The Hard Thing About Hard Things

Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

By: Ben Horowitz

Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly

Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Ben Horowitz, cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz and one of Silicon Valley’s most respected and experienced entrepreneurs, offers essential advice on building and running a startup - practical wisdom for managing the toughest problems business school doesn’t cover, based on his popular ben’s blog.

While many people talk about how great it is to start a business, very few are honest about how difficult it is to run one. Ben Horowitz analyzes the problems that confront leaders every day, sharing the insights he’s gained developing, managing, selling, buying, investing in, and supervising technology companies. A lifelong rap fanatic, he amplifies business lessons with lyrics from his favorite songs, telling it straight about everything from firing friends to poaching competitors, cultivating and sustaining a CEO mentality to knowing the right time to cash in.

Filled with his trademark humor and straight talk, The Hard Thing About Hard Things is invaluable for veteran entrepreneurs as well as those aspiring to their own new ventures, drawing from Horowitz’s personal and often humbling experiences.

©2014 Ben Horowitz (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

Love this book

I run a 3 year old real estate investment company. We are still small but growing our portfolio rapidly. Even though this the author talks about technology start ups, the lessons taught are universal. I appreciated the tone of the delivery as well. He did not preach from on high or talk down to the audience. Rather, he acknowledged the never ending struggle and self doubt that is inevitable when venturing into places and roles you have never tackled before. I would recommend this book to anyone who is running or considering starting their own company provided their vision is to grow it into something bigger than themselves.

Must read/listen book for entrepreneurs

I have read many books about building a business, but i love how the author tells it like it is. Building a business is hard, yet no one seems to talk about. Keep pushing and learn from your experience and experience from others.

Explains what others don't

This book was great at shedding some light on what it really takes to become a decent CEO. He told his story of how he thought he was totally screwed for what seemed like forever, and how he dealt with the struggle. Then he took his experience apart peice by piece and explained it in detail and how to apply it in general. Great read.

Make your business better, read this book now.

What the F are you waiting for? Start reading this book right this very minute.

Great book must read before starting company

Really loved every bit of it. Great lessons which can help you be a great leader and ceo

Great content and stellar delivery by the narrator

The book is eye - opening and at times you can hardly believe it's a true story.

One of the most important and relevant entrepreneurial books I’ve ever read!

This book made me feel sane and fueled my desire to build my legacy company. I related to everything and took so many practical lessons from it. Being an entrepreneur seems so lonely all the time, this book became my companion, my teacher and my guide. Thank you for writing this Ben. So beyond grateful for your candid transparency.

As real as it gets

Such a practical book about leadership, living in crises and decision-making. Strongly recommend reading this book.

Must read for startups

First time I felt empathy from the author and knew he had felt before like I feel now in the midst of hard things

Great read to know what your CEO goes through

I found the book very enlightening being an executive that reports to a CEO and having a better understanding of the decisions he must make. It’s pretty crazy; but learn how to be a CEO by being a CEO. It is your job to make decisions without all the information. I only had trouble with the narrator and his voice/tone.