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Flywheels: How Cities Are Creating Their Own Futures
Once a blue-collar outpost, Seattle, home to Microsoft, Amazon, and hundreds of startups, transformed into one of the world's major innovation hubs in less than twenty years. As other cities try to solve the riddle of creating vibrant economies, many have looked to Seattle as a model for tech-driven urban renaissance. However, that success comes with skyrocketing housing costs, increasing homelessness, public safety concerns, persistent racial inequality, and a widening gap between the haves and have-nots. Against that backdrop, big tech has become a popular target.
Tom Alberg, a venture capitalist who was one of the first investors in Amazon, draws on his experience in Seattle's tech boom to offer a vision for how cities and businesses can build a brighter future together. He explores ways that cities can soar to prosperity by creating the conditions that encourage innovation. Like flywheels, livable cities generate momentum by drawing creative citizens who launch businesses. Success attracts more talent, energizing local economies and accelerating further innovation. Alberg emphasizes the importance of city governments and tech companies partnering to address civic challenges. He reflects on why the benefits of the tech boom have not been distributed equally and what business and government leaders must do differently to ensure inclusive growth. The book also examines success stories from smaller cities and their lessons for other up-and-coming tech hubs. Demonstrating the need for innovative thinking that encourages livability alongside economic growth, Flywheels is timely reading for everyone from mayors to business leaders to engaged citizens.
Tom Alberg, a venture capitalist who was one of the first investors in Amazon, draws on his experience in Seattle's tech boom to offer a vision for how cities and businesses can build a brighter future together. He explores ways that cities can soar to prosperity by creating the conditions that encourage innovation. Like flywheels, livable cities generate momentum by drawing creative citizens who launch businesses. Success attracts more talent, energizing local economies and accelerating further innovation. Alberg emphasizes the importance of city governments and tech companies partnering to address civic challenges. He reflects on why the benefits of the tech boom have not been distributed equally and what business and government leaders must do differently to ensure inclusive growth. The book also examines success stories from smaller cities and their lessons for other up-and-coming tech hubs. Demonstrating the need for innovative thinking that encourages livability alongside economic growth, Flywheels is timely reading for everyone from mayors to business leaders to engaged citizens.
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Published November 2, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 11, 2021
A unique book. Part history, part prognostication, and part city strategy guide.
A fascinating behind the scenes look at the growth and development of Seattle from sleepy backwater town to the tech metropolis it is today, primarily through the lens of McCaw (an early cell phone pioneer) and Amazon.
And then the book pivots to looking at technology and its likely impact on the future (as well as its quite evident impact on the present).
And from there ends with a look at how cities can be better for everyone — and how businesses have a role in helping make that happen.
Thoughtful, replete with wisdom, and utterly one-of-kind.
A fascinating behind the scenes look at the growth and development of Seattle from sleepy backwater town to the tech metropolis it is today, primarily through the lens of McCaw (an early cell phone pioneer) and Amazon.
And then the book pivots to looking at technology and its likely impact on the future (as well as its quite evident impact on the present).
And from there ends with a look at how cities can be better for everyone — and how businesses have a role in helping make that happen.
Thoughtful, replete with wisdom, and utterly one-of-kind.
August 8, 2023
Not much of this book was actually about the future of cities. Interesting perspectives.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews