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  • How I Built This

  • The Unexpected Paths to Success from the World's Most Inspiring Entrepreneurs
  • Written by: Guy Raz
  • Narrated by: Guy Raz
  • Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (138 ratings)

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How I Built This cover art

How I Built This

Written by: Guy Raz
Narrated by: Guy Raz
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Publisher's Summary

Based on the highly acclaimed NPR podcast How I Built This with Guy Raz, this book offers priceless insights and inspiration from the world's top entrepreneurs on how to start, launch, and build a successful venture.  

Great ideas often come from a simple spark: A soccer player on the New Zealand national team notices all the unused wool his country produces and figures out a way to turn them into shoes (Allbirds). A former Buddhist monk decides the very best way to spread his mindfulness teachings is by launching an app (Headspace). A sandwich cart vendor finds a way to reuse leftover pita bread and turns it into a multimillion-dollar business (Stacy’s Pita Chips).   

Award-winning journalist and NPR host Guy Raz has interviewed more than 200 highly successful entrepreneurs to uncover amazing true stories like these. In How I Built This, he shares tips for every entrepreneur's journey: from the early days of formulating your idea, to raising money and recruiting employees, to fending off competitors, to finally paying yourself a real salary. This is a must-listen for anyone who has ever dreamed of starting their own business or wondered how trailblazing entrepreneurs made their own dreams a reality.

©2020 Guy Raz (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about How I Built This

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Yikes--Opposite of Inspiring

The way this book is advertised you would think it was about people who started from the bottom and worked their way to the top. After listening to account after account of people living rent free with their parents, receiving money from their family (because we all have parents that can give us $50,000 right)? working in prestigious careers, etc. etc. I was completely done. If you grew up in a loving, middle class family then NO, you did not start from the bottom and I'm sick of people claiming this.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Really Great Book and Structure

Kudos to Guy on this one. The structure is such that it's a thoroughly enjoyably listen without feeling overwhelmed by information or too lengthy a narrative. By breaking it down into shorter 20-25 minute chapters (each mostly focusing on a small handful of businesses) and pulling from that singular lessons is very digestible. Picked some great stories and definitely provided a greater context in the delivery of it all, which is why I give it straight 5's. There really is a lot to pull from this regardless of the level you're operating on.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • TIM
  • 2022-08-28

Just Like the Podcast

If you've listened to his NPR podcast and liked what you heard, you will enjoy this book.

I wish all author narrations sounded like that this...

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1 person found this helpful

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motivational and inspiring

it's a great motivational book with matter that is inspiring for any business owner

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Great intermingling of success stories

Guy shares a series of stories about entrepreneurial successes into this high-level guide to entrepreneurship. There's lots here for a beginner and some great entertaining stories for the pro. Highly enjoyable

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  • DS
  • 2021-06-30

Love this book! Very well written and captivating.

The way Guy presents stories of businesses and entrepreneurs is fantastic. This is a must read!

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Love the podcast, loved the book

Great listen, thanks Guy Raz! Definitely recommend.
... I need to write 15 words to meet the minimum.

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Recommended for Entrepreneurs

I love the insight shared in this book from Guy and fellow entrepreneurs he interviewed. Many experiences was shared to help yourself as an inspiring entrepreneur to use and learn from for your own business.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Great For Entrepreneurial Insight.

Sometimes you may face challenges in a business and may wonder..."Am I the only person going through this"? This book helps humanize the entrepreneur through a myriad of case studies. The narrative flow was upbeat and I was able to multitasking efficiently and effectively. Will listen to again. Great addition to an entrepreneur's library.

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best entrepreneur podcast-turned-audiobook

loved it. listened to about a chapter each day, until finished. Guy Raz is a one of a kind podcaster on the subject of entrepreneurship

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