Search for books, people and lists
Read This Twice
HomePeopleBooksSonaLibrariesSign in

Bill Gurley

Recommended Books

John William "Bill" Gurley, CFA is a general partner at Benchmark, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm in Menlo Park, California. He is listed consistently on the Forbes Midas List and is considered one of technology’s top dealmakers.
16 books on the list
Sort by
Latest Recommendations First
Layout
The Perfect Pass book cover
The Perfect Pass
American Genius and the Reinvention of Football
S. C. Gwynne - 2016-09-20
Goodreads Rating
This award-winning sports history book is a must-read for football fans. S.C. Gwynne tells an incredible tale of two unknown coaches who revolutionized American football with their potent passing offense, bringing excitement to the sport and terrifying opposing coaches. Without a playbook, they implemented the "Air Raid" offense, leading their teams to beat more talented athletes. Gwynne explores Hal Mumme's leading role in changing football from a run-dominated sport to a pass-dominated one. This rousing tale of innovation is perfect for both casual and ravenous football fans alike.
Bill Gurley
2022-12-13T17:24:10.000Z
Two great books. His autobiography: and The Perfect Pass      source
Swing Your Sword book cover
Swing Your Sword
Leading the Charge in Football and Life
Mike Leach - 2011-07-07
Goodreads Rating
Discover the unorthodox coaching style of one of the most fascinating and successful sports coaches in history in SWING YOUR SWORD. Mike Leach shares his journey to coaching and the choices that brought him success, including taking the Texas Tech Red Raiders to numerous bowl games and achieving the #2 slot in national rankings. His scandalous dismissal created a media frenzy and began a personal battle that remains unresolved. Experience a captivating inside look at Leach's love for the game and the passion behind his coaching philosophy.
Bill Gurley
2022-12-13T17:24:10.000Z
Two great books. His autobiography: and The Perfect Pass      source
Born Standing Up book cover
Born Standing Up
A Comic's Life
Steve Martin - 2007-11-20
Goodreads Rating
This memoir tells the story of Steve Martin's rise to fame as a stand-up comedian in the mid-seventies, ultimately becoming the biggest concert draw in history by 1978. It's a candid and spectacularly amusing account of the sacrifices, discipline, and originality that made Martin an icon, informed by his experiences at Disneyland, the Bird Cage Theatre and Knott's Berry Farm. He also provides a portrait of the era of free love and protests against the Vietnam War, and the transformative new voice of Saturday Night Live in the seventies. Completing the memoir are photographs never seen before. Born Standing Up is a superb testament to one of the greatest and most iconoclastic comedians of all time.
Bill Gurley
2021-04-11T16:49:01.000Z
@msuster I seem to remember hearing like three different people mention the book. Like Seinfeld, Letterman, Chappelle, etc. It had a profound effect on me. So great. Must read.      source
The Billionaire Shell Game book cover
The Billionaire Shell Game
How Cable Baron John Malone and Assorted Corporate Titans Invented a Future Nobody Wanted
L. J. Davis - 1998-09-15
Goodreads Rating
This book tells the story of John Malone, a CEO who announced a revolutionary idea that would change our lives: the 500-channel information superhighway. With companies and investors rushing to embrace this technology, Malone's bluff got out of hand, leading to one of the largest mergers in US history. The Billionaire Shell Game follows the best and brightest in the information age, revealing the tale of greed, stupidity, and high-tech efforts to achieve a glittering future.
Bill Gurley
2021-01-22T16:45:21.000Z
@benedictevans @trengriffin Great book --      source
Lean Solutions book cover
Lean Solutions
How Companies and Customers Can Create Value and Wealth Together
James P. Womack - 2005-10-11
Goodreads Rating
Discover the groundbreaking principles of lean consumption with this must-read business book. Lean Solutions, from James Womack and Daniel Jones, explores how companies can repair the broken producer-consumer model by eliminating inefficiency during consumption. With surprising success stories from leading service and car companies, this book inspires managers to streamline their business and provide the full value consumers desire without wasting time or effort. Learn how to perfect your company's process of giving consumers what they really want and become more profitable and competitive.
Bill Gurley
2021-01-16T20:43:04.000Z
@GavinSBaker This assumes the consumers time is worth $0/hour, which I believe is a massive mistake. Here is a great book on that topic, applying lean manufacturing principles to services.      source
The Diamond Age book cover
The Diamond Age
Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer (Bantam Spectra Book)
Neal Stephenson - 2000-05-02 (first published in 1995)
Goodreads Rating
In a world shaped by nanotechnology, a young girl named Nell navigates a coming-of-age tale unlike any other. With education, social class, ethnicity, and artificial intelligence at the forefront, The Diamond Age: Or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer by Neal Stephenson is a mesmerizing science fiction read with themes relevant to our society today.
Bill Gurley
2020-05-12T03:02:26.000Z
@ritholtz @wolfejosh I adore Diamond Age.      source
COMPLEXITY book cover
COMPLEXITY
THE EMERGING SCIENCE AT THE EDGE OF ORDER AND CHAOS
M. Mitchell Waldrop - 1992-01-15
Goodreads Rating
Explore the fascinating world of complexity and how seemingly unrelated phenomena are linked through the science of this intricate system. From the sudden disappearance of ancient species to the organization of galaxies, discover how single elements spontaneously come together to form complicated structures. Join the scientific luminaries at The Santa Fe Institute, including Nobel Laureates Murray Gell-Mann and Kenneth Arrow, as they make groundbreaking discoveries that could change the face of science forever. Brimming with insights, this book by M. Mitchell Waldrop takes you on an engaging journey into the scientific revolution of complexity.
Bill Gurley
2019-12-21T05:17:05.000Z
This is such a great point. This is the essence of Complexity Theory. With complex systems (multi-variable, nonlinear), you have no idea if the variable you are using for analysis will hold over the long term. Read this book, it changes everything -      source
Crossing the Chasm book cover
Crossing the Chasm
Marketing and Selling High-Tech Products to Mainstream Customers
Geoffrey A. Moore - 2006-08-01
Goodreads Rating
This essential guidebook for high-tech marketing has transformed the way products are brought to larger markets. With new insights on Internet marketing, it's a must-read for anyone invested in the world's most innovative marketplace.
Bill Gurley
2018-06-28T15:43:51.000Z
Other books that all entrepreneurs should read: 1) @MichaelEPorter, Competitive Strategy, 2) @geoffreyamoore Crossing the Chasm, 3) @claychristensen Innovator's Dilemma, and 4) @Jerry_Kaplan Startup      source
The Innovator's Dilemma book cover
The Innovator's Dilemma
When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail
Clayton M. Christensen - 2003-01-01 (first published in 1997)
Goodreads Rating
Learn how even the most successful companies can lose market leadership in the face of disruptive innovation. Renowned author Clayton M. Christensen offers a set of rules for capitalizing on these new waves of innovation, using both successes and failures from leading companies as a guide. This classic bestseller, cited by the likes of Steve Jobs and Malcolm Gladwell, is a must-read for any manager, leader, or entrepreneur.
Bill Gurley
2018-06-28T15:43:51.000Z
Other books that all entrepreneurs should read: 1) @MichaelEPorter, Competitive Strategy, 2) @geoffreyamoore Crossing the Chasm, 3) @claychristensen Innovator's Dilemma, and 4) @Jerry_Kaplan Startup      source
Competitive Strategy by Michael E. Porter
Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
Brotopia by Emily Chang
Negotiating the Impossible by Deepak Malhotra
The Storytelling Animal by Jonathan Gottschall
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Startup by Jerry Kaplan