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

There's great advice in this book

The language can be foul and difficult to hear if this is not a part of your culture, but there's something to be learned from the story. There's a quote out there that says, "Learn from others mistakes as you will never live long enough to make them all yourself."

Though a bit narcissistic at times, I think he is communicating the lessons learned with this book and trying to show that success isn't neat and pretty....its scary and hard...I loved the section where he describes "the struggle."

Overall, great book for a CEO to read.

Building a company? Read this.

Powerful lessons for people with great challenges. Highly recommend to entrepreneurs, CEOs, founders and execs.

Entertaining, easy read with a lot of great advice.

I may have started this book to gain the advice, but this is one of the most interesting reads I have come across in a while; I couldn't put it down. I would recommend it based on its entertainment value alone.

More then a book

I run a small company, and this was balm to my soul. So very few people understand the challenges that come with running a business. in his book I found comfort from a understanding that Ben brings from his experience. I'm very thankful for the experience of listening to this book and for lessons learned in it.

Life is a struggl

Embrace it, I loved the book. It gave me reassurance that I'm not alone and tips & insights on how to handle.
Thank you Ben.

If you're ao CEO, its a must-read

One of the best books i have ever read (listened?). Straight to the point, insightful and extremely helpful. Helps you navigate in many hard situations, over delivering its promise.

A Book That Mentors

Would you listen to The Hard Thing About Hard Things again? Why?

It's a great book that serves as a guide to CEOs of technology companies as it shares real-life experiences.

Great listen!

Loved the authenticity and bens perspective from start to finish..a no BS perspective w many highlights. The additional info on his VC was
Also enlightening

Highly recommended

Great book. Best management book I've read. Highly recommended and addictive I couldn't stop listening. I have purchased a couple of copies and given them to my group.

Excellent book for any entrepreneur

Where does The Hard Thing About Hard Things rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is definitely in the top 10 or 20% of business books I have read.

Any additional comments?

Lots of real life useful advice that I found myself immediately applying myself.