And the Killer Companies of the New Silicon Valley Are Changing the World

There are a lot of longform pieces on the sharing economy. Most of them have so much overlap though that I rarely learn much after reading them. Brad Stone has the benefit of an entire book to move beyond the background that any writer has to share on the subject, and tell a more detailed story, and he does so magnificently.

The hallmark of any Brad Stone book is copious research. He finds stories from every angle on every company he writes about. This book is no exception. We learn about good AirBnb and bad AirBnb. We learn about work-within-the-system Uber and screw-the-system Uber. We learn about all the hospitality and ridesharing companies that came before AirBnb and Uber, and why those two companies were the two to win. We hear the story of the sharing economy told through the regulators, competitors, investors, employees, and the founders themselves.

Too many people think that the reason AirBnb and Uber are billion-dollar companies is that they had a great idea. The strength of this book is Brad Stone's ability to dispel this notion and identify the real reason that the few companies that win have won. In the book, we meet a half dozen companies with strikingly similar ideas and varying levels of investment, almost all of whom failed, and in those failures we see what it takes to succeed: luck, first of all. The ability to scale a successful product, the ability to manipulate regulators, and the ability to hone your product beyond its initial iteration, spread from city to city, talk to users, and build an exceptional experience.

This book is a must-read for any entrepreneur, business school student, and startup enthusiast.

Folks, I checked out this book mostly to learn more about Uber as a transit advocate but also the Airbnb I use a few times a year. Many great quotes and insights on the larger than life personalities who brought us the sharing economy. I hope you read and highlight as I have.

With "The Upstarts" Brad Stone has established himself as the tech economy's chronicler nonpareil. We got a taste of his reporting and writing talents with "The Everything Store" and they are on even more vivid display with "The Upstarts". Stone makes his characters authentic and accessible to the reader; he deftly captures complexity and nuance; he is funny as hell and is just a masterful storyteller. I am reminded of Tom Wolffe's brilliant portrayal of NY society in "Bonfire of the Vanities." Stone's book captures an era and its ethos. You don't have to be a tech afficianado or live in the Bay Area to enjoy and understand "The Upstarts." There are universal themes here of striving and hubris, creation and competition. Stone weaves as much as he writes. His deep knowledge of the business world and the characters who inhabit it comes through on every page with novelistic flair.

The upstarts contains a solid telling of the history of AirBNB and Uber. I was pretty intimately involved with the Uber part of the story and I can say that the history there is very much accurate. I was also so focused on Uber at that time that I actually had no idea what was going on at AirBNB. The stories being told together in an intertwined way was actually perfect. These are really exciting times in the worlds of technology and commerce and this book captures that. I don't know what the future will hold, but the idea of the sharing economy is so compelling that it certainly is here to stay.

The Upstarts is a fast-paced journey with the founders of Airbnb and Uber, as they navigate the tricky path to business success. It is easy to see these two unicorn behemoths and feel as though their success was pre-ordained. Brad Stone (who also wrote the fantastic The Everything Store) shows us how nothing could be further from the truth. Each of these companies have faced stiff competition (including from companies who beat them to these ideas in some ways), powerful legacy competitors, ornery regulators, and choosy customers. Stone's interviews the founders of both companies on-the-record, no easy feat, especially at Uber. The result is a fascinating read. Highly stimulating!

Brad Stone is an amazing storyteller. He took me on a journey with Airbnb and Uber through all of their ups and downs. This book is both an inspiration to entrepreneurs and a reality check. Thank you for doing the hard work of writing great stories so I didn't have to work so hard at reading it. It was a joy.

This book is well written and the attention to detail is outstanding. The author found a very happy balance to inform without providing minutiae. It covers the stories of two fascinating businesses that had very humble beginnings.

A fantastic well-written story that offers valuable insights as a business book on startups/funding and competitive strategy, a primer on the modern economy, competition and the role of government and lobbying power as well an entertaining tale about building better alternatives to transportation/travel options that technology enables that also allow people to get value from their time, cars and residences. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed The Upstarts. The book is about the rise of Uber and Airbnb. Unlike companies like Facebook, which took off immediately, the founding days of Uber and Airbnb were different. It wasn't clear that they were going to take off. Another difference is that Airbnb and Uber were operating in highly regulated environments, and as they grew they had to figure out how to handle the regulatory challenges. The Upstarts is very well-written. It is a page-turner.

Brad Stone continues to chronicle the new economy and the entrepreneurs who push out its edges. His recent book strikes a perfect balance between insider account and critical inquiry. This is neither a fanboy tale nor a knee-jerk rejection of the changes and innovations brought to us by Airbnb and Uber. Read it to understand what's happening; read it to be thoroughly entertained.

Good concept, some interesting parts and anecdotes, just too repetitive, there wasn't much gained outside of the history of a few successful and failed startups...could be trimmed down to 1/3 the length.

Fantastic book which gives you an insider's perspective into two of the companies that are changing the way we travel and purchase services and yet have very different CEOs and cultures. This is a must read for anyone who is working at a startup or wants to learn about the entrepreneur's journey.

Another great read from Brad Stone. Really enjoying The Upstarts just as much as The Everything Store. Brad Stone always provide a compelling narrative with great research. The in depth interviews provide real texture to the story line which always moves at pace. A must for all interested in Corporate Strategy and Digital Disruption JKA

Great read! I discovered Brad when he was writing for the NYT, and found his insights and access to be exceptional. Once again, he doesn't disappoint with incredible access, and clear understanding of trends that are transforming our entire world. Couldn't put it down!

Brad Stone has written a well researched book that compares and contrasts the history of Uber and Airbnb. Besides describing the post 2008 financial environment which the two startups had to weather, Brad does a good job comparing and contrasting the key personalities as well.

Fantastic book which gives you an insider's perspective into two of the companies that are changing the way we travel and purchase services and yet have very different CEOs and cultures. This is a must read for anyone who is working at a startup or wants to learn about the entrepreneur's journey.

Another great read from Brad Stone. Really enjoying The Upstarts just as much as The Everything Store. Brad Stone always provide a compelling narrative with great research. The in depth interviews provide real texture to the story line which always moves at pace. A must for all interested in Corporate Strategy and Digital Disruption JKA

Great read! I discovered Brad when he was writing for the NYT, and found his insights and access to be exceptional. Once again, he doesn't disappoint with incredible access, and clear understanding of trends that are transforming our entire world. Couldn't put it down!

Brad Stone has written a well researched book that compares and contrasts the history of Uber and Airbnb. Besides describing the post 2008 financial environment which the two startups had to weather, Brad does a good job comparing and contrasting the key personalities as well.