First $20 Million is Always the Hardest
by Po Bronson · first published 1998
67% recommend33% neutral
Why HN recommends it
A short, readable collection of stories about startup founders and the early struggles of building a tech company. It is a quick, enjoyable read for anyone interested in startup life.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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…sharp character. Also trying my best to read some fiction - it's gotten progressively more difficult to do over the years (the programmer has become programmed). Best I could muster was to re-read "The First 20 Million is Always The Hardest" by Po Bronson. Precious read.
on “What are you reading?” ↗Po Bronson btw wrote a classic called "The First 20 Million Is Always The Hardest." Great quick read.
on “Po Bronson: Are Kids Copying Their Parents When They Lie?” ↗The First 20 Million Is Always the Hardest by Po Bronson http://www.pobronson.com/index_first_20_million.htm
on “Ask HN: Fictional books related to startups?” ↗The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest by PO Bronson. About the beginning of something very similar to java. Hope you enjoy it.
on “Ask HN: What is your comfort book?” ↗I went through a few back in the day. Some suggestions: The Hacker Crackdown The first 20 million is always the hardest The Nudeist on the Late Shift What should I do with my life? (Po Bronson is a theme I guess)
on “Ask HN: Any fun books about working in tech / SV?” ↗…The story behind ARM has always fascinated me. The search for low power with efficiency kind of seems like the holy grail of the time. The Acorn story reminds me a lot of the Po Bronson novel "The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest: [1] 1. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/306422.The_First_20_Mill...
on “Apple signs new agreement with Arm that goes past 2040” ↗…now. I'll add some more later. Books Founders at Work Coders at Work Hackers and Painters iCon: Steve Jobs The Google Story The Difference Between God and Larry Ellison The Masters of Doom The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest Bringing Nothing To The Party Kindly add to the list. Thanks.
on “Ask HN: Best Books about Startups” ↗The Social Network, Middle Men, Silicon Valley(series), Halt and Catch Fire(series), Blow(non-traditional), First 20 Million Is Always the Hardest, How To Make It In America(series), Startup.com, Pirates of Silicon Valley
on “Ask HN: Best startup/tech movies?” ↗It was either “Barbarians at the Gate” or “The First $20 Million is Always the Hardest” where I first saw the term “unimaginative broker”. The point is that they are not reporting on a grand vision for humanity; they are reporting on where the money is going, and maybe a little bit about…
on “A16Z’s ‘State of Crypto’ A rehash of bad crypto market pitches” ↗This was something / part of the plot of The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest. I recall the main character getting a car (turned out to be rented) that was really fast and taking the team out driving on 101 in rush hour traffic to make this point.
on “Don’t call it a comeback: Java is still champ” ↗