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Brilliant, Crazy, Cocky: How the Top 1% of Entrepreneurs Profit from Global Chaos
An unforgettable portrait of the emerging world's entrepreneurial dynamos Brilliant, Crazy, Cocky is the story about that top 1% of people who do more to change their worlds through greed and ambition than politicians, NGOs and nonprofits ever can. This new breed of self-starter is taking local turmoil and turning it into opportunities, making millions, creating thousands of jobs and changing the face of modern entrepreneurship at the same time. To tell this story, Lacy spent forty weeks traveling through Asia, South America and Africa hunting down the most impressive up-and-comers the developed world has never heard of....yet. The individuals profiled in Brilliant, Crazy, Cocky are distinct products of their own cultures, yet they share that same unmistakable cocktail of delusion, ambition, and brilliance that drove Bill Gates, Fred Smith, Donald Trump, and every other iconic American entrepreneur of the last few decades.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
13 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 12, 2011
Not bad? It wasn't life changing, but a good number of the stories felt relevant if not somewhat inspiring. The chapter about Rwanda was quite moving. The writing style was pretty sensationalist though which rubbed me the wrong way. I would loan it to a friend but not necessarily recommend they spend money on it, so if you'd like to borrow it, you know how to find me.
March 26, 2021
Да, давно эта книга лежала у меня на полке книг к прочтению.
Текст немного сложноват к восприятию так как книга пропитана сложными экономическими терминами и сложными речевыми конструкциями, но осилить ее возможно если есть интерес. Я узнала очень многое о странах, которые до этого знала только название. Очень интересно было узнать о тонкостях разных этнических культур и их становлению, а также то как прошлое влияет на будущее и какие последствия это может повлечь.
Я не знала, что страна Руанда 🇷🇼 стала такой как сейчас благодаря прощению массового геноцида населения страны и стремится стать одной из развитых стран Африки. Я не знала, что индусы запустили проект «Дыра в стене» для детей, чтобы развить их знания и что они настолько развивают сферу услуг, что иногда индус, не знаю что ответить качает головой изображая восьмерку, толи да, толи нет, лишь бы остаться в коммуникации с собеседником. Я не знала, что Индонезия 🇮🇩 имеет такой сумасшедший потенциал, но многолетняя колонизация Нидерландами сильно повлияла на психо-эмоциональное состояние людей, которые в кровы с рождения имеют эту рабскую психологию.
Рекомендую книгу к прочтению, очень много всего интересного.
Текст немного сложноват к восприятию так как книга пропитана сложными экономическими терминами и сложными речевыми конструкциями, но осилить ее возможно если есть интерес. Я узнала очень многое о странах, которые до этого знала только название. Очень интересно было узнать о тонкостях разных этнических культур и их становлению, а также то как прошлое влияет на будущее и какие последствия это может повлечь.
Я не знала, что страна Руанда 🇷🇼 стала такой как сейчас благодаря прощению массового геноцида населения страны и стремится стать одной из развитых стран Африки. Я не знала, что индусы запустили проект «Дыра в стене» для детей, чтобы развить их знания и что они настолько развивают сферу услуг, что иногда индус, не знаю что ответить качает головой изображая восьмерку, толи да, толи нет, лишь бы остаться в коммуникации с собеседником. Я не знала, что Индонезия 🇮🇩 имеет такой сумасшедший потенциал, но многолетняя колонизация Нидерландами сильно повлияла на психо-эмоциональное состояние людей, которые в кровы с рождения имеют эту рабскую психологию.
Рекомендую книгу к прочтению, очень много всего интересного.
June 19, 2019
The bad: the book is positioned for something completely different. It has the title of a book focused on individual founders, is marketed like a book focused on individual founders and their charisma, and ends up being a book on the startup ecosystem of underdeveloped regions. I mean, the title is literally about "what the top 1% founders do" and ends up talking about Africa, India, China and LatAm and about upcoming founders, not established ones. What? I get the feeling the book was supposed to be something but pivoted in the meantime and the author didn't bother to correct the positioning.
The good: as a book on the startup ecosystem of underdeveloped nations, it's actually decent. It's informative and sheds light on things I would probably otherwise not know about.
The good: as a book on the startup ecosystem of underdeveloped nations, it's actually decent. It's informative and sheds light on things I would probably otherwise not know about.
