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The Soul of an Entrepreneur: Work and Life Beyond the Startup Myth Kindle Edition

by David Sax (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 48 ratings
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An award-winning business writer dismantles the myths of entrepreneurship, replacing them with an essential story about the experience of real business owners in the modern economy.

We're often told that we're living amidst a startup boom. Typically, we think of apps built by college kids and funded by venture capital firms, which remake fortunes and economies overnight. But in reality, most new businesses are things like restaurants or hair salons. Entrepreneurs aren't all millennials -- more often, it's their parents. And those small companies are the fabric of our economy.
The Soul of an Entrepreneur is a business book of a different kind, exploring our work but also our passions and hopes. David Sax reports on the deeply personal questions of entrepreneurship: why an immigrant family risks everything to build a bakery; how a small farmer fights to manage his debt; and what it feels like to rise and fall with a business you built for yourself.
This book is the real story of entrepreneurship. It confronts both success and failure, and shows how they can change a human life. It captures the inherent freedom that entrepreneurship brings, and why it matters.
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  1. Print length
    324 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    PublicAffairs
  5. Publication date
    April 21, 2020
  6. File size
    1584 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"You may think business books are not for you--that's why you need to read this one. David Sax takes us on a tour of real, non-digital businesses--from beauty salons to Syrian bakeries--that is both enlightening and inspiring. If this book doesn't make you want to start a company, you probably already own one."

-- "AJ Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author"

"A fascinating and humane book that changes the very meaning of entrepreneurship. Don't even think about starting a business without reading The Soul of an Entrepreneur."

-- "Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, New York Times bestselling author"

"A necessary corrective to Silicon Valley's stranglehold on the meaning of entrepreneurship. David Sax's latest will get you fired up about the many different ways to build a meaningful life by striking out on your own."

-- "Cal Newport, New York Times bestselling author"

"The Soul of an Entrepreneur reclaims entrepreneurship for the 99.99% of business people who aren't at the helm of billion-dollar corporations. David Sax writes poetically (and often humorously) about what makes these everyday entrepreneurs tick, and why tens of millions of us choose entrepreneurship over the corporate rat race."

-- "Adam Alter, New York Times bestselling author"

About the Author

David Sax is a writer and reporter who specializes in business and culture. His work appears regularly in Bloomberg Businessweek, the New Yorker's Currency blog, and other publications. He is the author of Save the Deli, which won a James Beard Award for Writing and Literature, and The Tastemakers. He lives in Toronto.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07W5528N6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ PublicAffairs (April 21, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 21, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1584 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 324 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 48 ratings

About the author

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David Sax

David Sax

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David Sax is a journalist, writer, and keynote speaker specializing in business and culture.

David's latest book, The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter looks at the resurgence of analog goods and ideas, during a time when we assumed digital would conquer all. It's available in various formats, but especially in paper, and was a Washington Post Bestseller. David's first book, Save the Deli: In Search of Perfect Pastrami, Crusty Rye, and the Heart of Jewish Delicatessen and won a James Beard Award for writing and literature, as well as other awards and the praise of deli lovers everywhere. His second book is The Tastemakers: Why We're Crazy for Cronuts but Fed Up with Fondue, which is chronicles how food trends emerge, grow, and ultimately make a difference in our world.

In April 2020, he will publish The Soul of An Entrepreneur: Work and Life Beyond the Startup Myth, which examines the meaning of entrepreneurship and working for yourself.

He lives in Toronto, Canada.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
48 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Dean Rotbart
5.0 out of 5 stars Studs Terkel Meet David Sax
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2020
Verified Purchase
I was still in high school when Studs Terkel's seminal book, "Working," was published in 1974. I love that book to this day.

In "The Soul of an Entrepreneur," David Sax offers readers a modern take on "Working," only David focuses on entrepreneurs.

Don't expect a book profiling Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Mark Cuban, or Jeff Bezos. The true entrepreneurs who comprise our modern economy are the owners of hair salons, restaurants, car washes, jewelry stores, and tens of thousands of other small businesses and professional practices.

