The Lean Startup

How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses

By: Eric Ries

Narrated by: Eric Ries

Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Most startups fail. But many of those failures are preventable. The Lean Startup is a new approach being adopted across the globe, changing the way companies are built and new products are launched.

Eric Ries defines a startup as an organization dedicated to creating something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty. This is just as true for one person in a garage or a group of seasoned professionals in a Fortune 500 boardroom. What they have in common is a mission to penetrate that fog of uncertainty to discover a successful path to a sustainable business.

The Lean Startup approach fosters companies that are both more capital efficient and that leverage human creativity more effectively. Inspired by lessons from lean manufacturing, it relies on “validated learning”, rapid scientific experimentation, as well as a number of counter-intuitive practices that shorten product-development cycles, measure actual progress without resorting to vanity metrics, and learn what customers really want. It enables a company to shift directions with agility, altering plans inch by inch, minute by minute.

Rather than wasting time creating elaborate business plans, The Lean Startup offers entrepreneurs - in companies of all sizes - a way to test their vision continuously, to adapt and adjust before it’s too late. Ries provides a scientific approach to creating and managing successful startups in a age when companies need to innovate more than ever.

©2011 Eric Ries (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

"Eric has created a science where previously there was only art. A must read for every serious entrepreneur—and every manager interested in innovation." (Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, Opsware Inc., and Netscape)

"At Asana, we've been lucky to benefit from Eric's advice firsthand; this book will enable him to help many more entrepreneurs answer the tough questions about their business." (Dustin Moskovitz, co-founder of Facebook and Asana)

"In business, a ‘lean’ enterprise is sustainable efficiency in action. Eric Ries’ revolutionary Lean Startup method will help bring your new business idea to an end result that is successful and sustainable. You’ll find innovative steps and strategies for creating and managing your own startup while learning from the real-life successes and collapses of others. This book is a must read for entrepreneurs who are truly ready to start something great!” (Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and The One Minute Entrepreneur.)

Interesting and informative.

I have read the book few years ago and I have just finished listening to it. Never thought listening to it would capture my attention and captivate me just like when I first read it. Eric Ries’ narration is also superb and very authentic. Highly highly recommended for entrepreneurs and for any leader looking to make change.

Great but over promising

The book is great, I learned so much. My only complaint is that it reads as the truth, but even the author explains that he learns from his own mistakes. Why is so settled with his truth at the time of publishing? I wish he questioned himself more, at least in a way inviting new entrepreneurs to discover the next methodology. Further I felt he contradicted himself quit often, even within the same chapter. I learned quite a lot and I’m thankful I read the book.

The Lean Startup- Blueprint for Processes

Where does The Lean Startup rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the first audio book I've listened, but, being a voracious reader, I am fully impressed with the quality of the content and its immediate, pragmatic value for providing focus to an endeavor

What did you like best about this story?

Clear, pragmatic knowledge, not just a bunch of un-synthesized information - able to apply lessons as they are fully integrated, holistic.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

The one thing I would improve is the pace of narration, and the energy. The pace was a bit slow, and lacked inflection and other 'energy' - very useful when driving.

Any additional comments?

Awesome book.

Don't just do something, think

Title says it, a primer on metrics and technique to collaborate effectively and recognize reality in business

A good read

If you could sum up The Lean Startup in three words, what would they be?

The book in sum: Create a minimum viable product, test often, iterate.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The punchline is in the first chapter and the author elaborates throughout the rest of the book.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite thing about the book was that it gives plenty current real world examples.

Any additional comments?

As an entrepreneur I would definitely recommend this book.

Innovative thoughts regarding start-ups

The author brings his and many other engaging scenarios that challenge culture of modern business start-ups.

Very useful for some type of start ups

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yeah I sure would. I think its a must read for anyone in the process or that is planning to launch a start up. Not all of it will be relevant to your business but I'd be very surprised if anyone didn't find something in here that is directly helpful.

What did you like best about this story?

What I liked best was how the stories were real life examples. The author wasn't trying to justify selling you some silly 10-step approach or similar. This book is based on real examples from real businesses.

Have you listened to any of Eric Ries’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

N/A

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No not me. There was too much information to digest in one sitting.

a must for creatives innovators and entrepreneurs

great explanation of a "new" way of innovating and building startups. a must for creatives innovators and entrepreneurs

amazing

every startup CEO/Founder should read this. This is a method of using data, experiments and outcomes to grow your company. Im re-reading again just to absorb it all.

A good foundation

This is the type of thinking that could be introduced in school, small forays into purposeful learning to lay a foundation upon which to build.

Going to take some dedication to bring these ideas and mindset to my ventures, but well worth it.