26 Books like Troublemakers

The Difference Between God and Larry Ellison*

by Mike Wilson • 1997

Larry Ellison sold databases. His real product was the legend of Larry Ellison.

3.93

436

🖥️ Silicon Valley History 💼 Tech Mogul Biographies 🥊 Corporate Rivalries 🤝 Co-Founder Partnerships 📈 Hypergrowth

The Difference Between God and Larry Ellison* Summary

The Difference Between God and Larry Ellison* 97%

Larry Ellison sold databases. His real product was the legend of Larry Ellison.

by Mike Wilson 1997

3.93

436 ratings

🖥️ Silicon Valley History 💼 Tech Mogul Biographies 🥊 Corporate Rivalries 🤝 Co-Founder Partnerships 📈 Hypergrowth

Return to the Little Kingdom

by Michael Moritz • 2009

A Los Altos garage, two unlikely partners, and the unfiltered early years of Apple.

4.00

1k+

🏞️ Silicon Valley History 🚀 Tech Startups 🏛️ Company Origin Stories 🎨 Design Thinking 🏢 Corporate Culture

Return to the Little Kingdom 97%

A Los Altos garage, two unlikely partners, and the unfiltered early years of Apple.

by Michael Moritz 2009

4.00

1k+ ratings

🏞️ Silicon Valley History 🚀 Tech Startups 🏛️ Company Origin Stories 🎨 Design Thinking 🏢 Corporate Culture

The Google Story

by David A. Vise • 2005

How two Stanford dropouts, one algorithm, and an ethical pledge built a $100 billion empire.

3.88

16k+

🚀 Silicon Valley Startups 💰 Digital Advertising ⚖️ Corporate Ethics 🏢 Tech Company Histories ⚔️ Tech Rivalries

The Google Story 97%

How two Stanford dropouts, one algorithm, and an ethical pledge built a $100 billion empire.

by David A. Vise 2005

3.88

16k+ ratings

🚀 Silicon Valley Startups 💰 Digital Advertising ⚖️ Corporate Ethics 🏢 Tech Company Histories ⚔️ Tech Rivalries

Valley of Genius

by Adam Fisher • 2018

A stolen Xerox demo, hot-tubbing engineers, and the real conversations that built the Valley.

4.08

1k+

🌉 Silicon Valley 📱 Tech History 🎙️ Oral History 🏢 Tech Giants 🌐 Internet History

Valley of Genius 96%

A stolen Xerox demo, hot-tubbing engineers, and the real conversations that built the Valley.

by Adam Fisher 2018

4.08

1k+ ratings

🌉 Silicon Valley 📱 Tech History 🎙️ Oral History 🏢 Tech Giants 🌐 Internet History

Steve Jobs

by Walter Isaacson • 2011

Unfiltered access, no editorial control: the biography where genius and cruelty share the page.

4.16

1.4M+

🏢 Tech Titans 💻 Silicon Valley History 🔄 Corporate Turnarounds 🎨 Design Thinking 🚀 Innovation Culture

Steve Jobs 96%

Unfiltered access, no editorial control: the biography where genius and cruelty share the page.

by Walter Isaacson 2011

4.16

1.4M+ ratings

🏢 Tech Titans 💻 Silicon Valley History 🔄 Corporate Turnarounds 🎨 Design Thinking 🚀 Innovation Culture

The Intel Trinity

by Michael S. Malone • 2014

Intel was built by three founders who rarely got along. Their friction shaped the modern world.

4.20

831

🌉 Silicon Valley History 💾 Semiconductor Industry 🏢 Corporate Histories 🚀 Tech Entrepreneurship 🤝 Founder Dynamics

The Intel Trinity 96%

Intel was built by three founders who rarely got along. Their friction shaped the modern world.

by Michael S. Malone 2014

4.20

831 ratings

🌉 Silicon Valley History 💾 Semiconductor Industry 🏢 Corporate Histories 🚀 Tech Entrepreneurship 🤝 Founder Dynamics

How the Internet Happened

by Brian McCullough • 2018

The Internet was not inevitable: a handful of companies built it in a frantic twenty-year race.

