49 pages 1 hour read

Ben Horowitz

The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2014

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz offers advice on launching tech startups, drawing from his experiences during the dotcom boom and bust. The book is biographical in its first part, detailing his journey from Netscape to the sale of Opsware and the founding of Andreessen Horowitz. The second part provides lessons on adapting to change, communication, and embracing struggle as a Founder-CEO.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Ben Horowitz's The Hard Thing About Hard Things is praised for its brutal honesty and practical wisdom on navigating complex challenges in entrepreneurship. Readers appreciate Horowitz's real-world examples and candid advice. However, some find the language too informal and the content more suited for seasoned entrepreneurs than beginners. Overall, it’s a valuable resource for those in leadership roles.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Hard Thing About Hard Things?

A reader who would enjoy The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz is a budding entrepreneur, business leader, or tech enthusiast eager for real-life insights into startup challenges. Comparable to Good to Great by Jim Collins and Zero to One by Peter Thiel, they seek practical, candid advice from accomplished thought leaders.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Business / Economics

Leadership/Organization/Management

Science / Nature

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Relationships: Teams

Society: Economics

Genre

Self Help

Biography