The Hard Thing About Hard Things

by Ben Horowitz
The Hard Thing About Hard Things cover
Good Books rating 4.19
Business and Economics
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Waterstones
Hardback • £22.00
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 4337
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9780062273215
  • Publisher: Harper Collins
  • Published: 2014-03-04
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

Ben Horowitz, cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz, offers practical advice on building and running a startup, focusing on the difficult aspects that business school doesn't cover. Drawing from his extensive experience in the tech industry, Horowitz shares insights on managing problems that confront leaders every day, from firing friends to cultivating a CEO mentality. He amplifies his business lessons with lyrics from his favorite rap songs, providing a unique and engaging perspective on entrepreneurship. /n/n Filled with humor and straight talk, The Hard Thing About Hard Things is invaluable for both veteran entrepreneurs and those aspiring to start their own ventures. Horowitz's personal and often humbling experiences make this book a must-read for anyone looking to understand the realities of running a business.

Reviews
Financial Times · 2025-12-19
positive 4.50

The book is commended for its unfiltered view of business leadership, particularly the financial struggles. It is considered a must-read for entrepreneurs and CEOs.

The reviewer highlights the book's unfiltered and realistic portrayal of what it's like to be a business leader, especially when facing financial crises. They praise Ben Horowitz for his transparency and the valuable lessons he shares, making it a must-read for anyone in a leadership position. The book is seen as a practical guide for navigating the toughest challenges in business. The reviewer emphasizes that Horowitz's experiences and advice are invaluable for entrepreneurs and CEOs, providing a unique perspective on the realities of running a company.

Quick quotes

    Ben Horowitz gives a warts-and-all view of what it's really like to be in charge of a business weeks away from running out of cash.

    The book is commended for its unfiltered view of business leadership.

    It is considered a must-read for entrepreneurs and CEOs.

The P Smiths · 2025-05-05
mixed 3.50

The book is criticized for its use of female pronouns for the generic third person. Despite this, it is acknowledged as a valuable resource for entrepreneurs.

The reviewer finds the book's use of female pronouns for the generic third person to be irritating. However, they still recognize the book's value as a resource for entrepreneurs. The book is seen as a practical guide that offers insights into the challenges of running a business.

Quick quotes

    One of the single most irritating things about this book is that Horowitz sometimes uses female pronouns for the generic third person.

    The book is great to read from top to bottom.

    The book is also the type of book that you can very easily flip to a specific section if you have a specific problem.

Russell Hobby · Russell Hobby · 2020-03-29
practical 4.25

The book is filled with valuable insights, with one concept, 'management debt', transforming the reviewer's perspective. It's a practical guide for entrepreneurs.

Russell Hobby highlights that the book is packed with insights, but one concept, 'management debt', particularly stood out and transformed his perspective. The idea is that just like financial debt, management debt accumulates and needs to be addressed. Hobby appreciates the practical advice and the author's ability to make complex concepts understandable. The book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship.

Quick quotes

    It is filled with insights, but it contains one concept that transformed my perspective. This is the idea of 'management debt'.

    In Ben's words, 'Management debt is the result of doing things to get by today that will create more problems for tomorrow.'

    The book is a practical guide that every entrepreneur should have on their shelf.

Darryl Lu's Blog · 2019-06-05
valuable 4.50

The book is praised for sharing hidden experiences of entrepreneurs. It is seen as a valuable resource for understanding the challenges of building a company.

This review highlights the book's ability to share the hidden experiences that entrepreneurs face. The reviewer appreciates the practical lessons and strategies provided, which are rarely discussed elsewhere. The book is seen as an essential read for anyone looking to build a valuable company.

Quick quotes

    The gist of the book is sharing all the hidden experiences entrepreneurs face to create a valuable company.

    Lessons that are rarely, if ever, shared in other books.

    The book thoroughly outlines the challenges of being an entrepreneur and the strategies to help deal with those challenges.

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