Society loves comparisons. We are obsessed with finding “the next”, the next Michael Jackson (Bruno Mars), the next Lebron James (Anthony Davis), the next Steve Jobs… Elizabeth Holmes. The Founder of Theranos appeared on the cover of dozens of publications over the past several years often sporting Jobs’ iconic black turtleneck, as if making a statement that the next big innovator had arrived.
Theranos was deemed a unicorn and Holmes its rider. The company claimed to have invented a device to run a multitude of blood tests with a simple prick of your finger. The testing possibilities were endless and could eventually lead to early detection of life-threatening illness such as cancer.
Holmes’ assent to the top of Silicon Valley was meteoric. No one wanted to miss out on the next multi-billion dollar company. Venture capitalists flocked to its homerun potential and refused to acknowledge the red flags because they only saw green.
Bad Blood is an expose by the journalist who refused to back down and worked tirelessly to bring down the Theranos house of cards. He relied on truly courageous ex-Theranos employees who put their careers, personal lives and financial well-being on the line to stop a company that arguably could have ended up hurting the very people it set out to save.
I was shocked by Holmes ego and self-glorification. This paranoid yet intimidating founder controlled every aspect of her company and her employees, never shying away from threats. Investors and partners were so blinded by the company’s potential that they never stopped and asked to see the proof in the pudding.
Definitely worth the read for anyone interested in business, healthcare, or Silicon Valley.
Verdict: Read it (4/5 stars)
Length: 299 pages
When: Next time you hear about the next Steve Jobs.
Quote: (General) Mattis went out of his way to praise her (Holmes) integrity. “She has probably one of the most mature and well-honed sense of ethics – personal ethics, managerial ethics, business ethics, medical ethics that I’ve ever heard articulated”
Also Read: Shoe Dog by Phil Knight (to learn how to properly start/run a company)
Buy Bad Blood by by John Carreyrou