Episode · Lenny's Podcast · 2026-05-10
Lenny Rachitsky & Eric Ries: books mentioned on Lenny's Podcast
How to build a company that withstands any era | Eric Ries, Lean Startup author
Eric Ries is the author of The Lean Startup, a book that reshaped how a generation of founders think about building companies. His new book, Incorruptible, explains how successful companies are destroyed by failing to protect what makes them valuable, and how to change it.
Lenny Rachitsky discussed The Lean Startup by Eric Ries and Incorruptible by Eric Ries. Eric Ries discussed The Principles of Scientific Management by Frederick Winslow Taylor.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Lean Startup
Discussed“Today my guest is Eric Reese, author of the most influential and impactful book in startup history, the lean startup.”
Where to get it
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Incorruptible
Discussed“The way Eric describes the connection between these two books is that the lean startup was about helping you build a successful company and this book is about helping you protect what you've built.”
Where to get it
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The Principles of Scientific Management
Discussed“Most people have heard of someone named Frederick Winsow Taylor. Fred Taylor is a good friend of mine. You know, one of the pioneering original management theorists. You know, he wrote the principles of scientific management in 1911.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Plugged Incorruptible
“This new book, Incorruptible, is about helping you protect what you've built. What is it that you need protection from?”
Plugged Incorruptible
“Today he is back with a new book 15 years later called Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great.”