Episode · This Week in Startups · 2023-03-24
Books mentioned on Acquired's Ben Gilbert & David Rosenthal on private markets, ZIRP impact, future of Amazon | E1706
Acquired co-hosts Ben and David are BACK to discuss the state of the VC market and YC shutting down its Continuity Fund (6:20) before diving into industries that benefitted from ZIRP (26:35). They also break down which social apps they want to own and why (45:29).
Ben Gilbert discussed The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. Jason Calacanis discussed Who is Michael Ovitz? by Michael Ovitz and The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Psychology of Money
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel is a bestselling finance book that explores how human behavior, history, and personal pride shape financial decisions rather than strict math.
Discussed“there's this great uh quote in Morgan hausel's book the psychology of money where uh there's this whole chapter where he's talking about how you got to remember that like newspapers and and the media”
Where to get it
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Who is Michael Ovitz?
Who is Michael Ovitz? by Michael Ovitz is a compelling memoir by the legendary Hollywood superagent detailing the rise of Creative Artists Agency and the mechanics of the entertainment industry.
Discussed“because you you read who is Mike Ovitz yep and then you read uh ride of a Lifetime by Iger”
Where to get it
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The Ride of a Lifetime
The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger is a business memoir by the former Disney CEO detailing his professional journey, leadership philosophies, and strategies for navigating massive corporate transformations and creative challenges.
Discussed“and then you read uh ride of a Lifetime by Iger and then you put the CIA in between it and now you got the entire story and all the characters interweaving”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“I go there for Jeffrey Pfeiffer's class twice a year because he wrote a the power class I don't know if you took that one”
“yeah I mean austerity and retrenchment focus the Euro Focus retrenchment however you everybody phrases a slightly different Brit's Brad gerson's favorite book essentialism”