4.27

2k+

🖥️ Internet History 💸 Dot-Com Bubble 🔧 Tech History 🌉 Silicon Valley History 🧭 Internet Pioneers

How the Internet Happened 96%

The Internet was not inevitable: a handful of companies built it in a frantic twenty-year race.

by Brian McCullough 2018

4.27

2k+ ratings

🖥️ Internet History 💸 Dot-Com Bubble 🔧 Tech History 🌉 Silicon Valley History 🧭 Internet Pioneers

Google It

by Anna Crowley Redding • 2018

Two Stanford students, a garage, and an algorithm that ranked the entire web by importance.

4.00

617

🏢 Tech Company History 🌉 Silicon Valley Startups 🌐 Internet History 📖 Corporate Biography 🧮 Algorithmic Thinking

Google It 96%

Two Stanford students, a garage, and an algorithm that ranked the entire web by importance.

by Anna Crowley Redding 2018

4.00

617 ratings

🏢 Tech Company History 🌉 Silicon Valley Startups 🌐 Internet History 📖 Corporate Biography 🧮 Algorithmic Thinking

The Innovators

by Walter Isaacson • 2011

The digital revolution wasn't born in garages but in teams of hackers, engineers, and visionaries.

4.12

40k+

🖥️ Computer History 🤝 Collaborative Innovation 🏞️ Silicon Valley Origins 🌐 Internet History 💻 Digital Revolution

The Innovators 96%

The digital revolution wasn't born in garages but in teams of hackers, engineers, and visionaries.

by Walter Isaacson 2011

4.12

40k+ ratings

🖥️ Computer History 🤝 Collaborative Innovation 🏞️ Silicon Valley Origins 🌐 Internet History 💻 Digital Revolution

iCon

by Jeffrey S. Young • 2005

Fired at thirty from Apple. Twelve years later, he returned to rescue it.

4.06

11k+

🚀 Startup Stories 🔄 Corporate Turnarounds 🎨 Design Thinking 👁️ Product Vision 💡 Innovation Culture

iCon 96%

Fired at thirty from Apple. Twelve years later, he returned to rescue it.

by Jeffrey S. Young 2005

4.06

11k+ ratings

🚀 Startup Stories 🔄 Corporate Turnarounds 🎨 Design Thinking 👁️ Product Vision 💡 Innovation Culture

ColdFusion Presents

by Dagogo Altraide • 2019

From steam to AI: the chain of breakthroughs that built the modern world, every link essential.

4.17

780

🏭 History Of Technology 🔬 History Of Science 💡 History Of Innovation 💻 Digital Revolution 📈 Technological Change

ColdFusion Presents 95%

From steam to AI: the chain of breakthroughs that built the modern world, every link essential.

by Dagogo Altraide 2019

4.17

780 ratings

🏭 History Of Technology 🔬 History Of Science 💡 History Of Innovation 💻 Digital Revolution 📈 Technological Change

No Filter

by Sarah Frier • 2020

Facebook bought Instagram for a billion dollars, promised independence, then slowly took everything.

4.11

11k+

🏙️ Silicon Valley 🚀 Tech Startups 📸 Influencer Culture 📱 Social Media History 🏗️ Platform Capitalism

No Filter 95%

Facebook bought Instagram for a billion dollars, promised independence, then slowly took everything.

by Sarah Frier 2020

4.11

11k+ ratings

🏙️ Silicon Valley 🚀 Tech Startups 📸 Influencer Culture 📱 Social Media History 🏗️ Platform Capitalism

The Power Law

by Sebastian Mallaby • 2022

Five percent of venture bets make sixty percent of returns. The usual rules break.

4.42

5k+

💼 Venture Capital 🌉 Silicon Valley 📊 Power Laws 🕸️ Network Effects 📜 Financial History

The Power Law 95%

Five percent of venture bets make sixty percent of returns. The usual rules break.

by Sebastian Mallaby 2022

4.42

5k+ ratings

💼 Venture Capital 🌉 Silicon Valley 📊 Power Laws 🕸️ Network Effects 📜 Financial History

In the Plex

by Steven Levy • 2011

Inside Google: how two PhD students turned a search engine into the operating system of modern life.

