Episode · a16z Podcast · 2017-09-13
Books mentioned on a16z Podcast: The Asshole Survival Guide
with Michael Dearing (@mcgd), Bob Sutton (@work_matters), and Hanne Tidnam (@omnivorousread) Bob Sutton's book The No Asshole Rule was all about how to foster company cultures that don't tolerate asshole behavior. But sometimes, dealing with an asshole is unavoidable -- in life or at work.
Bob Sutton recommended Give and Take by Adam Grant, and discussed The Green Beret Survival Guide by Bob Mayer. Michael Dearing discussed The Start-up of You by Reid Hoffman and others.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Green Beret Survival Guide
The Asshole Survival Guide by Robert Sutton offers practical strategies and psychological tools for dealing with difficult people and toxic work environments.
Discussed“so i'm also drawing on some of aaron beck's work in my chapter on mind tricks that protect your soul in in just ways so that even though you're in an objectively bad environment in this case that it doesn't upset you so much”
Where to get it
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The Start-up of You
The Start-up of You by Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha is a career guide that applies entrepreneurial strategies and startup thinking to professional development.
Discussed“and i take that advice from reid hoffman's you know book where he talks about these career journeys our tours of duty they're not lifetime sentences”
Where to get it
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Give and Take
Give and Take by Adam Grant is a bestselling psychology book that explores the distinct dynamics of givers, takers, and matchers, demonstrating how generous individuals can achieve remarkable success without being exploited or burning out.
Recommended“but actually there is something else that's being one of my favorite folks i i'm adam grant who's at university of pennsylvania wharton he's got this great book called give and take and essentially what he shows is people are most successful”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“we're here today because bob has a brand new book out the [ __ ] survival guide that takes off from where the no [ __ ] rule left off in other words it really gets down to the nitty-gritty of dealing with this kind of person and their behavior”
“and i kept reading the literature and i kept being pressed back by my friend michael to the whole franchise”