazon has done in such a short period." Read more

"...It includes an introduction by Walter Isaacson...." Read more

"This was a great read. Bezos is a wicked smart dude. He quotes Warren Buffet and Benjamin Graham, Buffett’s teacher at Columbia...." Read more

4 customers mention "Efficiency"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's efficiency, noting how it drove extraordinary success, with one customer highlighting its operational effectiveness.

"...a figure and more about understanding the principles that drove extraordinary success. Definitely recommend adding this to your reading list!" Read more

"...(customer obsession, low fixed costs, operational efficiency) that would later be his reasons for success." Read more

"A great easy read about Amazon and How Jeff’s idea and persistence came to fruition...." Read more

"Jeff’s bezos rocks, he has good intentions. Works hard and helps other. He’s very inspirational and admirable. I’ll chase my dreams." Read more

4 customers mention "Material quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the material quality of the book, with one customer noting its well-structured arrangement of publicly available materials.

"Nothing new, but a nice curated collection...." Read more

"This is a well constructed anthology containing all of Jeff B’s annual letters to amazon.com shareholders, along with selected speeches to the..." Read more

"Well structured Arrangement of publicly available materials..." Read more

"Great intro from Walter and nice compilation of materials..." Read more

Insightful and inspiring collection from Jeff Bezos
5 out of 5 stars
Insightful and inspiring collection from Jeff Bezos
Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos offers an incredible look into the mind of one of the most influential entrepreneurs of our time. The book brings together Bezos’ writings, speeches, and reflections, offering a unique perspective on innovation, leadership, and the future of technology during the time when Jeff Bezos was the CEO of Amazon. Overall, the collection is both insightful and inspiring. Bezos’ thoughts on long-term thinking, failure, and customer obsession are deeply thought-provoking, and they provide valuable lessons for anyone interested in business, entrepreneurship, or personal growth. All in all, the book is a must-read for anyone looking to gain insights from one of the world’s most successful business leaders.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • MBS
    5.0 out of 5 stars From 'Huh?' to 'Aha!' - My Journey Through Bezos' Brain
    Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Confession: Before picking up Invent and Wander, my understanding of Jeff Bezos was mostly limited to "guy who runs Amazon" and "occasionally goes to space." I expected a dry, corporate read filled with jargon that would make my eyes glaze over faster than you can say "fulfillment center."

    Boy, was I wrong.

    This book is like getting a backstage pass to the mind of one of the most impactful entrepreneurs of our time. It's a collection of his shareholder letters, speeches, and interviews, and while that might sound intimidating, it's surprisingly accessible and, dare I say, engaging.

    Reading through his annual letters feels like watching the evolution of a giant idea, from a tiny seed to a global forest. You get to see the consistent threads of his philosophy – the relentless customer obsession, the long-term thinking, the embrace of failure as a necessary step towards innovation. It's not just about building Amazon; it's a masterclass in building anything with vision and persistence.

    I found myself nodding along, highlighting passages, and having genuine "aha!" moments about everything from business strategy to decision-making in daily life. It's inspiring without being preachy, insightful without being overly academic.

    Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned business leader, or just curious about the mind behind the empire, Invent and Wander is a genuinely valuable read. It's less about worshipping a figure and more about understanding the principles that drove extraordinary success. Definitely recommend adding this to your reading list!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Lindsay
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Worth reading. Interesting and quick read. Very inspiring and impressive on how much Amazon has done in such a short period.
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  • Steve Anderson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hidden in Plain Sight Lessons on how Bezos Grows Amazon
    Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Over the last few years, I've had the opportunity to do a deep dive research into Amazon to ask how did Jeff Bezos grow Amazon to the size it is today?

    And I'm excited to share with you this new book, Invent & Wander, the collected writings of Jeff Bezos. It includes an introduction by Walter Isaacson. This book is a compilation of all of the Letters to Shareholder Jeff Bezos has written over the last 22 years. Part 2 includes additional information and transcripts from interviews Bezos has given over the years.

    The Amazon.com website went live in July of 1994. Bezos began by selling books online, something that hadn't been contemplated before using this new thing at the time, called the internet. After great initial success, in May of 1997, Amazon filed for an initial public offering (IPO) to raise additional capital to support their already fast growth. The initial stock price was $18 per share, and they raised about $54 million Amazon would use to fund their continued growth. If you had invested $10,000 in 1997, it would be worth about $12 million – a phenomenal 120,000% growth.

    Jeff Bezos wrote his first 1997 letter to shareholders published in April of 1998. Bezos wrote a new letter every year for the last 22. He renamed shareholders to shareowners in a subsequent letter.
    Bezos shared his secret sauce for growing Amazon – hidden in plain sight – in each of these letters. The best way to highlight what you will get out of reading these letters is to highlight what Isaacson said in his introduction. "Here are the five that I think are most important:"

    Focus on the long term. Bezos talked about this in the 1997 letter. It's what I call, Apply Long Term thinking. At Amazon, we will make decisions based on long term investment. Meaning we're not going to do short term Wall Street quarterly earnings thing we look to the future and are planning and investing for the future, number one number two.

    Focus relentlessly and passionately on the customer. Bezos calls this Obsess over customers and invent on their behalf.

    Avoid PowerPoint and slide presentations. It is interesting Isaacson included this as a key point. I believe this is one of the keys to Amazon's ability to continue to invent. This process has come to be called the 6-Page Narrative, which is described in the 2017 Letter. In 2004 Bezos send an email to his senior leadership team called the S-team, and said, No longer will PowerPoint presentations be allowed in our senior leadership team meetings. Instead, people will write a narrative and hand it out at the document at the beginning of the meeting. I believe it is one of those critical components to Amazon's invention toolkit they continue to use today.