3.84

30k+

🏢 Corporate History 🌐 Internet History ⚙️ Engineering Culture 💻 Silicon Valley 🚀 Startup Origin Stories

In the Plex 95%

Inside Google: how two PhD students turned a search engine into the operating system of modern life.

by Steven Levy 2011

3.84

30k+ ratings

🏢 Corporate History 🌐 Internet History ⚙️ Engineering Culture 💻 Silicon Valley 🚀 Startup Origin Stories

Hard Drive

by James Wallace • 1992

The $50,000 operating system Gates bought and resold to IBM: the deal that built Microsoft.

4.12

2k+

🖥️ Pc Revolution 📋 Corporate Biography 🚀 Tech Entrepreneurship ⚔️ Business Rivalries 💾 Software Industry

Hard Drive 95%

The $50,000 operating system Gates bought and resold to IBM: the deal that built Microsoft.

by James Wallace 1992

4.12

2k+ ratings

🖥️ Pc Revolution 📋 Corporate Biography 🚀 Tech Entrepreneurship ⚔️ Business Rivalries 💾 Software Industry

Hackers

by Steven Levy • 1984

Before the garage, a creed of open access and hands-on tinkering drove the computer revolution.

4.16

9k+

🖥️ Computer History 💻 Personal Computing ☮️ Tech Counterculture 📖 Open Source Philosophy ⌨️ Software History

Hackers 95%

Before the garage, a creed of open access and hands-on tinkering drove the computer revolution.

by Steven Levy 1984

4.16

9k+ ratings

🖥️ Computer History 💻 Personal Computing ☮️ Tech Counterculture 📖 Open Source Philosophy ⌨️ Software History

The Upstarts

by Brad Stone • 2017

How two apps turned trust into a product, and the brutal global battle to keep it.

4.04

7k+

🏡 Sharing Economy 📲 Platform Businesses 🚀 Startup Sagas 🌉 Silicon Valley Culture ⚖️ Regulatory Disruption

The Upstarts 95%

How two apps turned trust into a product, and the brutal global battle to keep it.

by Brad Stone 2017

4.04

7k+ ratings

🏡 Sharing Economy 📲 Platform Businesses 🚀 Startup Sagas 🌉 Silicon Valley Culture ⚖️ Regulatory Disruption

Softwar

by Matthew Symonds • 2003

Oracle nearly died in 1990. Its founder's response: bet the company on an all-in internet gamble.

3.78

499

💾 Tech Industry History 🔄 Company Turnarounds 🚀 Software Entrepreneurship 🌐 Internet Business ⚡ Disruptive Leadership

Softwar 95%

Oracle nearly died in 1990. Its founder's response: bet the company on an all-in internet gamble.

by Matthew Symonds 2003

3.78

499 ratings

💾 Tech Industry History 🔄 Company Turnarounds 🚀 Software Entrepreneurship 🌐 Internet Business ⚡ Disruptive Leadership

Barbarians Led by Bill Gates

by Jennifer Edstrom • 1998

The browser war wasn't won by vision: it was won by weaponizing Windows against Netscape.

3.6

163

🖥️ Software Business 🏢 Corporate History 📈 Market Dominance 🌐 Browser Wars 🎯 Growth By Acquisition

Barbarians Led by Bill Gates 95%

The browser war wasn't won by vision: it was won by weaponizing Windows against Netscape.

by Jennifer Edstrom 1998

3.6

163 ratings

🖥️ Software Business 🏢 Corporate History 📈 Market Dominance 🌐 Browser Wars 🎯 Growth By Acquisition

iWoz - Computer Geek to Cult Icon

by Steve Wozniak • 2006

Phone-hacking pranks, the Apple I, and the engineer who left his own revolution to teach.

