The Accidental Billionaires
Sex, Money, Betrayal and the Founding of Facebook
Ben Mezrich
“The high-energy tale of how two socially awkward Ivy Leaguers, trying to increase their chances with the opposite sex, ended up creating Facebook. Eduardo Saverin and Mark Zuckerberg were Harvard undergraduates and best friends–outsiders at a school filled with polished prep-school grads and long-time legacies. They shared both academic brilliance in math and a geeky awkwardness with women. Eduardo figured their ticket to social acceptance–and sexual success–was getting invited to join one of the university’s Final Clubs, a constellation of elite societies that had groomed generations of the most powerful men in the world and ranked on top of the inflexible hierarchy at Harvard. Mark, with less of an interest in what the campus alpha males thought of him, happened to be a computer genius of the first order.”
I listened to this one as an audiobook, and honestly, it was fairly average. The author goes into an unnecessary amount of depth, describing and setting the scene for things that really don’t need it. It’s not a high energy book, and I found myself not caring about many of the little side groups of people we kept hearing from, especially at the start. A lot of that could have easily been edited out.
It’s also tricky because the story isn’t told from the perspective of the founder. The author interviewed people connected to the events, but not Mark Zuckerberg himself, which makes me question how accurate the details really are.
For the first few chapters, I was really thrown off by the author’s writing style. It feels like he’s trying too hard to sound like a writer instead of just telling the story. The result is a book that feels half told and a bit rushed. The story barely scratches the surface of Facebook as a company, it’s more about the early college drama and less about the actual creation of a tech empire.
In the end, it’s a story that should be fascinating, but it’s bogged down by overly descriptive writing and awkward pacing. What could have been sharp and insightful ends up feeling childish and, at times, painful to get through. Read the Netflix: That Will Never Work book instead. 2 stars.
I absolutely loved this book! From start to finish, it kept me hooked. The author writes with the perfect balance of detail, enough to paint a vivid picture but never so much that it bogs you down. He sprinkles in just the right amount of humor and storytelling, and you can tell there are still plenty of stories he left untold.
I first listened to Dare to Lead as an audiobook read by Brené Brown herself, and her engaging delivery truly brought the ideas to life. When I recently got my hands on a hard copy, I knew it was worth a second read. The author’s concept of vulnerability as a pathway to developing strengths—such as courage, integrity, authenticity, and connection—resonates deeply. Her message that courage and fear can coexist, that “clear is kind,” and that “who we are is how we lead” left a lasting impact on me. These principles encourage leaders not to shy away from difficult conversations and to stay true to their values, even when it’s challenging.
I picked up Einstein’s Boss because the premise sounded interesting—leadership lessons drawn from the story of Abraham Flexner who guided Albert Einstein. I thought it would be a good mix of stories and learning theory.
This isn’t the type of book I’d usually pick up. I only read it because my doctor suggested it might help me manage stress. I had no expectations going in, just a vague idea that it was something about resilience. What I found was an intense memoir that completely pulled me in.
I’ve just finished Delivering Happiness and I’ve got to say—it left me a bit unsure how to feel. The book is essentially the author’s life story: from his childhood side hustles to running Zappos and eventually selling it to Amazon. Some of those early stories were fun and gave me a laugh—clearly, he had that entrepreneurial itch from a young age.
I recently finished Daring Greatly and while it wasn’t my first time reading one of her books, it still gave me plenty to think about. The core idea? That vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s courage. In a world that often celebrates keeping it all together, the author flips the script and makes a strong case for letting your guard down, showing up fully, and embracing the mess of being human.
This book was not what I expected and not in a good way. I thought I was picking up something about how leaders make decisions, but instead it turned out to be a bunch of short stories that had nothing to do with ‘how’ to make decisions.
I had high hopes for Team Habits, but it turned out to be a real letdown. The premise sounds promising, but what you actually get is a lot of vague advice, recycled concepts, and filler content. There’s nothing new or groundbreaking here. Most of it reads like generic business blog posts strung together into a book.
When I picked up Persuasion, I was expecting a guide to everyday communication, something with tips on language, conversation, and how to connect with others in all kinds of settings. What I got instead was a book much more focused on business, branding, and marketing, particularly within an American and political context.