    Focus on big decisions. Or, what I call, generate high-velocity decisions. Bezos goes into detail in the 2005 Letter. As an organization grows, it tends to slow down decision making to the point that it negatively impacts growth. So to continue growing, you need to be making decisions quickly. He identifies two types of decisions, Type one and Type two. Type one decisions are big bet the farm decisions, and they should be made slowly deliberately with lots of data. Most decisions in large companies are not Type one decision. They are Type two. Type two decisions are easier to change. You can change your mind and decide to change directions. You can turn around and go back through that door, make another decision, change direction.

    Hire the right people. In the 1998 Letter, Bezos describes three questions to ask about anyone interviewing for a job. 1) Do you admire this person? 2) Will they raise the average level of effectiveness of the group they are entering? 3) What other dimension do they bring to the job besides skills and experience?

    So this is just a small synopsis of the book. I recommend you read the shareowners Letters (Part 1), like a book. Then start reading through Part 2 and listen as Bezos adds depth and dimension to the principle he shares in the Letters.

    Be sure to take notes along the way. There is a lot to learn.
    84 people found this helpful
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  • Alex Covtun
    5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and inspiring collection from Jeff Bezos
    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos offers an incredible look into the mind of one of the most influential entrepreneurs of our time. The book brings together Bezos’ writings, speeches, and reflections, offering a unique perspective on innovation, leadership, and the future of technology during the time when Jeff Bezos was the CEO of Amazon.

    Overall, the collection is both insightful and inspiring. Bezos’ thoughts on long-term thinking, failure, and customer obsession are deeply thought-provoking, and they provide valuable lessons for anyone interested in business, entrepreneurship, or personal growth.

    All in all, the book is a must-read for anyone looking to gain insights from one of the world’s most successful business leaders.
    Customer image
    Alex Covtun
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Insightful and inspiring collection from Jeff Bezos

    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2024
    Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos offers an incredible look into the mind of one of the most influential entrepreneurs of our time. The book brings together Bezos’ writings, speeches, and reflections, offering a unique perspective on innovation, leadership, and the future of technology during the time when Jeff Bezos was the CEO of Amazon.

    Overall, the collection is both insightful and inspiring. Bezos’ thoughts on long-term thinking, failure, and customer obsession are deeply thought-provoking, and they provide valuable lessons for anyone interested in business, entrepreneurship, or personal growth.

    All in all, the book is a must-read for anyone looking to gain insights from one of the world’s most successful business leaders.
    Images in this review
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  • Matt Brady
    3.0 out of 5 stars Very repetitive, but some good takeaways
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    The entire first half of the book is letters to shareholders for the last 25 years. This is a bit dry to read through, especially as someone familiar with Amazon’s approach to business. The second half is full of anecdotes, but it is rather repetitive. You reread stories about Jeff’s life multiple times, which is certainly redundant. While I did take away some good lessons about Amazonian culture and learned more about Jeff Bezos, I am overall disappointed in the lack of diversity in stories and overall structure of this book.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Just some dude
    5.0 out of 5 stars How do you spell profit? P-R-O-P-H-E-T.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This was a great read. Bezos is a wicked smart dude. He quotes Warren Buffet and Benjamin Graham, Buffett’s teacher at Columbia. Lots of great leadership, business and life wisdom in this book.
    Reading about the origin of Amazon Web Services (something near and dear to my heart after working in tech for a couple years) was fascinating.

    AWS sales grew faster than marketplace sales. Amazon had no direct competitor in the cloud for 7 years, which is unheard of.

    He also goes into reading balance sheets at one point which was really interesting. I didn't read this book expecting a mini masterclass in valuing companies so that was a bonus.
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  • Patricia D
    4.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational
    Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    The book was easy to understand and give a glimpse of how Jeff Bezos went through his years at Amazon.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Isabelle
    5.0 out of 5 stars The maker of the great good!!!
    Reviewed in Australia on June 15, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The best biography book that I’ve ever read, so genuine which completed changed my view towards Jeff and the future of our universe. This guy is not only a super genius but also a charity scientist who paved the way for our grandchildren to unleash the unlimited inner space resources. We should all be grateful to him (for building the road to space) and big companies with a long-range mission statement like Amazon. For this, I’ll forever be loyal to Amazon and Bezos. I recommend this book to whoever is interested in living a meaningful life and making small contribution to the society on our own. Besides, Jeff writes beautifully!!
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  • JR
    1.0 out of 5 stars Copy-pasted
    Reviewed in France on December 26, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Can hardly call this a book. Could have been consolidated by a 5 year old. Nothing new. Nothing that is not freely available.
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  • Ankita
    5.0 out of 5 stars a good book
    Reviewed in India on March 20, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    More letters than actual story but good read overall. Few things are repeated ,ore than 3 times in whole book.
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  • David Pullara
    5.0 out of 5 stars Read this to 10X your Business Thinking
    Reviewed in Canada on January 17, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Jeff Bezos is, without question, one of the most successful entrepreneurs that has ever lived. This book is a collection of his thoughts and ideas over the past 20+ years, and provides a fascinating inside look into his mind.

    Reading this book will help you understand how Amazon went from start-up to behemoth in just 26 years -- and how its founder became the world's richest person in the process process -- by being customer-obsessed and making decisions in the right way.
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  • Consumer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book
    Reviewed in Germany on November 18, 2021
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    A deep analysis of Jeff's thoughts and newsletters. I'll recommend book to anyone who wants to learn about the history of Amazon and its visionary leader.
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