I firmly believe that Michael Lewis has truly refined his writing skills over the course of many years.

As one of his very first books, this particular work still had a certain roughness to it.

It bears a slight resemblance to "Moneyball," which was published later. In both cases, there is a rather neurotic main character who also happens to be a bit of a genius.

However, Jim Clark is not that similar to Billy Beane. It begins to seem as if this was something that Lewis took pleasure in focusing on or perhaps even creating in his earlier literary works.

I was merely a teenager when most of the events described in this book took place. But it is truly fascinating to look back on them more than 25 years later.

It provides a unique perspective and allows us to see how the technological and business landscapes have evolved during that time.

Overall, while this book may not be as polished as some of Lewis's later works, it still offers valuable insights and an engaging story.

Having resided in Silicon Valley and been employed by Google, it is truly captivating to peruse accounts of earlier incarnations of Silicon Valley. This allows one to discern both the differences and the similarities. The narrative of Jim Clark encapsulates the very essence of Silicon Valley and offers a flawless archetype of the Silicon Valley entrepreneur. It is astonishing how aptly that archetype applies to the entrepreneurs who currently call the valley their home.

The story presents a wonderful portrayal of a fascinating individual, told at a breakneck tempo that compels you to keep "turning the pages." It provides a vivid snapshot of the entrepreneurial spirit that has thrived in Silicon Valley throughout the years. The actions and decisions of Jim Clark serve as a blueprint for many modern-day entrepreneurs in the region. His ability to innovate, take risks, and disrupt industries is an inspiration to all those who seek to make their mark in the highly competitive world of technology and business.

Overall, the story of Jim Clark is not only an interesting read but also a valuable lesson in entrepreneurship and the history of Silicon Valley.

Deserves 3.75 stars. In 2021, it was truly fascinating to read a book that delved into the late 1990s. During that time, Jim Clark, the founder of Silicon Graphics, went on to create two new billion-dollar companies, Netscape and Healtheon. While Clark was in the process of building the world's largest single-mast sailboat, Hyperion, he granted Michael Lewis extensive access to him. The Hyperion was an amazing feat as it could be controlled by computer from anywhere, courtesy of the numerous Silicon Graphics workstations on board and the elaborate wiring throughout the ship.

Computer code was the fundamental element behind Netscape, Healtheon, and the Hyperion. This book offers us a unique opportunity to learn about Jim Clark, the establishment of his companies, certain aspects of the operation in Silicon Valley, and Clark's intense battles with Microsoft. It provides a detailed and engaging account of a remarkable period in technology and business history.

This was a truly captivating read, yet I did find myself growing a bit weary towards the conclusion.

The book offered profound insights into the mind of the Silicon Valley luminary, Jim Clark. He was an extremely eccentric individual and one of the key forces that transformed life on Wall Street.

Michael Lewis’ “Liar’s Poker” dissected the frenzy on Wall Street to capitalize on the bond market in the 80s. “The New New Thing” delved into the internet boom and its impact on the economy. Instead of the markets and investors pursuing companies with profits, stock prices were based on the potential of the emerging internet entities.

Jim Clark founded Netscape, which achieved remarkable success. I relished listening to Jim’s perspective on Bill Gates and Microsoft, his competitors. Microsoft faced antitrust issues with Internet Explorer as they were promoting it as the sole internet software on their PCs, thereby creating a monopoly. Jim maneuvered through this and became an instant millionaire. What was fascinating was his penchant for chasing the next big thing rather than managing a single company. He utilized Netscape’s success to finance Healtheon (essentially WebMD for doctors) and then MyCFO (providing live investing information for millionaire investors, eliminating the need to coordinate with brokers for access to real-time financial data).

The section on his development of a self-sailing boat across the Atlantic was interesting, but perhaps not worthy of over 60 pages. It seems Michael Lewis had his most extensive exposure to Jim during this adventure, which led to an overemphasis here. Nevertheless, it remains a quality read, especially in our era of ChatGPT and AI. One wonders how these new technologies will reshape the market. There are likely valuable lessons to be gleaned from the internet boom of the 90s.

Jim Clark is a remarkable figure in the world of technology. His story is one of innovation and entrepreneurship. He is the mastermind behind some of the most influential companies in Silicon Valley, such as Silicon Graphics, Netscape, Healtheon, and myCFO. Clark's contributions have had a profound impact on the technology boom that has been unfolding in Silicon Valley since the 1970s and continues to this day.

But there is more to Jim Clark than just his business achievements. He also has a passion for big boats. This unique interest adds another dimension to his already colorful personality. It shows that he is not only a visionary in the tech world but also has a love for adventure and the open sea.

Overall, Jim Clark's story is an inspiring one. It demonstrates the power of creativity, determination, and a willingness to take risks. His companies have changed the way we live and work, and his passion for big boats reminds us that there is more to life than just business.

Easy reading doesn't necessarily mean there's not much substance.

Sometimes, a text can be presented in a simple and accessible way while still containing valuable information.

For example, a children's book might use simple language and illustrations to convey important life lessons or introduce new concepts.

Similarly, a blog post or article might be written in an easy-to-read style to reach a wider audience and share useful tips or ideas.

Just because a piece of writing is easy to understand doesn't mean it's not worth reading.

In fact, easy reading can often be more engaging and enjoyable than more complex texts, especially for those who are new to a particular subject or who don't have a lot of time to spare.

So, don't be too quick to dismiss easy reading as lacking in substance.

