A. Ryan

Dynamic Business Book Style with Serious Substance

Revisado: 01-07-18

I'm mostly a popular science non-fiction reader. I'm interested in some business and economics topics, so I'll sometimes give books written for a business-type audience a go. I am frequently disappointed by their shallow analysis or failure to develop their ideas.

Not so with this book. Baird starts off with an interesting different perspective on the investment ecosystem: that all of our most "innovative" startup hubs are focused on a very thin slice of potential businesses, namely those that provide a quick financial return using tech-based solutions to provide services to hip upper middle class folks. Think "Blue Apron" and "Snapchat." Baird then explains how this model fails to develop a multitude of business that cater to the not-so-well-off (e.g., a company restructuring payday loan debt for the poor) and companies that create stable, long-term jobs (e.g., a fish processing plant in the south). Baird doesn't come off as preachy as he describes this phenomenon. He focuses on the individually reasonable factors that cumulatively lead to this problem (e.g., choosing to invest in companies founded by alumni of your prestigious alma mater).

And that's where Baird sets himself apart. He doesn't just have an interesting idea. He takes an interesting idea and then develops it with an engaging mix of anecdotes, business knowledge, sociology, and a vision for improving the future. His writting style is still that of a business book, so don't expect a 1,000+ page tome like "Better Angels of our Nature" (which I love, of course). But if you're looking for an engaging, fast moving, and thought provoking read with some intellectual substance to it, I strongly recommend the book.

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