3.85

18k+

🖥️ Personal Computing 🌉 Silicon Valley History 📞 Phone Phreaking 🔓 Hacker Ethos 🔧 Maker Culture

iWoz - Computer Geek to Cult Icon Summary

iWoz - Computer Geek to Cult Icon 95%

Phone-hacking pranks, the Apple I, and the engineer who left his own revolution to teach.

by Steve Wozniak 2006

3.85

18k+ ratings

🖥️ Personal Computing 🌉 Silicon Valley History 📞 Phone Phreaking 🔓 Hacker Ethos 🔧 Maker Culture

The PayPal Wars

by Eric M. Jackson • 2004

Russian mobsters, eBay's sabotage, an IPO after 9/11: inside PayPal's fight to survive.

3.99

1k+

🚀 Startup Stories 💳 Fintech History 🔗 Network Effects 🌉 Silicon Valley History 🦠 Viral Growth

The PayPal Wars 95%

Russian mobsters, eBay's sabotage, an IPO after 9/11: inside PayPal's fight to survive.

by Eric M. Jackson 2004

3.99

1k+ ratings

🚀 Startup Stories 💳 Fintech History 🔗 Network Effects 🌉 Silicon Valley History 🦠 Viral Growth

Hatching Twitter

by Nick Bilton • 2013

Four friends created Twitter. Then they systematically destroyed each other.

4.04

19k+

🚀 Tech Startups 🌉 Silicon Valley 📱 Social Media ⚔️ Founder Feuds 🕵️ Corporate Intrigue

Hatching Twitter 94%

Four friends created Twitter. Then they systematically destroyed each other.

by Nick Bilton 2013

4.04

19k+ ratings

🚀 Tech Startups 🌉 Silicon Valley 📱 Social Media ⚔️ Founder Feuds 🕵️ Corporate Intrigue

The Idea Factory

by Jon Gertner • 2012

A phone monopoly's lab produced the transistor, the laser, and the digital age. How it worked.

4.21

9k+

🏭 Innovation History 🏢 Corporate History 💡 Invention Stories 🔬 Scientific Discovery 🧬 Organizational Culture

The Idea Factory 94%

A phone monopoly's lab produced the transistor, the laser, and the digital age. How it worked.

by Jon Gertner 2012

4.21

9k+ ratings

🏭 Innovation History 🏢 Corporate History 💡 Invention Stories 🔬 Scientific Discovery 🧬 Organizational Culture

Power Play

by Tim Higgins • 2021

A $35,000 electric car drew 400,000 pre-orders. The factory to build it became a nightmare.

4.07

2k+

🚗 Electric Vehicles 💻 Silicon Valley Culture 🏢 Corporate Biographies 🏭 Manufacturing ⚡ Disruptive Technology

Power Play 94%

A $35,000 electric car drew 400,000 pre-orders. The factory to build it became a nightmare.

by Tim Higgins 2021

4.07

2k+ ratings

🚗 Electric Vehicles 💻 Silicon Valley Culture 🏢 Corporate Biographies 🏭 Manufacturing ⚡ Disruptive Technology

Steve Jobs

by Karen Blumenthal • 2012

Garage startup. Public firing. Decade in exile. The return that produced the iPod and iPhone.

3.95

7k+

⌨️ Computer History 💻 Tech Founders 🎨 Product Design 🔄 Corporate Turnarounds 🌸 Counterculture Tech

Steve Jobs 94%

Garage startup. Public firing. Decade in exile. The return that produced the iPod and iPhone.

by Karen Blumenthal 2012

3.95

7k+ ratings

⌨️ Computer History 💻 Tech Founders 🎨 Product Design 🔄 Corporate Turnarounds 🌸 Counterculture Tech

Steve Jobs

by Patricia Lakin • 2011

Before the iPhone, Jobs took a calligraphy class. That strange detour explains everything.

3.85

384

🚀 Tech Entrepreneurship 🎨 Product Design 💻 Silicon Valley 👁️ Visionary Leadership 💡 Design Thinking

Steve Jobs 94%

Before the iPhone, Jobs took a calligraphy class. That strange detour explains everything.

by Patricia Lakin 2011

3.85

384 ratings

🚀 Tech Entrepreneurship 🎨 Product Design 💻 Silicon Valley 👁️ Visionary Leadership 💡 Design Thinking

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