Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making

**New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USAToday Bestseller for May 2022**

Tony Fadell led the teams that created the iPod, iPhone and Nest Learning Thermostat and learned enough in 30+ years in Silicon Valley about leadership, design, startups, Apple, Google, decision-making, mentorship, devastating failure and unbelievable success to fill an encyclopedia.

So that’s what this book is. An advice encyclopedia. A mentor in a box. 

Written for anyone who wants to grow at work―from young grads navigating their first jobs to CEOs deciding whether to sell their company―Build is full of personal stories, practical career advice and fascinating insights into some of the most impactful products and people of the 20th century.

Each quick 5-20 page entry builds on the previous one, charting Tony’s personal journey in product development from a product designer to a leader, from a startup founder to an executive to a mentor. Tony uses examples that are instantly captivating, like the process of building the very first iPod and iPhone. Every chapter is designed to help readers with a problem they’re facing right now―how to get funding for their startup, whether to quit their job or not, or just how to deal with the jerk in the next cubicle.

Tony forged his path to success alongside mentors like Steve Jobs and Bill Campbell, icons of Silicon Valley who succeeded time and time again. But Tony doesn’t follow the Silicon Valley credo that you have to reinvent everything from scratch to make something great. His advice is unorthodox because it’s old school. Because Tony’s learned that human nature doesn’t change. You don’t have to reinvent how you lead and manage―just what you make. 

And Tony’s ready to help everyone make things worth making. 

Get unorthodox, old-school advice on the tough stuff:

• Building Your Career: When is the right time to quit your job, how do you find a mentor, and how do you deal with the jerk in the next cubicle?
• Product Storytelling: Learn how to craft a compelling narrative for your product, a lesson Tony learned directly from watching Steve Jobs build the story for the iPhone.
• From Idea to Exit: Go inside the moments of devastating failure and unbelievable success, from getting funding for your startup to deciding when to sell your company.
• Disruptive Innovation: Understand why you don’t have to reinvent everything from scratch and how Tony’s old-school advice helped create some of the most impactful products of our time, including the iPod and iPhone.

Tony Fadell started his 30 year Silicon Valley career at General Magic, the most influential startup nobody has ever heard of. Then he went on to make the iPod and iPhone, start Nest and create the Nest Learning Thermostat. Throughout his career Tony has authored more than 300 patents. He now leads the Build Collective, where he mentors the next generation of startups that are changing the world.