VC, Tom Nicholas
VC, Tom Nicholas
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VC
An American History

Author: Tom Nicholas

Narrator: Bob Souer

Unabridged: 13 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 12/03/2019

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included

Synopsis

A major exploration of venture financing, from its origins in the whaling industry to Silicon Valley, that shows how venture capital created an epicenter for the development of high-tech innovation.

VC tells the riveting story of how the industry arose from the United States' long-running orientation toward entrepreneurship. Venture capital has been driven from the start by the pull of outsized returns through a skewed distribution of payoffs—a faith in low-probability but substantial financial rewards that rarely materialize. Whether the gamble is a whaling voyage setting sail from New Bedford or the newest startup in Silicon Valley, VC is not just a model of finance that has proven difficult to replicate in other countries. It is a state of mind exemplified by an appetite for risk-taking, a bold spirit of adventure, and an unbridled quest for improbable wealth through investment in innovation.

Tom Nicholas's history of the venture capital industry offers listeners a ride on the roller coaster of setbacks and success in America's pursuit of financial gain.

About Tom Nicholas

Tom Nicholas is William J. Abernathy Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. He holds a doctorate from Oxford University. Prior to joining HBS, he taught at the MIT Sloan School of Management and the London School of Economics. At HBS he teaches a second-year elective course on American business and economic history, which examines entrepreneurship, innovation, and business development in the United States over the past 240 years. He has received the Faculty Teaching Award multiple times and the Charles M. Williams Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Trey on June 27, 2019

As expected, this book tells the legendary stories of how VC firms like Greylock Partners, Kleiner Perkins, and Sequoia launched companies such as Intel, Genentech, and Google. But Nicholas also goes back to the early 1800s, beginning with the financing of whale ships. Whaling agents operated simila......more

Goodreads review by Spence on December 26, 2019

Dry at times, but a worthwhile read on history of venture capital in the United States. If you’re in a hurry maybe skip chapters 2, 3, and 5. Chapters 1, 6, and 8 alone are worth buying the book—they cover the whaling industry, styles of VC investment in late 20th century, and the internet boom/bust......more

Goodreads review by Rick on July 26, 2022

Quite interesting -- American Whaling Industry & Samuel Salter Some were interested in broader impact of Economy & Society, rather than self-enrichment. While reading through this, I compared Tamil Nadu's Industry with American society - Why wouldn't I? Initially, I thought, they were different. S......more

Goodreads review by Rohith on August 09, 2019

Pros- Very detailed, gets to foundations and fundamentals of why VC space is how it is today. Also how VC and it's mindset is an integral part of America's Growth story and being the world leader. Illustrating its spin-offs and developments from early 18th century to late 20th century. Cons- Not cove......more

Goodreads review by Tina on October 23, 2020

Starts with history dating back to 1800's, whaling industry and makes it all the way to Sequoia, Kleiner Perkins modern-day. A lot of cool anecdotes as well that make the history less dry. A really good read if you're not in VC and looking to learn about the field.......more

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