Virgin Books

How to Turn Down a Billion Dollars: The Snapchat Story

**A captivating tale of ambition, risk, and the rise of a tech giant.**

The Story of a Billion-Dollar Rejection

This book delves into the extraordinary story of Evan Spiegel, the young CEO of Snapchat, who famously rejected a staggering $3 billion offer from Mark Zuckerberg. This decision, made when he was just 23 years old, sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley. Was it an act of audacious genius or reckless hubris?

**How to Turn Down a Billion Dollars** offers a compelling exploration of this pivotal moment and the remarkable journey that followed.

From Dorm Room Idea to Global Phenomenon

Billy Gallagher, a fellow Stanford undergrad and fraternity brother of the founding trio, provides an intimate and insightful look into the early days of Snapchat. He chronicles the company's evolution from a late-night dorm room invention to a global phenomenon, capturing the youthful energy, extravagance, and drama that defined its early years.

A Front-Row Seat to the Snapchat Saga

Gallagher, a seasoned observer of the tech landscape, weaves a captivating narrative that goes beyond the hype. He delves into the challenges faced by Snapchat as it transitioned from a playful app to a publicly traded powerhouse, navigating the complex world of corporate finance and public scrutiny.

A Defining Moment in Tech History

**How to Turn Down a Billion Dollars** is more than just a business narrative. It's a compelling portrait of a generation obsessed with technology, and the rise of a company determined to redefine the future of entertainment. This book will appeal to anyone fascinated by the social media landscape, the evolution of Silicon Valley, and the stories of bold entrepreneurs who dared to dream big.

**Review:**

Gallagher's writing is engaging and insightful. He offers a balanced perspective, shedding light on both the triumphs and challenges that shaped Snapchat's journey. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the forces driving the tech industry, and the enduring impact of one bold decision made by a visionary CEO.

<p>Elon Musk: How the Billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla is Shaping our Future</p>

<p>New York Times and International Bestseller </p>

<p>Named One of the Best Books of the Year by The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Audible and Amazon</p>

<p>More than 1 Million Copies Sold </p>

<p>In Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future, veteran technology journalist Ashlee Vance provides the first inside look into the extraordinary life and times of Silicon Valley's most audacious entrepreneur. Written with exclusive access to Musk, his family and friends, the book traces the entrepreneur's journey from a rough upbringing in South Africa to the pinnacle of the global business world. Vance spent more than 30 hours in conversation with Musk and interviewed close to 300 people to tell the tumultuous stories of Musk's world-changing companies: PayPal, Tesla Motors, SpaceX and SolarCity, and to characterize a man who has renewed American industry and sparked new levels of innovation while making plenty of enemies along the way.</p>

<p>Vance uses Musk's story to explore one of the pressing questions of our time: can the nation of inventors and creators which led the modern world for a century still compete in an age of fierce global competition? He argues that Musk--one of the most unusual and striking figures in American business history--is a contemporary amalgam of legendary inventors and industrialists like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Howard Hughes, and Steve Jobs. More than any other entrepreneur today, Musk has dedicated his energies and his own vast fortune to inventing a future that is as rich and far-reaching as the visionaries of the golden age of science-fiction fantasy.</p>

<p>"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.</p>

<p>Have you ever wondered why there is a light in your fridge but not in your freezer? Or why 24-hour shops bother having locks on their doors? Or why soft drink cans are cylindrical, but milk cartons are square? The answer is simple: economics.</p>

<p>For years, economist Robert Frank has been encouraging his students to ask questions about the conundrums and strange occurrences they encounter in everyday life and to try to explain them using economics. Now in this bestselling book, he shares the most intriguing - and bizarre - questions and the economic principles that answer them to reveal why many of the most puzzling parts of everyday life actually make perfect (economic) sense.</p>

<p>Do What You Love, Love What You Do: The Empowering Secrets to Turn Your Passion into Profit</p>

<p>You don't need an MBA to start your business. You just need a mentor to guide the way.</p>

<p>Holly Tucker – co-founder of Not on the High Street, and creator of Holly &amp; Co – is on a mission to change business forever. Having overseen 5,000 entrepreneurs and identified the keys to their success, in Do What You Love, Love What You Do, she now wants to help anyone build a business doing what they love, leading to a happier and more fulfilled life.</p>

<p>Demystifying the grey world of business, whether you've yet to take your first steps, or find yourself stuck in a rut, this beautiful and vibrant book will allow your dreams to take flight. Holly shares her own story – along with those of acclaimed founders like Sir Richard Branson and Jo Malone CBE – revealing their biggest lessons and proven advice on creating and growing a business. From side hustle to full-time, from defeating your confidence gremlins to creating an empowered community, Holly reveals both the skills and the mindset any founder needs to help their business thrive.</p>

<p>A book like no other, Do What You Love, Love What You Do also shines a light on the creative community, showcasing the brilliant and unique output of small businesses, inspiring you to join them in their success.</p>

<p>There are now over 5 million small businesses in the UK – join the revolution with this indispensable small business bible.</p>

<p>Tiny Habits: Why Starting Small Makes Lasting Change Easy</p>

<p>Improving your life is much easier than you think. Whether it’s losing weight, sleeping more, or restoring your work/life balance – the secret is to start small.</p>

<p>For years, we’ve been told that being more healthy and productive is a matter of willpower: that we should follow the latest fad and make constant changes to our lifestyles. But whether in our diets, fitness plans or jobs, radical overhauls never work. Instead we should start with quick wins ― and embed new, tiny habits into our everyday routines.</p>

