More about Leadership than Gaming

A great look at the career of a person so incredibly vital to Nintendo's North American success in the early 21st century. While the subject matter does focus in gaming, this book is even better served as one for those who lead teams and have to make important decisions. Hearing about tough calls that had to be made to understanding when to stick to your principles even with the contrasting opinions from those who may not completely understand, were great to listen to.
The bonus interview at the end is also nice and the author and the guest host have great chemistry.

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Brilliant

A brilliant rendition of the principals that set the foundation for a super successful career & legacy. They do not just apply to the video game industry and would recommend across all industries. Loved the interview at the end as well for more raw content.

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Engaging book with one big flaw.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Reggie Fils-Aimé’s book. The story was engaging, and the book as a whole was both interesting and insightful. I found the audiobook version particularly compelling, especially with the addition of the podcast segment featuring Jeff Keighley at the end. This change in format was refreshing and added another layer of value to the experience.

While I appreciated many aspects of the book, I do have one major point of criticism. Reggie takes considerable credit for his influence on the marketing successes of the Nintendo 3DS and Wii, emphasizing how his strategic input shaped those products. However, he completely glosses over the failure of the Wii U—a significant misstep in Nintendo’s history. Given that the Wii U’s struggles were largely attributed to marketing issues, it seems odd that Reggie chose not to address this in any meaningful way.

As someone who positions himself at the center of many of Nintendo’s key decisions during his tenure and frequently highlights his role in their successes, it feels disingenuous not to reflect on the challenges or shortcomings of the Wii U. An analysis of what went wrong and how those lessons influenced the eventual success of the Nintendo Switch would have provided a more balanced and introspective perspective.

Despite this omission, the book remains an engaging read, and Reggie’s storytelling offers valuable insights into his career and the video game industry. However, a deeper exploration of failures and their impact on later successes would have elevated the narrative further.

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A fantastic look at the life of an industry legend

I loved this autobiography.

Reggie Fils-Aimé is a fascinating man, whose life and upbringing are equally as fascinating. I loved the behind-the-scenes look at not just the company that we all know him from, but the companies he had previously worked on. Listening to him describe his history with industry giants such as Pizza Hut and VH1 was just as fascinating as any tale he told about Nintendo. (Also, his mom is one tough lady! MAD respect for that woman, no wonder Reggie grew up to be such a power-house of a person himself!)

I also really appreciated his educational approach, framing each life story as a lesson with a moral, as opposed to a rambling of his life's history or a cynical attempt at fan-service to appeal to fans of the Nintendo company. You get the sense that Reggie wrote this book not for his pre-existing fans (though they'll find plenty to love in this thing), but to inspire the leaders of the next generation to follow in his footsteps, to pass on his experiences to his predecessors in hopes that they can spring off of what he started. It's a much more mature, professional project than I had feared it might have been when the book was announced.

Listen to it. Enjoy it. Reggie is an amazing presenter and, as it turns out, a damn good writer to boot.

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An enjoyable story from humble beginnings

This was a very fun read! Like most who likely bought this, I am also a Nintendo fan and have been aware of Reggie for years. I went into this book to hear stories of his time at Nintendo, which I did, but what I got more of, to my pleasant surprise, was the timeline of events through Reggie life that shaped who he was as a person, and how he became a industry leader loved by all. From humble beginnings to a beloved president of a video game company.

I will say, if you're a business person, or currently are a student, this will be a very insightful read for you. while yes, he will talk about video games, his life before Nintendo, and his growth as a business man can be good motivation for those looking to do the same.

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Not what I expected but great overall

A very interesting look into the life and mindset of the most prevalent Nintendo executive in North America. It’s kind of a loose guide on how to be a good leader while telling stories from his life, which comes off a little awkward at times, but interesting nonetheless. I would have liked Reggie to expand on his failures a bit more, as he kind of yaddayaddas it away. The bonus content at the end is worth it though, it’s great to hear Reggie’s opinions on the memes surrounding his legacy. Overall I think it’s worth reading, has a few slow spots, but picks up at the end. Also, I like that he narrates the audiobook himself.

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Quite Good!

I ran into this book by chance. It was really interesting to hear the history of Nintendo. But beyond the nostalgia, Reggie does share valuable leadership tips based upon his experience, especially in the world of M&A.

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The first autobiography I've ever read.

Wonderful book! Seriously this was a wonderful window into a life of a guy who I unfortunately didn't follow as closely, as I was more interested in the games themselves... however after Iwata's passing I've realized I missed some really fun moments that Reggie made that really made being a gamer fun.

Now in 2022, I'm looking back fondly at those iconic moments, and really appreciating what Reggie has done for Nintendo. This was the first audio book I've ever read in my life... and I fell in love with the concept.

Sorry this review wasn't about the book itself. with that being said, just know that this is actually a really nice read. Not to mention Reggie reads it to you, which in of itself is a bonus.

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Not what I was expecting

Was hoping for more Nintendo info, instead it is a book mostly about Reggie arguing for cheaper pricing. "Disrupting the Game" is a letdown for those looking for a profound exploration of leadership, innovation, and disruption in the gaming industry. It's a book that might appeal to fans of Reggie or Nintendo for its personal stories, but it falls short as a guide or a critical look into the business of gaming. For those seeking to genuinely understand how to disrupt, innovate, or lead in this dynamic sector, there are better resources out there.

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For businesspeople more than Nintendo fans

Reggie Fils-Aimé is a bit of a legend among gamers, because of his commanding presence from his years representing Nintendo. While this book is good, I was a bit disappointed in that it's much less a memoir and much more a business advice book. Not to say the advice isn't good or valuable, but if you are coming to this looking for the life story of Reggie, you're going to be disappointed.

There's only a small discussion of his early life in the Bronx (despite it being a feature of the title), but he goes into great detail about his incredible rise through sales and public relations jobs for a variety of different, well known companies, before finally ending up at Nintendo through interesting circumstances. Reggie is a sales guy through and through and indeed a good one, and that comes through in both his writing style and presentation. He offers a lot of advice on not only selling products, but in leading teams of people. It's clear he was a good manager who valued his employees and ensuring they had good growth opportunities, something too few managers do these days.

I found the book interesting, but it wasn't entirely what I was looking for in a memoir. And unfortunately, my opinion of Reggie in general has soured some since reading the book, as he's turned out to be somewhat of a crypto and NFT shill. The book isn't part of that reason though and overall, I did enjoy it. If you want more interesting stories from Nintendo though, told from a different perspective and focusing a lot more on the person, I strongly recommend Ask Iwata (unfortunately, only in print form at this time). It's worth reading both if you can, but I would choose that one over this if I had to pick one.

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