The Fixer
by Bradley Tusk · 2018
In a nutshell
By Bradley Tusk, 1/3 autobiography, 1/3 case studies, 1/3 how-to manual for navigating regulated markets. Must-read for startups disrupting regulated industries.
Overview
Practical guide for regulated marketplaces.
Reference
The Fixer — publisher / official page. Summary adapted from the Awesome Startup Books collection.
If you like this, read
The Power Law
Sebastian Mallaby’s narrative history of venture capital that helps startup founders understand how VC works, how power-law returns shape the industry, and what that means for building and funding startups.
Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal
A New York Times bestseller by Oren Klaff that revolutionizes pitching by applying neuroscience and behavioral psychology. This practical guide teaches entrepreneurs and professionals how to command attention and drive decisions in high-stakes presentations.
Elon Musk
Walter Isaacson's biography traces Elon Musk's founding of Tesla, SpaceX, and more, imparting founder lessons on first-principles thinking, extreme risk-taking, elite team assembly, and perseverance through near-failures. Founders gain strategies for tackling ambitious goals, vertical integration, and rapid iteration while avoiding siloed approaches. Highlights tech innovation over traditional branding.
Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike
Phil Knight's memoir chronicles the founding and growth of Nike from importing shoes to global dominance, highlighting lessons for founders on relentless persistence, building key partnerships, embracing calculated risks, and pivoting through financial crises. It offers practical insights into fostering loyal teams and avoiding complacency in consumer brand building. Contrasts with VC-driven stories by emphasizing bootstrapped grit.
Zero to One (Paperback) - 2014 Edition
Zero to One is a foundational startup book by Peter Thiel that explores how to build innovative companies that create fundamentally new value (“going from 0 to 1”) rather than simply copying existing models. It offers contrarian principles on monopoly, competition, technology, and startup strategy, making it a must-read for founders and anyone interested in creating high-impact startups.
Blue Ocean Strategy, Expanded Edition: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant
Blue Ocean Strategy (Expanded Edition) by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne provides a framework for startups and innovators to escape crowded, competitive markets by creating new demand and uncontested market space, making it a foundational strategy book for startup founders.