This book, an easy read, debunks just about every stereotype people have about founders, including their backgrounds, motivations, and measure of success.

If you are an entrepreneur, you will take comfort in reading David's book that your struggles and dreams are shared by so many others, while nine-to-five workers will discover the truth behind the entrepreneurial myth.
4 people found this helpful
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Samuel Beyer
5.0 out of 5 stars David Sax Does it Again!
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2020
Verified Purchase
Funny and inspiring. After reading David’s first two books I have always pre-ordered his new releases. This one does not disappoint and gives a real view of starting a business that you do not see on the cover of Forbes or Business Insider. I have always had starting a business in the back of my mind and this book gives an idea of how to do outside of going on Shark Tank.
2 people found this helpful
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Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars David is the best writer on entrepreneurship
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2021
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This book is an in depth look into what entrepreneurship truly is, and what constitutes the soul of an entrepreneur. It is hands down the best book for those who want to become entrepreneurs, as it lays out the true value of being a risk taker. Thanks, David!
One person found this helpful
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My Letter to the World
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Those Interested in Entrepreneurship
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2020
In this myth-busting exploration of North American entrepreneurs, David researches immigrants whose startups in a new country offer them a new identity, lifestyle entrepreneurs who want to live life on their own terms no matter the hard work, families who struggle to carry on their business legacy, and business owners who wish to share their values with their employees and the world. He finds that entrepreneurship means different things to different people, but the iconic image of the Silicon Valley genius boy rock star is a rarity. Idolizing and funding that model are at best misleading and exploitative for aspiring business owners and at worst fundamentally destructive of our communities and economy.
One person found this helpful
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Chicago Book Addict
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2020
I’ve read a few of David Sax’s books and this was by far my favorite. I love how he adds more dimension to not only what it means to be an entrepreneur but also the dimensions of an entrepreneurial life that are not often spoken about. Given the current political climate I especially appreciated the parts on immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs. Have already recommended!
2 people found this helpful
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S. E.
2.0 out of 5 stars Skip it if you value your time
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2022
The Silicon Valley entrepreneurship myth is bad, real entrepreneurship is not about money or success, it's about people feeling independent and empowered.

There, you have it. You can now comfortably skip this book and read a book with some real content.

I think the book should have been an article (and it reads like a collection of articles). I truly think the author had great intentions but at least to me, the book didn't have a consistent message.

I think there are much better books out there about entrepreneurship (including non-SV style entrepreneurship). I do agree with most of the author's points about SV-style entrepreneurship, but that alone isn't enough for writing a book (especially writing a good book).

TLDR; skip it if you value your time.
2 people found this helpful
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Derek Lidow
5.0 out of 5 stars A page turner filled with deep insights about the people we didn't know we cared so much about
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2020
Sax's book is so easy and fun to read it flies by as if we were on vacation. But the book also make us feel and makes us think. the book is filled with page-turning descriptions of people we care about and that care about us, just that we've never stopped to think about it. Sax has written a great book.
2 people found this helpful
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Morra Aarons
5.0 out of 5 stars Warm, human, real and inspiring look at who entrepreneurs really are
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2020
I love this book! David Sax cuts through all the media hype around entrepreneurs and offers insightful portraits of business owners from all walks of life as well as food for thought if you are considering taking the leap. By showing us who entrepreneurs really are, he offers the reader real faith in the power of small business owners to help our hurting economy.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Alison
4.0 out of 5 stars A soulful read about Real life entrepreneurs
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 28, 2021
Verified Purchase
As I consider revisiting being self employed David Sax has helped me redefine in my own mind the real meaning of ‘entrepreneur’. Passionate and compassionate David honours and champions the millions of every day entrepreneurs around the world who live courageously letting their soul guide them. A damn good read! Alison UK
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Eva Sabatini
4.0 out of 5 stars Like the author
Reviewed in Canada on July 3, 2020
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I enjoy reading.
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