The Cult of We: WeWork, Adam Neumann, and the Great Startup Delusion
How visionary culture, unchecked ambition, and investor frenzy upended business reality
About This Book
Dive into a riveting exploration of the rise and fall of a startup that captured global imagination—and billions in investment—by mastering hype, community, and the allure of disruption. Through relatable stories from founder beginnings to corporate spectacles, you'll uncover the powerful psychological dynamics that drive innovation, ambition, groupthink, and the real risks of losing sight of fundamentals. This journey is not just about business; it's a playbook of human behavior at its core. You'll gain tools to spot compelling narratives, avoid costly pitfalls, and build teams and solutions grounded in both inspiration and reality.About the Author
Eliot Brown and Maureen Farrell are award-winning business journalists with The Wall Street Journal. Brown specializes in entrepreneurship and venture capital, recognized for breaking major stories about startups and investment trends. Farrell covers financial markets and IPOs, with deep experience unraveling complex market dynamics. Their combined investigative rigor, insider access, and narrative talent bring clarity and humanity to even the most chaotic business worlds. Their reporting consistently equips audiences to think critically about both headline-making and behind-the-scenes events shaping our economy.
Biggest Takeaway
By engaging with these insights, you will sharpen your critical thinking and decision-making skills—learning to balance vision with practical judgment. You'll improve your ability to question hype, recognize healthy ambition versus destructive excess, build authentic communities, and navigate the pressures of rapid growth. The lessons also encourage greater self-awareness in leadership, more resilient goal-setting, and protect against common behavioral and systemic traps. Whether you lead, work within, or simply observe fast-changing organizations, you will walk away with strategies to build integrity, avoid burnout, and create lasting impact.
Key Insights from This Book
Explore the most important ideas and learn how to apply them in your life.
Why Believing the Hype Can Derail Good Judgment—How Groupthink Fuels Risky Decisions
Hard Truths About Rapid Growth—Why Bigger Isn’t Always Better in Business or Life
The Seduction of Charisma—Understand Why Magnetic Leaders Inspire Both Loyalty and Blind Spots
When Mission Outpaces Reality—Why Authentic Community Must Be Built, Not Just Marketed
Founder Control and Power—Why Checks, Balances, and Healthy Dissent Are Crucial in Teams
Scaling With Integrity—Building Transparency and Sound Metrics When Numbers Drive Everything
The Lure and Danger of Unlimited Cash—Why Access to Big Resources Demands Bigger Discipline
Investing with Eyes Wide Open—How FOMO, Herding and Flawed Incentives Distort Markets
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