February 5, 2011
Author, Sarah Lacy, is inspired by "truly great entrepreneurs" so much, she seeks them out in all corners of the globe. For this book, she travelled to eleven different countries in about 40 weeks. Interviewing entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers and everyday locals. She provides us with a deep insight into how a handful of creative risk-takers have seized opportunities to not only enrich their own lives, but to also do good for their country, especially in places like Rwanda, that was ravaged by a brutal genocide 16 years ago.
The book primarily focuses on five emerging markets: China, India, Israel, Rwanda and Brazil. Each has it's own set of strengths and weaknesses. India has it's "invisible infrastructure" including mobile telephony and it's service economy. Israelis "make great entrepreneurs" who live like there is no tomorrow.
While China is a notoriously difficult country to do business in, it's emerging as the leading world powerhouse. Things move faster in China and millions of people have been moved out of poverty in the last decade. It's communism that has embraced capitalism.
A lot of this information isn't news to most people who follow technology, world economics, and venture capital. It's the personal touch that Lacy brings to the table. It's the inspiring personalities, like Marco Gomes in Brazil, brought up in a poor farming community to becoming a successful internet advertising entrepreneur. And, in a recent interview, Lacy says that her dream coffee date would be Pony Ma, CEO of Tencent, a Chinese company that is now the third largest internet company in the world.
Lacy tells us their life stories, so we get to know them more intimately and understand the risks and struggles they went through, especially in their nascent markets.
The beginning of the book puts the U.S. economy in it's place. And it's not a pretty picture. More money is flowing away from Silicon Valley as more venture capitalists start investing in the new emerging markets like China and Brazil where there are greenfield opportunities that aren't bogged down with heavy regulations, like Sarbanes Oxley.
Sarah says she hopes "Everyone in the US reads my new book — less for royalties and more to raise awareness about the amazing entrepreneurs in the emerging world." This, "Brilliant, Crazy, Cocky..." book is Sarah's third and it's served to make her name synonymous with technology, venture capital and savvy entrepreneurs. Now on a global scale. Let's hope she writes another, this time about smart and inspiring entrepreneurs in Russia, Scandinavia, Mexico...
The book primarily focuses on five emerging markets: China, India, Israel, Rwanda and Brazil. Each has it's own set of strengths and weaknesses. India has it's "invisible infrastructure" including mobile telephony and it's service economy. Israelis "make great entrepreneurs" who live like there is no tomorrow.
While China is a notoriously difficult country to do business in, it's emerging as the leading world powerhouse. Things move faster in China and millions of people have been moved out of poverty in the last decade. It's communism that has embraced capitalism.
A lot of this information isn't news to most people who follow technology, world economics, and venture capital. It's the personal touch that Lacy brings to the table. It's the inspiring personalities, like Marco Gomes in Brazil, brought up in a poor farming community to becoming a successful internet advertising entrepreneur. And, in a recent interview, Lacy says that her dream coffee date would be Pony Ma, CEO of Tencent, a Chinese company that is now the third largest internet company in the world.
Lacy tells us their life stories, so we get to know them more intimately and understand the risks and struggles they went through, especially in their nascent markets.
The beginning of the book puts the U.S. economy in it's place. And it's not a pretty picture. More money is flowing away from Silicon Valley as more venture capitalists start investing in the new emerging markets like China and Brazil where there are greenfield opportunities that aren't bogged down with heavy regulations, like Sarbanes Oxley.
Sarah says she hopes "Everyone in the US reads my new book — less for royalties and more to raise awareness about the amazing entrepreneurs in the emerging world." This, "Brilliant, Crazy, Cocky..." book is Sarah's third and it's served to make her name synonymous with technology, venture capital and savvy entrepreneurs. Now on a global scale. Let's hope she writes another, this time about smart and inspiring entrepreneurs in Russia, Scandinavia, Mexico...
September 11, 2012
I wanted to read this book thinking it might teach me to better identify entrepreneurial opportunities, but the book was less about that and more about specific emerging markets and where they are in comparison to the US in terms of business evolution. To be honest, I think that made for a more interesting read. Also bonus mention of my namesake's namesake, Virginia Dare, on page 160:
"But it's not just who colonized you that matters. After all, the English colonized India too, and the United States has far more in common with Brazil. The bigger difference is the way the English colonized America. It wasn't just to it natural resources; the settlers sought to create a new country. The English brought their families with them to America. The birth of Virginia Dare - the first English baby born in the new world - is written about in history books as a seminal moment for the settlers."
