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  • Build

  • An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making
  • By: Tony Fadell
  • Narrated by: Roger Wayne
  • Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (350 ratings)
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Build cover art

Build

By: Tony Fadell
Narrated by: Roger Wayne
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

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

So that's what this book is. An advice encyclopaedia. 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 companies—Build is full of personal stories, practical advice and fascinating insights into some of the most impactful products and people of the 20th century.

Each quick 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.

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 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Tony Fadell has made more cool stuff than almost anyone else in the history of Silicon Valley, and in Build, he tells us how. This is the most fun—and the most fascinating—memoir of curiosity and invention that I've ever read." (Malcolm Gladwell, host of the Revisionist History podcast, author of Outliers and Talking to Strangers)

"Tony Fadell is one of the world's great experts in starting companies and creating insanely great products. He's distilled his wisdom in this book, providing wildly useful mentorship in a delightfully readable set of stories." (Walter Isaacson, author and biographer of Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein and Leonardo DaVinci)

What listeners say about Build

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  • EK
  • 24-04-23

Common sense on steroids

Awesome book. Really good advice for anyone working in a big org. Profound insights on cutting through the noise and complexity to get to the things that actually matter: what you’re building, and the people you’re building it with.

Reason its not a perfect 15/15: bit too long. Taken me a while to get through it. I’ll probably get the paperback as it does say in the intro its a toolkit of sorts to refer back to.

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Astonishing product book

I never would have thought that I could come across a book that gives you so much insight about building consumer electronic products. Having a business and what it’s like being an entrepreneur, CEO, and managing different departments, and innovations. Tony Fadell experience with Steve jobs and his associations with big tech firms in Silicon Valley has really blow my mind. He really built revolutionary products but was also honest about his many failed attempts and mistakes. But eventually he turned it all around and made a global impact on people lives. Great book written by an amazing person!

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Great listen

Really enjoyed listening to Tony’s perspective and insights from his incredible career. I also found it very inspirational

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Useful advice for product development

Engaging, interesting, and actionable. Most useful for entrepreneurs and product developers or designers. I strongly recommend.

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Whatever you want to build - read this book!

One of the best books I have read in years. It is marketed as a "mentor in a book" and it really delivers.
As an engineer at a biotech startup I get exposure to a lot of the different aspects that make up a fledgling business. The pace is furious. There is not always a lot of time to learn and to ask questions. Even when there is time it is hard to actually know what are the right questions to ask.
In this book Tony takes care of all that. The book is broken down into different sections focussed on "Building X"; you build yourself, you build a team, etc, but the core theme (at least for me) was this: if you care about building something great then you need learn, learn, learn. That's where your energy should be. If you can get a mentor and / or coach then that is even better; if you don't have coaches in your life then at least you can have this book!
Check it out - you will not regret it!

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So many takeaways

As many of us do, lessons learned in business become LinkedIn posts as we share the insight, wisdom, tools and tricks of others as we try - sometimes failing - sometimes succeeding - each of the suggestions ourselves. This book is full of LinkedIn posts if you need to bolster your own content strategy online.

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Interesting book with great insights

If you're looking for an interesting business book, this is well worth a listen. Tony Fadell's insights into building products, managing teams & general advice on business are very valuable.

Good narration also makes it easily digestible.

I won't deny that I was a bit disappointed it was not the definitive Tony Fadell autobiography, but it's probably too soon for that given confidentiality commitments.

That said, there were some tantalising nuggets about iPod, iPhone and some of the older Philips products such as the Velo. And the Nest journey of course! The other fascinating dimension is the huge influence that General Magic had on Fadell's career.

I have already recommended it to several people.

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Genuinely, a mentor in a book!

A really great book for anyone building a start-up/scaleup or working in one.

Well with it.

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If you sell physical product a must read.

I highly recommend 'Build It' to anyone involved in selling physical products and building a brand. This book offers invaluable insights and strategies that are a game-changer in the world of e-commerce and brand development. It's a must-read that provides practical, actionable advice that can significantly enhance your business. Don't miss out on this gem of a book!

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Great book

Loved it, easy listening and puts you into a founders shoes and then walks you trough to being a CEO.

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