The Cult of We: Wework and the Great Start-Up Delusion

The story of WeWork, its founder, and its epic unravelling is explored in Charles Duhigg's bestselling book 'The Power of Habit'. Adam Neumann, a charismatic CEO, transformed the company into a $47 billion company with a vision of a radical reimagining of work space for a new generation. However, his ambitions grew limitless, and the company spent money faster than it could bring it in, leading to its spectacular rise and implosion in late 2019.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 12 May 2022
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

In 2001, Adam Neumann, a former Israeli navy conscript, arrived in New York with a remarkable transformation. Over a span of fifteen years, he rose to become the charismatic CEO of WeWork, a company valued at $47 billion. Neumann's vision for a new generation of workspace was captivating, promising a radical reimagining of office spaces. He coined the term "WeWork" to encapsulate this vision.

As billions of funding dollars flowed into WeWork, Neumann's ambitions soared. The company expanded beyond its initial focus on office space, envisioning the construction of schools, the creation of cities, and even the colonization of Mars. WeWork's rapid growth was fueled by an insatiable appetite for capital, driven by Neumann's relentless pursuit of his vision.

However, in late 2019, just weeks before WeWork's highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO), everything came crashing down. Neumann was ousted from his company, but he managed to walk away with a substantial fortune. The collapse of WeWork echoed the demise of Theranos and the hubris of the dotcom era bust, highlighting the risks inherent in the financial system's blind embrace of hype and unproven ventures.

Wall Street Journal reporters Eliot Brown and Maureen Farrell delve into these critical questions in their comprehensive and compelling book, "WeWork: The Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn." The authors shed light on the disparate characters who fueled WeWork's extraordinary rise and staggering implosion, exploring why some of the biggest names in banking and venture capital bought into the hype. They also offer insights into the future of Silicon Valley's "unicorns," questioning whether the same patterns of overvaluation and reckless expansion will continue to haunt the tech industry.

"WeWork: The Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn" is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of the tech industry, the allure of entrepreneurialism, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. It provides a sobering reminder of the risks associated with rapid growth and the importance of responsible financial decision-making.

Weight: 324g
Dimension: 128 x 197 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008389406