Goes without saying that I'm jealous of the author's trips to Israel, China, India, Brazil, Indonesia & Rwanda. The chapter on Indonesia may very well have influenced our itinerary next year while we visit Hong Kong. Once you have a feel for a place, even a brief insight, imagining yourself there (and booking a ticket) is infinitely easier.
"But it's not just who colonized you that matters. After all, the English colonized India too, and the United States has far more in common with Brazil. The bigger difference is the way the English colonized America. It wasn't just to it natural resources; the settlers sought to create a new country. The English brought their families with them to America. The birth of Virginia Dare - the first English baby born in the new world - is written about in history books as a seminal moment for the settlers."
Goes without saying that I'm jealous of the author's trips to Israel, China, India, Brazil, Indonesia & Rwanda. The chapter on Indonesia may very well have influenced our itinerary next year while we visit Hong Kong. Once you have a feel for a place, even a brief insight, imagining yourself there (and booking a ticket) is infinitely easier.
June 6, 2011
I really loved this book. I work in the tech community, and it's a complete echo chamber. It's important to remember that not all innovation is US based and to see how other companies are thriving in chaos. Not everyone needs daily catered lunches to be successful or thrive.
Sarah paints a picture of the entrepreneurial communities in Israel, Brazil, Indonesia, India, China, etc. that tell compelling stories of what makes the communities tick. I admire her courage in traveling the world for 40-weeks when few people believed in this book, and she was visiting favelas to tell a story. I'm hoping she does a 1-year and 5-year update on the entrepreneurs to see where their paths take them. Goes with the theme of her last book on serial entrepreneurs and what makes them successful.
I think this is a book for not only the tech community but the wider business community. They should be cognizant of how the world economies are changing in general.
Sarah paints a picture of the entrepreneurial communities in Israel, Brazil, Indonesia, India, China, etc. that tell compelling stories of what makes the communities tick. I admire her courage in traveling the world for 40-weeks when few people believed in this book, and she was visiting favelas to tell a story. I'm hoping she does a 1-year and 5-year update on the entrepreneurs to see where their paths take them. Goes with the theme of her last book on serial entrepreneurs and what makes them successful.
I think this is a book for not only the tech community but the wider business community. They should be cognizant of how the world economies are changing in general.
August 27, 2011
I really liked this book- it was a quick and easy read and talked about the local economies in several of the emerging markets, what local entrepreneurs are facing and how their respective governments/economies are helping stimulate entrepreneurial activity or not. I think Lacy made some great observations about the different countries she visited and think her point about people not having anything to lose is really relevant and plays a large part in whether people feel motivated to solve problems by business creation. China is an example of country that has a fairly developed VC scene and it'll be interesting to see how others mentioned in her book (like Indonesia and Rwanda) will do over time.
April 12, 2011
A totally fascinating look at the tech and entrepreneurial markets in developing countries. I thought it would be a quick read without much surprises, but there was so much to learn, and so much that reminds you of just how myopic your own worldview can be, even if you constantly endeavor to maintain a larger worldview. A palette cleanser. An antidote to screwy thinking about American Exceptionalism. A reminder to hustle. An eye opening reminder of how much the fear of losing something limits your chutzpah.
October 9, 2015
Quick read. I was right there with the author and the characters, that's how vivid and real the stories were. The comparison of the two notorious tragedies of two so distant worlds - the Kurt Cobain's suicide and Rwanda's genocide. This one is enough to see, how uncompromisingly honest, even cynical at times, the narrative of the book can be. Yet however, the book is about emerging worlds, so different, notwithstanding their dark pasts, unique cultural legacies, survivals, timeframes of the greatest entrepreneurial opportunities and desire to rebuild their nations.
February 12, 2011
I loved this book! It was such an interesting and personal view of entrepreneurs all over the world who are building some amazing companies. I loved Sarah's first hand view of the different cultures and personalities, laid on top of larger economic trends. I'm not usually one for "business books" and while this is technically in that category it was as good as any of the fiction books that I've read lately. Highly recommend! And not just because Sarah's a good friend :)
February 26, 2011
Excellent inspiring book about how the pain of some countries gives birth to entrepreneurs who seize opportunities (not always the most glamorous ones), sometimes eschew venture capital (they don't always need it) and build empires that educate, entertain, and help lift people out of poverty. This isn't a "I work for a non-profit, aren't I great" book, but rather, one that shows how enterprises that help improve the quality of life in emerging countries can also be good business.