<p>The world expert on this is Silicon Valley legend BJ Fogg, pioneering research psychologist and founder of the iconic Behaviour Design Lab at Stanford. Now anyone can use his science-based approach to make changes that are simple to achieve and sticky enough to last.</p>

<p>In the hugely anticipated Tiny Habits, BJ Fogg shows us how to change our lives for the better, one tiny habit at a time. Based on twenty years research and his experience coaching over 40,000 people, it cracks the code of habit formation. Focus on what is easy to change, not what is hard; focus on what you want to do, not what you should do. At the heart of this is a startling truth ― that creating happier, healthier lives can be easy, and surprisingly fun.</p>

<p>Samsung Rising: Inside The Secretive Company Conquering Tech</p>

<p>*** Longlisted for the 2020 Financial Times &amp; McKinsey Business Book of the Year ***</p>

<p>'Shines an incisive and entertaining light into the secretive world of the South Korean technology giant shaping our digital lives in ways we probably can't imagine' -- Brad Stone</p>

<p>Can the Asian giant beat Apple?</p>

<p>Based on years of reporting on Samsung for the Economist, the Wall Street Journal, and Time from his base in South Korea, and his countless sources inside and outside the company, Geoffrey Cain offers the first deep look behind the curtains of the biggest company nobody knows.</p>

<p>How has this happened? Forty years ago, Samsung was a rickety Korean agricultural conglomerate that produced sugar, paper, and fertilizer. But with the rise of the PC revolution, Chairman Lee Byung-chul came up with an incredibly risky multimillion dollar plan to make Samsung a major supplier of computer chips. Lee had been wowed by a young Steve Jobs who sat down with the chairman to offer his advice, and Lee quickly became obsessed with creating a tech empire.</p>

<p>Today, Samsung employs over 350,000 people - over four times as many as Apple - and their revenues have grown 40 times their 1987 level. Samsung alone now make up more than 20% of South Korea's exports and sells more smartphones than any other company in the world. And furthermore, they don't just make their own phones, but are one of Apple's chief supplier on technology critical to the iPhone. Yet their disastrous recall of the Galaxy Note 7, with numerous reports of phones spontaneously bursting into flames, reveals the dangers of the company's headlong attempt to overtake Apple at any cost.</p>

<p>A sweeping, insider account of the Korean's company's ongoing war against the likes of Google and Apple, Samsung Rising shows how a determined and fearless Asian competitor is poised to take on the giants of the tech world.</p>

<p>The 7 Second CV: How to Land the Interview</p>

<p>Write a killer CV and land your dream job.</p>

<p>It takes an employer just seven seconds to save or reject a job applicant’s CV. In this book, James Reed – chairman of REED, Britain’s largest recruitment company – offers invaluable and specific advice on what employers want to see in the CVs they receive and how you can stand out from the crowd.</p>

<p>Unlike other career development books, the honest advice presented here has been compiled from one-to-one interviews, surveys and countrywide workshops across REED’s network of recruitment consultants. This book is an accessible and enjoyable read, intensely practical and packed with pull-out quotes, layout examples and tips.</p>

<p>Find out what future employers are looking for and take the first step to start loving Mondays again.</p>

<p>The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You</p>

<p>No idea what you're doing? No problem. Good managers are made, not born.</p>

<p>Top tech executive Julie Zhuo remembers the moment when she was asked to lead a team. She felt like she’d won the golden ticket, until reality came crashing in. She was just 25 and had barely any experience being managed, let alone managing others.</p>

<p>Her co-workers became her employees overnight, and she faced a series of anxiety-inducing firsts, including agonising over whether to hire an interviewee; seeking the respect of reports who were cleverer than her; and having to fire someone she liked. Like most first-time managers, she wasn’t given any formal training, and had no resources to turn to for help. It took her years to find her way, but now she’s offering you the short-cut to success.</p>

<p>This is the book she wishes she had on day one. Here, she offers practical, accessible advice like:

· Don’t hide thorny problems from your own manager; you’re better off seeking help quickly and honestly

· Before you fire someone for failure to collaborate, figure out if the problem is temperamental or just a lack of training or coaching

· Don’t offer critical feedback in a ‘compliment sandwich’ – there’s a better way!</p>

<p>Whether you're new to the job, a veteran leader, or looking to be promoted, this is the handbook you need to be the kind of manager you've always wanted.</p>

<p>Hacking Growth: How Today's Fastest-Growing Companies Drive Breakout Success</p>

<p>'a compelling methodology... to increase market share quickly' -- Eric Ries, bestselling author of THE LEAN STARTUP</p>

<p>'a must-read for anyone in business' -- James Currier, managing partner, NFX Guild</p>

<p>'will teach you how to think like a marketer of tomorrow' -- Josh Elman, partner, Greylock Partners</p>

<p>Growth is now the first thing that investors, shareholders and market analysts look for in assessing and valuing companies.</p>

<p>HACKING GROWTH is a highly accessible, practical, method for growth that involves cross-functional teams and continuous testing and iteration. Hacking Growth does for marketshare growth what THE LEAN STARTUP does for product development and BUSINESS MODEL GENERATION does for strategy. HACKING GROWTH focuses on customers - how to attain them, retain them, engage them, and monetize them - rather than product.</p>

<p>Written by the method's pioneers, this book is a comprehensive toolkit or "bible" that any company in any industry can use to implement their own Growth Hacking strategy, from how to set up and run growth teams, to how to identify and test growth levers, and how to evaluate and act on the results. It is designed for any company or leader looking to break out of the ruts of traditional marketing and become more collaborative, less wasteful, and achieve more consistent, replicable, and data-driven results.</p>