This is definitely a self help book if I've ever seen one. And there are quite a few issues that I have even with just this brief excerpt. For example, the language used, even just in the introduction is condescending "My hope in structuring the book in this way is to show anyone who has the courage to pursue an idea but is struggling with the fear of failure" the implication being that those who don't wish to start a business are not courageous, are not hero's, etc. So if you are someone who is interested in reading about but not starting a business strap yourself in for some major passive aggression.
Also the goal as is stated in the book to " to pull back the curtain on entrepreneurship, to shed light on the black box of entrepreneurial success" it would also be a good idea to include stories from those who's businesses have failed. To only focus on business success stories is to leave a great deal of information on the table. I would be interested in knowing if this passage "Entrepreneurs aren’t chosen, they are made. Self-made" actually turns out to be true. Very rarely, in my knowledge do businesses make it to the big time without financial backers. However if the stories included in this book prove that investors aren't needed that would be interesting.
This first look is getting a little long so I'll leave it here with one final takeaway. All in all the business stories are interesting and well presented I just wish it wasn't in the context of a self help book.
Also the goal as is stated in the book to " to pull back the curtain on entrepreneurship, to shed light on the black box of entrepreneurial success" it would also be a good idea to include stories from those who's businesses have failed. To only focus on business success stories is to leave a great deal of information on the table. I would be interested in knowing if this passage "Entrepreneurs aren’t chosen, they are made. Self-made" actually turns out to be true. Very rarely, in my knowledge do businesses make it to the big time without financial backers. However if the stories included in this book prove that investors aren't needed that would be interesting.
This first look is getting a little long so I'll leave it here with one final takeaway. All in all the business stories are interesting and well presented I just wish it wasn't in the context of a self help book.