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bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Author was in Silicon Valley during its heyday and she takes an interesting look at the darker side of the tech industry, although nothing in the book truly shocked me.
The book could be slow at times and I lost my focus, especially in the second half, but that’s pretty standard for me when reading most nonfiction. As someone who has worked for start ups, I could relate to a lot of her experiences with the toxic culture, imposter syndrome, and lack of work-life balance!
Wiener had some interesting critiques but I wish she would’ve delved deeper, especially about the issues of privacy violations and sexism in tech. It felt kind of glossed over and nothing substantial was said.
Wiener had some interesting critiques but I wish she would’ve delved deeper, especially about the issues of privacy violations and sexism in tech. It felt kind of glossed over and nothing substantial was said.
I didn’t enjoy how she alluded to other companies using vague descriptions instead of just naming them. I felt proud when I correctly identified the companies but for someone who constantly mentioned how tech isolates outsiders, she reinforced that isolation with that style choice. But who knows, it could’ve been a legal thing which I’d understand.
The way the synopsis is written I was expecting shocking things but since I’ve worked in tech/at start ups and my husband is in tech, I knew a lot of this stuff already. I’d recommend for anyone unfamiliar with the inside world of the tech industry and wants to learn more!
Summarizing the book in one sentence I’d say: A story of white men and their audacity 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Drug abuse
Minor: Antisemitism, Sexual assault, Racism, and Bullying
shelby1994's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Less of a take-down of the newly minted 1%, and more of a deep-dive into the pitfalls of start-up culture, I have never been so thankful that I did not listen to my parents' advice and learn to code.
Wiener takes us on a panoramic tour of the Bay-area, full of 20-somethings with their company-branded hoodies, basement bedrooms, and recreational drugs, obsessed with the idea that Silicon Valley isn't just "work." It's a calling. But then the NSA's wiretapping program comes to light at the same time as the "avoid him/don't stay after work with him/don't cry when he shoves his hands down your pants at the company offsite" grapevine between the very, very few female employees at the startups beings to spill over into the media. And Wiener and her coworkers have to think about who actually benefits from working within a start-up culture and who is just exploited.
Read If:
1. You were jealous of college friends that moved out to the West coats with 6-figure starting salaries while you took another unpaid internship
2. You understand "seed funding"
3. You've been the only woman on your work team and took pride in it instead of questioning it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse and Sexual harassment
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