Take the time to explore different types of literature and writing, and you might be surprised at what you discover.

Jim Clark is often described in a rather contradictory manner. He is labeled as "an American treasure," yet also "insufferable" and "infuriating."

He is, however, an extremely successful entrepreneur who headed three billion-dollar businesses. His fortune was made by his remarkable ability to anticipate future trends and seize opportunities long before anyone else even realized he was onto something.

The article provides an in-depth look at Clark, but it delves less into the economics that Lewis is famous for. What we see of Clark is quite confusing, and it's hard to say how much we've truly learned about him.

Nevertheless, it's still a fun read, and the idea of getting into a helicopter with this guy is both scary and hard to imagine. Lewis, on the other hand, never hesitated.

As I go back and re-read certain passages and read some for the first time, I continue to be amazed at how Lewis can make seemingly any topic interesting to me. His writing has a unique charm that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

Whether it's the complex world of business or the idiosyncrasies of a particular individual, Lewis has a way of presenting the material in a way that makes it accessible and captivating.

It's this ability that makes his books so popular and备受赞誉.

I ended up largely skimming the final half of this book.

Perhaps I missed the good part.

I guess I don't really see a real point to this.

Likely caused by the clarity of hindsight, but I don't find much to learn from reading about a singularly talented person born at the exact right moment in history to support their genius.

Clark isn't a super compelling figure to me.

I don't want to model his actions.

I don't find myself learning much from this very rosy portrayal.

And I feel the general kid gloves used to handle someone very clearly comfortable making waves by Lewis is some of his worst work.

This book didn't keep me captivated in the way biographies often do.

It's not a useful "business read" for me.

And it's pretty boring overall.

Maybe if I had paid more attention to the details, I would have had a different opinion.

But as it stands, I'm not overly impressed with this book.

It seems to lack the depth and substance that I expect from a good biography.

I would not recommend this book to others who are looking for an engaging and informative read.

There are many other biographies out there that are much more interesting and worthwhile.

This is one of my coworkers' favorite books. It was suggested to me when I mentioned the good and bad influences that "Soul of a New Machine" had on me. However, this book is no "Soul". I was really enjoying it until a certain point, which was a real turning point. At that moment, you could almost see the lightbulb appear over Jim Clark's head. He realizes that everyone around him is a manipulable, greedy idiot. And then he decides to start exploiting this fact to fund his yacht habit.

It seems quite appropriate to be reading this book during this current wave of tech IPOs. It's actually quite hilarious because basically all the companies that are mentioned in the book are now just dust. There is nothing left of them. It's a bit of a sobering thought when you consider how quickly things can change in the world of technology.

Despite this, the book still offers some interesting insights into the minds of those who were involved in the tech boom of the past. It shows how greed and ambition can sometimes lead people down a path that they may not have expected. And it also serves as a reminder that success is often fleeting and that we should always be prepared for the unexpected.

Overall, while this book may not be as good as "Soul of a New Machine", it still has its merits and is worth reading for anyone who is interested in the history of technology and the people who made it happen.

This was the story of Jim Clark's huge boat. It was a tale that, unfortunately, failed to live up to expectations.

Michael Lewis, known for his engaging and thought-provoking works, seemed to have missed the mark with this one. The narrative lacked the depth and excitement that his previous books had possessed.

The description of the boat itself was detailed, but it didn't manage to capture the reader's imagination. The characters, too, felt one-dimensional and uninteresting.

Overall, it was a disappointment. It's safe to say that this is definitely Michael Lewis' worst book ever. There was simply nothing in it that could salvage the experience for the reader.

Perhaps he was trying something new, but in this case, it didn't pay off. One can only hope that his future works will return to the high standards that he has set in the past.

A riveting account of the genesis of Silicon Valley and the internet boom is presented through the eyes of Jim Clark, a remarkable man who founded 3 companies, each worth over a billion dollars. In the hands of Micheal Lewis, this story is as engaging and thrilling as any Hollywood blockbuster. There are several key takeaways from this account.

First, learning something late does not necessarily mean one cannot overtake the rest. What truly matters is an innate curiosity and a strong desire to learn. This quality allows individuals to continuously explore and adapt, even in the face of changing circumstances.

Second, empowering engineers can lead to rapid and significant changes. When engineers are given the freedom and resources to innovate, they can create solutions that revolutionize industries and change the world.

Finally, having an unwavering conviction in one's instincts, beliefs, and imagination, even in the midst of doubters, non-believers, and sceptics, has a power of epic proportions. This kind of confidence and determination can drive individuals to achieve great things and overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

In many ways, the author's use of Hyperion is a perfect metaphor to replicate the profound changes in the modern financial system, which have been brought about by the rise of the Internet and Silicon Valley. These changes represent the greatest legal creation of wealth ever known to man, and they continue to shape our world today.

This particular work

falls short when compared to any of Lewis's other literary creations.

It lacks the charm, depth, and engaging narrative that are characteristic of his other books.

The story may seem平淡无奇, the characters not as fully developed or as interesting as those in his previous works.

Perhaps the author was going through a different phase or had different intentions with this piece, but unfortunately, it doesn't measure up to the high standards set by his other books.

Readers who are familiar with Lewis's body of work may be disappointed by this offering, as it fails to capture the essence and magic that made his other books so beloved.

However, it's important to note that every book is a unique creation, and while this one may not be as good as the others, it still may have some redeeming qualities that could be appreciated by some readers.

Nevertheless, in comparison to Lewis's other outstanding works, this one simply doesn't stack up.