Startup
by Jerry Kaplan · first published 1995
57% recommend36% neutral7% critical
Why HN recommends it
First-person account of GO Corporation, the early pen-computing company that raised over $75M and failed. Shows deal-making, press hype and big-player dynamics; a fun, drama-like read for anyone doing a startup.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Kaplan, a well-known figure in the computer industry, founded GO Corporation in 1987, and for several years it was one of the hottest new ventures in the Valley. Startup tells the story of Kaplan's wild ride: how he assembled a brilliant but fractious team of engineers, software designers, and investors; pioneered the emerging market for hand-held computers operated with a pen instead of a keyboard; and careened from crisis to crisis without ever losing his passion for a revolutionary idea. Along the way, Kaplan vividly recreates his encounters with eccentric employees, risk-addicted venture
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Those who don't know how Microsoft once operated need to read this book: Startup: A Silicon Valley Adventure http://www.amazon.com/Startup-Silicon-Adventure-Jerry-Kaplan... Hell, anyone doing a startup needs to read it anyway.
on “Ask yourself: what would Bill Gates do?” ↗…the points I think are over sold, like planned obsolescence but I think his thesis is sound. One point I'll make on Uber's behalf...... Two of my all time favorite books are: https://www.amazon.com/Startup-Silicon-Adventure-Jerry-Kapla... This history of Go computing. and Ben Horowitz The hard thing about hard things. https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Thing-About-Things-Building/dp/0... Both do a very good…
on “Uber is Fucked” ↗…book-length drama revolving around the same pitfalls, read Jerry Kaplan's great account of GO Computing, published in the mid 90s. Time is on their side, and so is the Koolaid. https://www.amazon.com/Startup-Silicon-Adventure-Jerry-Kapla...
on “The Moby Dick theory of big companies (2007)” ↗Take a break. Go for a jog. One technique which has worked form me is looking at a brand new problem and coding for it. I would also recommend reading: * blog.pmarca.com * Founders At Work * Startup by Jerry Kaplan (old tome but a good read) * Bhagvad Gita, an ancient Hindu scripture which talks about work, victory, defeat (I can lend you a copy)
on “Ask YC: Dealing with post startup depression” ↗Startup: A Silicon Valley Adventure by Jerry Kaplan. Recounts the true story of GO Corporation and the folks involved including John Doer and Bill Campbell. Been awhile since I picked this up but I remember…
on “Ask HN: Favorite true story tech book?” ↗"Startup" by Jerry Kaplan. http://www.amazon.com/Startup-Silicon-Adventure-Jerry-Kaplan...
on “Ask HN: Recommendation for Books on Startups?” ↗Startup: A Silicon Valley Adventure by Jerry Kaplan Jerry started "GO," the company that was the first to bring to market "pen computing." His company raised over 75M and spent it all on a product that the market…
on “Ask HN: Best book you read in 2010 and briefly why” ↗Startup[0]: A Silicon Valley Adventure by Jerry Kaplan Story of how and why Go Corporation failed. This startup was one of the early tablet computer maker. [0] https://www.amazon.com/Startup-Silicon-Adventure-Jerry-Kapla...
on “Ask HN: Favorite books about failed/declining companies?” ↗Two other books which also touch on hardware development which I (also) greatly enjoyed (having read _The Soul of a New Machine_ when it was published, borrowing it from a library) are: _Startup: A Silicon Valley Adventure_ by Jerry Kaplan https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1171250.Startup _Thinkpad: A Different Shade of Blue_ by Deborah A. Dell, J. Gerry Purdy https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/483933.Thinkpad
on “The Soul of an Old Machine” ↗oh sorry, one other thing, jkaplan, are you THE Jerry Kaplan of Go? The writer of the fantastic 1994 book "Startup" that I have on my shelf?
on “Second-guessing the modern web (2020)” ↗I'm surprised Jerry Kaplan's book isn't on this list. It's called "Startup: A Silicon Valley Adventure." I'm also enjoying "High Stakes, No Prisoners," by Charles Ferguson, who invented FrontPage.
on “Best Business Books” ↗Startup: A Silicon Valley Adventure: Jerry Kaplan (Jerry is such a nice guy that he answered my email). Another one, though this guy did NOT reply to my email, is about a publishing (not coding) startup, Burn…
on “Ask HN: Fictional books related to startups?” ↗"The New New Thing" by Michael Lewis is great: entertainingly written, and actually quite instructive about SV culture. "Startup: A Silicon Valley Adventure" by Jerry Kaplan was also very good.
on “Ask HN: Favorite true story tech book?” ↗The book about GO is a pretty good read: http://www.amazon.com/Startup-Silicon-Adventure-Jerry-Kaplan...
on “How Two Guys Raised $100K To Make A Magical Keyboard” ↗…avoid them.) - 'Starting Something: An Entrepreneur's Tale of Corporate Culture' by Wayne McVicker. A little-known book, but absolutely excellent. - It appears that another user (bhamguy) has suggested 'Startup: A Silicon Valley Adventure' by Jerry Kaplan. Good choice, I support that selection, definitely one of the best books I've ever read on startup failure.
on “Ask HN: What are the best books on startups that discuss failure?” ↗