November 15, 2011
Excellent perspective on entrepreneurship around the world. Forces you to step back from the Silicon Valley hype to see the desperate passion that drives entrepreneurs to take tremendous risks (without VCs throwing money at their feet). There are some truly inspirational, uplifting stories that drive home the potential of entrepreneurship to strengthen and build an entire country/culture, in a way that's not captured by monetary returns alone.
November 5, 2012
This is the second book by Sarah Lacy, former editor of Tech Crunch. In this non-fiction book, she travels around the world interviewing entrepreneurs from different countries and divides the book into what she has learned in each of these places. The lessons she shares are insightful and I enjoyed the personal stories from the entrepreneurs, but her first book titled Once You're Lucky, Twice You're Good is much, much more interesting.
June 18, 2016
Once again, Sarah Lacy takes us on a tour of Internet entrepreneurship. This time, it's outside Silicon Valley and covers such areas as Brazil, Israel, Indonesia, India, China and Rwanda. That too me is the problem - the scope is simply too vast. The chapters are uneven and some are a lot more interesting than others. Still an enjoyable read but I didn't get as much out of it as I did from her other book "Once You're Lucky, Twice You're Good" which is a must read.
May 25, 2013
I am a big fan of Sarah Lacy. I read PandoDaily a couple of times a week and love when she is on with Jason Calacanis. That said I thought the book was alright. Worth the time to read, but nothing really earth shattering.
January 27, 2015
This book is kind of a brief introduction to the startups and what happened to the emerging world like China, India. You will find a lot if you've never been there. However, it is an entrance level reading for the people who are familiar with the stories.
Want to read
February 8, 2011Michael Arrington had a bit of a rant about this book, which made it look quite interesting.
May 12, 2011
Anything that disputes American exceptionalism is fine by me! Good insight into the conditions, institutions, and individuals that make for great entrepreneurial success.
June 25, 2011
One of the best non-fiction I have ever read. A must read for everyone.
Read
July 29, 2011A nice little primer across the entrepreneur landscape across the world. Although some of the observations veers into stereotypes such as "All Indians love to argue".
January 3, 2012
Read this while planning a project in Israel on my way to do research in India. So good and so relevant!
May 13, 2012
Loved this book, although felt it fizzled a little in the end, but 3/4 of the book is fascinating.
December 18, 2012
Very interesting book. Insights into what entrepreneurs do in other parts of the world and most important what drives them!
October 20, 2013
A laundry list of entrepreneurial ventures in emerging markets (Israel, Indonesia, the usual BRIC suspects). No real overarching theme or takeaways from this book, but interesting read.
June 29, 2014
Very inforamtive and impressive read.
Read
January 30, 2019Daniel Pink's " A whole New Mind" summarized this topic in a different but brilliant way. And here is a book replete with hard nosed ground to earth examples of men and women putting 'R directed' thinking into action ( and reaping results).
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\nSarah Lacy from Techcrunch takes off on a 40week trip through Rwanda, Indonesia, India, China and Brazil. She goes way beyond the usual boundaries and stories ( we are tired of) and travelled to remote corners to meet entreprenuers who started with "nothing" and are working their way out. No blue eyed boys and girls these. No godfathers, no VCs, no one to 'pitch' to, no silicon valleys. Some of the hard hitting lessons, the sweat, the agonies, the failures,bubbles and of course that unbelievable thing called hope....there are several stories in there.
\nnice, easy, fast paced.
\n
\nSarah Lacy from Techcrunch takes off on a 40week trip through Rwanda, Indonesia, India, China and Brazil. She goes way beyond the usual boundaries and stories ( we are tired of) and travelled to remote corners to meet entreprenuers who started with "nothing" and are working their way out. No blue eyed boys and girls these. No godfathers, no VCs, no one to 'pitch' to, no silicon valleys. Some of the hard hitting lessons, the sweat, the agonies, the failures,bubbles and of course that unbelievable thing called hope....there are several stories in there.
\nnice, easy, fast paced.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews