New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestseller A New York Times technology correspondent presents the dramatic story of Uber, the Silicon Valley startup at the center of one of the great venture capital power struggles of our time.In June 2017, Travis Kalanick, the hard-charging CEO of Uber, was ousted in a boardroom coup that capped a brutal year for the transportation giant. Uber had catapulted to the top of the tech world, yet for many came to symbolize everything wrong with Silicon Valley.Award-winning New York Times technology correspondent Mike Isaac’s Super Pumped presents the dramatic rise and fall of Uber, set against an era of rapid upheaval in Silicon Valley. Backed by billions in venture capital dollars and led by a brash and ambitious founder, Uber promised to revolutionize the way we move people and goods through the world. A near instant “unicorn,” Uber seemed poised to take its place next to Amazon, Apple, and Google as a technology giant.What followed would become a corporate cautionary tale about the perils of startup culture and a vivid example of how blind worship of startup founders can go wildly wrong. Isaac recounts Uber’s pitched battles with taxi unions and drivers, the company’s toxic internal culture, and the bare-knuckle tactics it devised to overcome obstacles in its quest for dominance. With billions of dollars at stake, Isaac shows how venture capitalists asserted their power and seized control of the startup as it fought its way toward its fateful IPO.Based on hundreds of interviews with current and former Uber employees, along with previously unpublished documents, Super Pumped is a page-turning story of ambition and deception, obscene wealth, and bad behavior that explores how blistering technological and financial innovation culminated in one of the most catastrophic twelve-month periods in American corporate history.
Book Title: Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber
Author: Mike Isaac
Genre: Business, Technology, Non-Fiction
Summary:
Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber is a thrilling and insightful account of the rise and fall of Uber, the disruptive ride-hailing company that revolutionized the transportation industry. Drawing from extensive research and interviews with key players, author Mike Isaac delivers a captivating narrative that delves into the power struggles, fierce competition, and ethical challenges that Uber faced during its meteoric journey.
The book chronicles the company's early days, led by its ambitious and charismatic founder Travis Kalanick. It vividly portrays Kalanick's relentless drive, his unconventional leadership style, and his determination to disrupt the taxi industry. Isaac also sheds light on the internal dynamics of Uber, highlighting the intense rivalry between its executives and the challenges they encountered as the company expanded rapidly across the globe.
Super Pumped offers a nuanced examination of the controversies surrounding Uber, including allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, and unethical business practices. Isaac delves into the #DeleteUber movement and the legal battles that ensued, providing a deeper understanding of the company's impact on society and the regulatory challenges it faced.
With its gripping storytelling and thought-provoking analysis, Super Pumped is an essential read for anyone interested in the rise and fall of one of the most influential companies of our time. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition, the importance of ethical leadership, and the profound impact technology can have on society.
