The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything
TLDR: “Good practical knowledge, but a little broad and basic. Less helpful for people with experience.”
I read this book 20 years ago. Back then I was starting a company, and it seemed like the perfect book.
Today, I’m considering starting a non-profit, so I figured I’d read it again. The book says that it’s applicable to anything you might start, so…
No. This is a book about starting businesses. Specifically, businesses where you probably need investment. After a famous stint at Apple, Kawasaki became a venture capitalist, and that’s fundamentally what the book is about: how to get investment for something.
It’s not a bad book, but in many ways, it’s just a book about business itself. Some of the chapters:
- The Art of Recruiting
- The Art of Pitching
- The Art of Branding
And so on. Honestly, the book is a really good, super-high level of review of how to run any company. He covers all the bases – some coverage of everything you need to know is in here.
I did get a little annoyed with his attitude towards experienced people. He very much promotes the “young, broke, and hungry” mentality. He paints anyone with some experience as lazy and expensive, which is a little tiresome. (Apparently we all fly first class everywhere? Who knew?!)
The book doesn’t really go very deep on anything. For some people, this is exactly what they need.
Book Info
- I have read this book. According to my records, I completed it on .
- A hardcover copy of this book is currently in my home library.