The Lean Startup

by Eric Ries
The Lean Startup cover
Good Books rating 2.62
Business and Economics
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Waterstones
Paperback • £16.99
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 2050
  • Added: 2025-10-11
  • Updated: 2025-12-13
  • ISBN: 9780307887917
  • Publisher: Crown Currency
  • Published: 2011-09-13
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

The Lean Startup introduces a groundbreaking methodology that challenges traditional business practices. Eric Ries presents a scientific approach to startup success, focusing on validated learning and rapid experimentation to minimize uncertainty and maximize efficiency. This method is applicable to startups of all sizes, from garage projects to Fortune 500 companies, and fosters capital efficiency and human creativity. Inspired by lean manufacturing principles, it encourages continuous testing and adaptation, allowing companies to pivot quickly and avoid costly mistakes. The Lean Startup offers entrepreneurs a practical guide to navigating the fog of uncertainty and building sustainable businesses in an age of rapid innovation.

Reviews
Reddit - r/Entrepreneur · 2025-10-11
terrible 1.00

The reviewer expresses strong dislike for The Lean Startup, contrasting it with the positive reputation it has among others.

The Reddit user is quite critical of The Lean Startup, expressing a strong dislike for the book despite its positive reputation. They find the book's approach of jumping straight into building a prototype without thorough planning to be flawed. This perspective contrasts with the many positive reviews the book has received, highlighting a divisive opinion among readers.

Quick quotes

    I've heard such great things about this book—how it changed people's perspectives on starting a company and gave them a framework to build off ...

    This is terrible advice for anyone serious about building a successful business.

    The book's methodology is not practical and can lead to wasted effort and resources.

LinkedIn · Russ McGuire · 2025-10-11
excellent 4.50

The Lean Startup is praised as an excellent introduction to the Lean Startup methodology. It is highly recommended for entrepreneurs and innovators.

The reviewer on LinkedIn highly recommends The Lean Startup, calling it an excellent introduction to the Lean Startup methodology. They believe it offers valuable concepts that are essential for entrepreneurs and innovators. The book is seen as a comprehensive guide that can significantly impact how one approaches starting a company.

Quick quotes

    The Lean Startup is an excellent introduction to the Lean Startup methodology.

    I strongly recommend that entrepreneurs and innovators learn the concepts ...

    The book offers valuable insights that can change perspectives on starting a company.

Full Stack Researcher · 2021-01-01
terrible 1.00

The book is criticized for its impractical advice, particularly the suggestion to jump straight into building a prototype without proper validation. The reviewer finds this approach flawed and potentially harmful to startups.

The reviewer strongly disagrees with the core advice presented in The Lean Startup, particularly the notion that startups should immediately build a prototype to test their ideas. They argue that this approach is flawed and can lead to wasted resources and effort. The reviewer believes that the book oversimplifies the complexities of starting a business and fails to provide a robust framework for validating ideas before investing time and money. They also criticize the book for lacking depth in its analysis and for promoting a one-size-fits-all solution that may not be applicable to all startup scenarios. Overall, they find the book's advice to be impractical and potentially detrimental to the success of startups.

Quick quotes

    According to The Lean Startup, the best way to figure out if your product idea is any good is to jump straight into building a prototype. This is terrible advice.

    The book oversimplifies the complexities of starting a business and fails to provide a robust framework for validating ideas.

    The book's advice is impractical and potentially detrimental to the success of startups.

Gemba Academy · 2017-05-24
persuasive 4.00

The book is seen as persuasive and valuable for entrepreneurs, offering practical advice and insights.

The reviewer from Gemba Academy finds The Lean Startup to be a compelling read, particularly for entrepreneurs. They highlight the book's success stories and the practical advice it offers, which can be very persuasive for those eager to learn about continuous innovation and iterative design. The book is seen as a valuable resource that can significantly impact how one approaches business development.

Quick quotes

    The stories told of successful 'lean' startups in the book are persuasive.

    The book offers practical advice for anyone who wants to start a business.

    The Lean Startup methodology favors experimentation over elaborate planning, customer feedback over intuition.

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