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Build
- An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making
- Narrated by: Roger Wayne
- Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
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Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
Tony Fadell led the teams that created the iPod, iPhone and Nest Learning Thermostat and learned enough in over 30 years in Silicon Valley about leadership, design, startups, Apple, Google, decision-making, mentorship, devastating failure and unbelievable success to fill an encyclopaedia.
So that's what this book is. An advice encyclopaedia. A mentor in a box.
Written for anyone who wants to grow at work—from young grads navigating their first jobs to CEOs deciding whether to sell their companies—Build is full of personal stories, practical advice and fascinating insights into some of the most impactful products and people of the 20th century.
Each quick entry builds on the previous one, charting Tony's personal journey from a product designer to a leader, from a startup founder to an executive to a mentor. Tony uses examples that are instantly captivating, like the process of building the very first iPod and iPhone. Every chapter is designed to help listeners with a problem they're facing right now—how to get funding for their startup, whether to quit their job or not or just how to deal with the jerk in the next cubicle.
Tony forged his path to success alongside mentors like Steve Jobs and Bill Campbell, icons of Silicon Valley who succeeded time and time again. But Tony doesn't follow the Silicon Valley credo that you have to reinvent everything from scratch to make something great. His advice is unorthodox because it's old school. Because Tony's learned that human nature doesn't change.
You don't have to reinvent how you lead and manage—just what you make. And Tony's ready to help everyone make things worth making.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Critic reviews
"Tony Fadell has made more cool stuff than almost anyone else in the history of Silicon Valley, and in Build, he tells us how. This is the most fun—and the most fascinating—memoir of curiosity and invention that I've ever read." (Malcolm Gladwell, host of the Revisionist History podcast, author of Outliers and Talking to Strangers)
"Tony Fadell is one of the world's great experts in starting companies and creating insanely great products. He's distilled his wisdom in this book, providing wildly useful mentorship in a delightfully readable set of stories." (Walter Isaacson, author and biographer of Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein and Leonardo DaVinci)
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What listeners say about Build
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- Make Customers Love You
- 05-09-23
If you sell physical product a must read.
I highly recommend 'Build It' to anyone involved in selling physical products and building a brand. This book offers invaluable insights and strategies that are a game-changer in the world of e-commerce and brand development. It's a must-read that provides practical, actionable advice that can significantly enhance your business. Don't miss out on this gem of a book!
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- Amazon Customer
- 20-06-23
Too lengthy: it’s a biography and learning book in one
The book seems a bit lengthy (10+ hours) with too much focus on his own experiences and achievements (‘my team x’, ‘my team y’). I’d rather have a more to the point book with less wooly talk, saving me 2/3rd of the time. A storyline is good, but this is in my opinion too much. If I were interested in your personal story I’d buy your biography.
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- Kyriakos
- 08-05-23
So addictive
The book has been so addictive. I urge anyone regardless of experience to read this. It contains so much information and advice it could shape how any reader views his/hers work/life
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- EK
- 24-04-23
Common sense on steroids
Awesome book. Really good advice for anyone working in a big org. Profound insights on cutting through the noise and complexity to get to the things that actually matter: what you’re building, and the people you’re building it with.
Reason its not a perfect 15/15: bit too long. Taken me a while to get through it. I’ll probably get the paperback as it does say in the intro its a toolkit of sorts to refer back to.
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- Anonymous User
- 07-03-23
So patronising
This book is definitely for people without any career experience. Had to return this after listening for 20 mins. Painfully patronising.
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- Anonymous User
- 05-02-23
Great for anyone building a product
CEO or not this is a great insight into the product world, would recommend to anyone involved in business.
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- Anthony
- 10-01-23
Great book for builders
I would highly recommend anyone wanting to build a product or business to consider this book.
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- Amazon Customer
- 16-12-22
Great book.
Loved every minute of this book. Really really informative. This should be an essential read for anyone who wants to have an impactful career or start a business.
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-10-22
A lifetime of advice
Truly outstanding got to be one of the top business books ever .
It can be frustrating when a book is spun out of a single idea however what this book brilliantly does is give you insight and guidance for all aspects of your business life . It is genuinely a cut above the vast majority of publications.
I am an avid user of Audible I use my travel time to continuously educate myself.
With Build it’s so much more it’s an encyclopaedia for running and growing your business . I quickly decided I would buy the hardback, take into work and always have for guidance.
Well done Tony , outstanding job
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- Amazon Customer
- 17-09-22
An Inspiring Journey
Lots of useful information and insights in this book! A must read/ listen for any engineer out there, even if you don’t think your goals are ‘build a business’ oriented.
Through examples, illustrations and humour, Tony tells his story in an incredibly digestible and entertaining way. Thank you Tony!
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- Anonymous User
- 21-11-22
Great experience sharing
It's great that people with such a unique experience find time and will to write these kinds of books.
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- Anonymous User
- 08-11-22
Delightful. Bold.
Enjoyed this entirely. Such relevant and succinct learnings. A must read for those in or new to the product / design world.
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- Anonymous User
- 02-07-22
Awesome
A great book with loads of insights! Audio book is well read and understandable, will keep coming back!
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