Finews' Summer Book Tips
Jeffrey Voegeli, editor, finews.ch
«Bad Blood» by John Carreyrou
What it is:
The author tells the boom-and-bust story of medtech start-up Theranos and its founder, Elizabeth Holmes. The author, an award-winning «Wall Street Journal» correspondent, knows first-hand how the erstwhile shooting star dealt with doubters and detractors. The book is an engaging read rich in detail about Holmes and her start-up – for example, a hilarious anecdote about how Holmes emulated Steve Jobes any way she could.
Why I recommend it:
The drama around Theranos is a warning about the consequences of the blind optimism that accompanies many tech firms. The author shows how hard intellectuals such as Henry Kissinger, Jim Mattis, and star lawyer David Boies fell for Holmes – even as proof emerged that she had built up a house of cards. The book shows how important it is to check our own biases – every day.
