Build

An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making

By: Tony Fadell

Narrated by: Tony Fadell, Roger Wayne

Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

**New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USAToday Bestseller for May 2022**

Tony Fadell led the teams that created the iPod, iPhone and Nest Learning Thermostat and learned enough in 30+ years in Silicon Valley about leadership, design, startups, Apple, Google, decision-making, mentorship, devastating failure and unbelievable success to fill an encyclopedia.

So that’s what this book is. An advice encyclopedia. A mentor in a box.

Written for anyone who wants to grow at work—from young grads navigating their first jobs to CEOs deciding whether to sell their company—Build is full of personal stories, practical advice and fascinating insights into some of the most impactful products and people of the 20th century. The audiobook also includes a brief introduction written and read by Tony.

Each quick 5-20 page entry builds on the previous one, charting Tony’s personal journey from a product designer to a leader, from a startup founder to an executive to a mentor. Tony uses examples that are instantly captivating, like the process of building the very first iPod and iPhone. Every chapter is designed to help listeners with a problem they’re facing right now—how to get funding for their startup, whether to quit their job or not, or just how to deal with the jerk in the next cubicle.

Tony forged his path to success alongside mentors like Steve Jobs and Bill Campbell, icons of Silicon Valley who succeeded time and time again. But Tony doesn’t follow the Silicon Valley credo that you have to reinvent everything from scratch to make something great. His advice is unorthodox because it’s old school. Because Tony’s learned that human nature doesn’t change. You don’t have to reinvent how you lead and manage—just what you make.

And Tony’s ready to help everyone make things worth making.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Tony Fadell (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Amazing book

Probably the best leadership book I've ever read. Tony shares many great lessons in this book. I'd recommend it.

Great advice from someone who practices what he preaches

I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to work with Tony and be mentored by him. He’s an inspiring, demanding, and talented leader and product developer. His advice and support helped me build, and subsequently sell, a valuable company.

When I heard Tony wrote a book, I immediately downloaded it and listened. As expected, nearly every nugget he passed along to me in my journey was touched upon in one way or another in his book. He added a lot more detail and context and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I just feel it essential to mention, IRL he’s the same person he describes in the book. The ideas he shares helped me have some success and I’m confident there are a few nuggets in there that will help you build your product or company regardless of the industry. Enjoy!

Building products and teams

Excellent book by Tony Fadell. With refreshing honesty, the author candidly walks through his career from General Magic to Phillips to Apple to Nest (bought by Nest) before finally on to being an investor and mentor.

Fadell details his failings and successes with transparency, mixed in with personal anecdotes and stories along the way.

The book is an excellent guide on leadership, learning, product sense, staying true to yourself and always being “curious”. Fadell provides copious good advice for anyone leading a team, stepping into management, building a product or taking that step into the start-up world. Highly recommend!

Home run

Loved it! Insightful and great examples! I will be rereading this again for all the great pearls of wisdom.

Roger Wayne’s narration was phenomenal!

The book is phenomenon, but Wayne’s narration takes it to a whole new level. I listened to every word, didn’t skip anything, and I can tell with confidence that it was flawless. And this is a book I have to come back to it again and again. Can’t believe Tony was able to fit this much in one book!! Hope he writes a book just focused on his experience with Entrepreneurs he works with these days and lessons that one could learn from it. The current book ends right before that chapter of Tony’s life and he only writes briefly about it, but it is clear he has material for “Build 2”

Decades of experience crunched into short actionable advice

This is the very first review I ever write!
This book is absolutely fascinating. Tony is not only an amazing product manager and leader. He also is an outstanding thinker and writer.
This book is so valuable for everyone at any stage of life and career.
I wish more books like this one were written.

If have strong core principles and fundamentals

If have strong core principles and fundamentals in place then Build by Tony Fadell - iPod through iPhone 17X or something generations and Nest until $3B exit by Google pre ABC, just a few of his babies.

I loved this book. it's honest and relatable.

I'm listening a third time now. it'll be a book I constantly go back to.

Excellent book for large and small business.

This book is written in the realm of larger startup businesses, but your small 1-2 person business can still benefit from the story and the tips. Just give it a listen!

Every entrepreneur should read this

Thanks Tony for putting the time in to publish this master piece. It’s backed with so many golden nuggets!