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Chaos Monkeys

Inside the Silicon Valley Money Machine

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Chaos Monkeys

By: Antonio Garcia Martinez
Narrated by: Dan John Miller
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About this listen

An adrenaline-fuelled exposé of life inside the tech bubble, Chaos Monkeys lays bare the secrets, power plays and lifestyle excesses of the visionaries, grunts, sociopaths, opportunists and money cowboys who are revolutionising our world. Written by startup CEO and industry provocateur Antonio García Martínez, this is Liar's Poker meets The Social Network.

Computer engineers use 'chaos monkey' software to wreak havoc and test system robustness. Similarly, tech entrepreneurs like Antonio García Martínez are society's chaos monkeys - their innovations disrupt every aspect of our lives, from transportation (Uber) and holidays (Airbnb) to television (Netflix) and dating (Tinder) - all in search of the perfect business miracle.

Describing himself as 'high strung, fast talking, and wired on a combination of caffeine, fear, and greed at all times', García Martínez left Wall Street to make his fortune in Silicon Valley, becoming CEO of his own start-up before bailing and being poached by Facebook's nascent advertising team. Here he turned users' data into profit for COO Sheryl Sandberg and chairman and CEO Mark 'Zuck' Zuckerberg.

Forced out of Facebook in the wake of a bitter internal product war, García Martínez took his unique brand of entrepreneurial hyperactivity to rivals Twitter. Along the way he got into a lot of trouble with a lot of people, brewed illegal beer on the Facebook campus (accidentally flooding Zuckerberg's desk), lived on a yacht, raced sport cars on the highway, and enthusiastically pursued the lifestyle of an overpaid Silicon Valley mercenary.

In Chaos Monkeys he tells you how - and how not - to make a fortune through start-ups and digital marketing. Highly entertaining and always offering genuine insight, García Martínez unravels the chaotic evolution of social media and online marketing. From start-ups and credit derivatives to Big Brother and data tracking, social media monetisation and digital 'privacy', he shares both his scathing observations and outrageous antics, taking us on a subversive and very funny tour of the fascinatingly insular and unbelievably wealthy tech industry.

©2016 Antonio Garcia Martinez (P)2016 Random House AudioBooks
Corporate & Public Finance E-Commerce Forecasting & Strategic Planning Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales Professionals & Academics Science & Technology Business Commerce Thought-Provoking Inspiring Technology Money

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All stars
Most relevant
Loved this frank, sceptical review. Real change from the usual evangelical writing about Silicon Valley

Honest and self-critical view of silicon valley

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So overall I loved the book and learned a lot about the human mind. But found the author and most of the cast impossible to like.

He’s been through the ringer and is more bitter than repeatedly licking a lemon. This book is a suicide note to his CV or warning to his considered future investor pitch.

The only people I found my self liking was Chris Sacha - who was made out to be a villain for his commitment to his field and Graham C from Y combinator.

Saying that, the author didn’t hold back on what a horrible person he was to his babies mother, co-founders and investors. Insight into someone without a loyalty Gene is interesting.

There’s also a good insight into Decacorns and how they can be companies with no interest or path to profitability. He confirmed my suspicion from visiting the same that all the investment means many staff can add no value and hide away getting massive wages for being in the right space at the right time. And that for all the tall of culture and fit. Big companies still will hire someone who’s stabbed them in the back and will destroy culture, in exchange for short term gain.

No doubt this guy is smart. But it’s the first time I’ve read a book and the Hero character is someone I’d avoid having a social interaction with if offered.

Still thought worth a read.

Great story of a bitter man impossible to like

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Loved this book. The tear down with brutal honesty style made it a fun listen.

Fascinating insights delivered with eloquence and wit

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Read it as a story, don't take it seriously as some sort of industry guide.

Entertaining

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I've always wondered what it would be like as a start up in silicon valley. Antonio does a great job at explaining that. it's a lot on the crappy times and the lessons certainly leave a doubt of entrepreneurship in my mind. but Antonio loved the fast lane it seems. his move to Facebook. the battles with his company after wall Street. advisor to Twitter. the life of the start up colleagues seemed like the life of prefer. but hats off to Antonio for following his dreams. he certainly jumped into life with both feet and that is what everyone should do in life.

great story of the silicon valley start up

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