Books Recommended by Bill Gurley
Build
An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making
Tony Fadell
Source: "Benefit from [the author]'s amazing journey and the advice he received from iconic mentors like Steve Jobs and Bill Campbell." - Bill Gurley
The Sixth Man
A Memoir
Andre Iguodala
Source: "If you love basketball, the @warriors, intense tenacity, or understanding how a great team executes as one, you will love [this book]." - Bill Gurley
The Rational Optimist
How Prosperity Evolves
Matt Ridley
Source: "[The author] has the ability to combine thinking from many fields - most notably science, technology, psychology, & a heavy dose of microeconomics." - Bill Gurley
Built to Last
Successful Habits of Visionary Companies
Jim Collins
Source: "[Suggests] that the very best companies set an audacious, very long-term goal that shines a light towards 'an envisioned future.'" - Bill Gurley
Mr. China
A Memoir
Tim Clissold
Source: "Great book [about] a British gentleman who went to China in '96 with a $400M PE fund to privatize businesses [and] returned $0." - Bill Gurley
Why We Get Fat
And What to Do About It
Gary Taubes
Source: "A toned down, more reader friendly, less technical version of [the author's] 2008 New York Times best seller." - Bill Gurley
Virus of the Mind
The New Science of the Meme
Richard Brodie
Source: "Tim Cook is practicing 'meme warfare'. Microsoft used to be awesome at this. [This is a] great book on topic." - Bill Gurley
Bad Blood
Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
John Carreyrou
Source: "An incredible book that should be read by each and every player in the startup/Silicon Valley ecosystem." - Bill Gurley
Monetizing Innovation
How Smart Companies Design the Product Around the Price
Madhavan Ramanujam
Source: "[This author] is to monetization strategy what Bob Marley is to reggae music. You must read this book." - Bill Gurley
Sharkproof
Get the Job You Want, Keep the Job You Love... in Today's Frenzied Job Market
Harvey MacKay
Source: "Had a whole section on your dream job and how to think about it over the long term." - Bill Gurley
Brotopia
Breaking Up the Boys' Club of Silicon Valley
Emily Chang
Source: "Historically important book that will hopefully stand as a critical catalyst to change in our industry." - Bill Gurley
The Principles of Political Economy and Taxation
David Ricardo
Source: "Expanded upon [Adam Smith]'s work in developing the theory of Comparative Advantage." - Bill Gurley
Negotiating the Impossible
How to Break Deadlocks and Resolve Ugly Conflicts (without Money or Muscle)
Deepak Malhotra
Source: "If you want to be a world class big deal negotiator, make sure you pick up [this book]." - Bill Gurley
Lean Solutions
How Companies and Customers can Create Value and Wealth Together
James P. Womack
Source: "A great book on that topic, applying lean manufacturing principles to services." - Bill Gurley
A Random Walk Down Wall Street
The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing
Burton G. Malkiel
Source: "Offers the most pragmatic advice for the long-term saver." - Bill Gurley
eBoys
The First Inside Account of Venture Capitalists at Work
Randall E. Stross
Source: "[The author] got sucked into writing more of a Hollywood gossip story." - Bill Gurley
Seeker
Arwen Elys Dayton
Source: "If you like epic, futuristic teen fantasy, check [this book] out!" - Bill Gurley
Shoe Dog
A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
Phil Knight
Source: "All entrepreneurs should read." - Bill Gurley
Startup
A Silicon Valley Adventure
Jerry Kaplan
Source: "All entrepreneurs should read." - Bill Gurley
The Innovator's Dilemma
When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail
Clayton M. Christensen
Source: "All entrepreneurs should read." - Bill Gurley
FAQ
Did Bill Gurley recommend all these books?
Not necessarily. This book list has Bill Gurley must-read recommendations, but it also has a mix of mentions and suggestions.
How do you know Bill Gurley mentioned these books?
Every suggestion made by Bill Gurley is validated by our editors. You can find the sources to the recommendations linked next to the books.
Did Bill Gurley actually create this list?
No. This reading list was curated by our editors based on confirmed mentions from Bill Gurley, the sources are made available under each recommendation.
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