Listen free for 30 days

Preview
  • The Hard Thing About Hard Things

  • Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
  • Written by: Ben Horowitz
  • Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly
  • Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (445 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Hard Thing About Hard Things

Written by: Ben Horowitz
Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $27.96

Buy Now for $27.96

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

Ben Horowitz, cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz and one of Silicon Valley’s most respected and experienced entrepreneurs, offers essential advice on building and running a startup - practical wisdom for managing the toughest problems business school doesn’t cover, based on his popular ben’s blog.

While many people talk about how great it is to start a business, very few are honest about how difficult it is to run one. Ben Horowitz analyzes the problems that confront leaders every day, sharing the insights he’s gained developing, managing, selling, buying, investing in, and supervising technology companies. A lifelong rap fanatic, he amplifies business lessons with lyrics from his favorite songs, telling it straight about everything from firing friends to poaching competitors, cultivating and sustaining a CEO mentality to knowing the right time to cash in.

Filled with his trademark humor and straight talk, The Hard Thing About Hard Things is invaluable for veteran entrepreneurs as well as those aspiring to their own new ventures, drawing from Horowitz’s personal and often humbling experiences.

©2014 Ben Horowitz (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Hard Thing About Hard Things

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    319
  • 4 Stars
    82
  • 3 Stars
    24
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    11
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    250
  • 4 Stars
    55
  • 3 Stars
    24
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    245
  • 4 Stars
    57
  • 3 Stars
    18
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    9

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Puts struggle into perspective

I'm not planning on running a tech company in my future, but this book kept me engaged. The methods portrayed reflect the battles of Silicon Valley tech companies to stay alive. The principles, however, can be applied to all facets of life. If your mind can dream something great, it will take something great to achieve it. Something great often envoles three aspects: 1) You and your companies values and how well you stick with them; 2) The vision/outcome/dream; and 3) Belief that against all odds the vison can be achieved!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great techniques for new CEO’s

While the book focused on startups in the tech sector, a lot of the situations can be applied anywhere. I particularly enjoyed the viewpoint from a CEO who ran an organization from founder/start up to billion dollar exit sale and the many different intricacies of scaling.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Essential curriculum

If you are a CEO or an executive in any size company this is essential literature to have in your library. This book is NOT a dear diary entry gloating about his abilities. It is a roadmap showcasing the intertwined and never ending issues that are universal to business.

This book removes you from your limited view of your particular issues and shows you that they are not only common but conquerable. It has offered me stress reduction and revitalized depleted energy and focus.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing

in a world where everyone wants to be an entrepreneur very few people are talking about the challenges and the heartaches associated with starting and running a company. it is all done by sharing stories which makes the book very informational but also fun!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A startup must!

A startup must! Great content, perfect story.
Identify the real problem of the CEO and their solutions.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book about the hard decisions to make in business.

Excellent book about the hard decisions to make in business. A rare book based on insights from someone with experience in the field for a long time and a lot of experience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Can't miss

Don't miss this book. It is incredible. A must have for any entrepreneur or manager of small and large organizations.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

great book.

great narrator. amazing book. definitely worth a listen for anyone who wants insight in entrepreneurahip

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

No sugar coating

Honest reflection about the challenges faced and how Ben responded as a person and a leader.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great eye opener to the startup world

#Audible1 this book really put things in perspective for me. it set the tone for how founders should conduct themselves.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!