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Lifehacked: How One Family from the Slums Made Millions Selling Apps
Allen Wong is the developer behind many best-selling apps such as 5-0 Radio and Police Scanner+. He became a self-made millionaire before he was 25.
But, life wasn't always this grand for him. He was the only person in his family earning an income. And, he came from an oppressed family that grew up in the slums. Regardless, the apps he published were downloaded by over 15 million people.
His apps have been featured in many places, including Wired.com, NBC News, and CNN. Now he's sharing the story on how he did it, the crises he struggled with, and what his father taught him to be successful.
App companies have paid him thousands of dollars for consultant work, and he has helped them increase their download numbers by over 1000%. One of those apps was downloaded by over 100,000 users in one day. And now he is revealing his marketing secrets for the first time in this book.
Note: This book was written with non-technical people in mind. The book covers both life and entrepreneurial lessons, and not all of the book is about app development.
But, life wasn't always this grand for him. He was the only person in his family earning an income. And, he came from an oppressed family that grew up in the slums. Regardless, the apps he published were downloaded by over 15 million people.
His apps have been featured in many places, including Wired.com, NBC News, and CNN. Now he's sharing the story on how he did it, the crises he struggled with, and what his father taught him to be successful.
App companies have paid him thousands of dollars for consultant work, and he has helped them increase their download numbers by over 1000%. One of those apps was downloaded by over 100,000 users in one day. And now he is revealing his marketing secrets for the first time in this book.
Note: This book was written with non-technical people in mind. The book covers both life and entrepreneurial lessons, and not all of the book is about app development.
- GenresBusinessNonfiction
210 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 10, 2013
The book is actually a collection of essays or short stories about the events in life, the decisions he's made, and the outcomes of both. It runs in a chronological order, but it does skip around between present day and past, because he applies what he has learned in past to his business decisions in the future.
I found out about this book after a friend of mine commented on the author's blog entry that he posted on Facebook. If you're unsure about this author's business acumen, I suggest that you browse through his Facebook to get a sense of who he is.
But it's hard to argue that the author doesn't know what he's talking about. I checked iTunes for his apps, and he has not just one top-ranked apps, but several top-ranked apps. This is a feat that usually would take corporations with a large marketing budget to do. Yet he single-handedly manages to accomplish all that and still retain a down-to-earth demeanor after all of that. And by this I mean that the book doesn't read like a book about all his achievements. Instead, it's mostly about the hard times in his life and how and why he was able to overcome them.
At times I laughed, and at times I shed a tear. His family's story of survival and perseverance sounds almost fantastical at times. Because I don't want give away too much, I can only tell you that this is one of those books that you can't just read a few pages and be done with it. It is constantly drawing you and pulling you through his life. It reinvigorates an entrepreneurial spirit that we all have, but fail to act upon for one reason or another. Ultimately, he leaves you with the focus, motivation, and business plan that many entrepreneurs seem to have lost.
I found out about this book after a friend of mine commented on the author's blog entry that he posted on Facebook. If you're unsure about this author's business acumen, I suggest that you browse through his Facebook to get a sense of who he is.
But it's hard to argue that the author doesn't know what he's talking about. I checked iTunes for his apps, and he has not just one top-ranked apps, but several top-ranked apps. This is a feat that usually would take corporations with a large marketing budget to do. Yet he single-handedly manages to accomplish all that and still retain a down-to-earth demeanor after all of that. And by this I mean that the book doesn't read like a book about all his achievements. Instead, it's mostly about the hard times in his life and how and why he was able to overcome them.
At times I laughed, and at times I shed a tear. His family's story of survival and perseverance sounds almost fantastical at times. Because I don't want give away too much, I can only tell you that this is one of those books that you can't just read a few pages and be done with it. It is constantly drawing you and pulling you through his life. It reinvigorates an entrepreneurial spirit that we all have, but fail to act upon for one reason or another. Ultimately, he leaves you with the focus, motivation, and business plan that many entrepreneurs seem to have lost.
January 17, 2014
Not bad, Allen is obviously not a writer, but his story is captivating regardless. He has an inspirational story to tell and I am quite glad I read it. Recommended for people that are considering programming as a career / hobby.
September 28, 2013
“Real living is living for others. Be happy, but never satisfied.” - Bruce Lee
Done reading! Will teach you so much lifehacks in life!
Done reading! Will teach you so much lifehacks in life!
July 24, 2024
It was a good read, especially the life lessons apart from tips on creating successful apps on the App Store. I recommend it!
My favorite quote was:
“Pride, disappointment, and fear all go away when you don’t expect to live another day. What’s left is what’s important. Our time on this Earth is short. Make it count, son.”
My favorite quote was:
“Pride, disappointment, and fear all go away when you don’t expect to live another day. What’s left is what’s important. Our time on this Earth is short. Make it count, son.”
April 2, 2019
Even though as some reviewer's have stated it skips around I really appreciated this book. Allen speaks from first hand on his experiences as an entrepreneur and coder and I got a lot out of this book. Almost like an Art of War for budding business owners.
His message of dedication and humility helping achieve his American Dream is still applicable today!
His message of dedication and humility helping achieve his American Dream is still applicable today!
June 29, 2014
I appreciate Allen Wong's story and the life hacks presented in the book, and I admire the fact that he is a self-made millionaire. The book could use a really good editor though. The tone is kind of annoying, it sounds like it was written by a kid who could use more life experiences and maturity.
August 8, 2013
Really really good book which I need to re-read.
Allen's story of overcoming a tough childhood and making millions from app development. A lot of good 'life' tips too.
Allen's story of overcoming a tough childhood and making millions from app development. A lot of good 'life' tips too.
July 8, 2014
Unfortunate title, great book. I feel that it's best to learn from people who walk their talk - and Allen definitely has.
December 25, 2014
Thanks Allen for great book! I did skim some parts what I thought were unnecessary. Gave me inspiration to keep pushing though! :)
February 3, 2016
Useful information, especially the practical guide to how to make money with app. Other life advices are mediocre. The writing is lackluster.
January 17, 2017
How his father changed his life buy immigrate to USA and how he changed his life when he's in doom?
Life can be changed if you hack it.
Life can be changed if you hack it.
February 9, 2023
What this book is about
- Many tips (a.k.a lifehacks) about living a life narrated in a way of biography about the author, Allen Wong.
- Some tips on how to build successful apps.
What I like
- Combining the tips with his biography makes it interesting to read.
- I feel more related to him since he doesn't come from a rich background. The struggle sounds real enough to be relatable.
- Most of the tips he provide genuinely sound good and align quite well with what I think.
What I don't like
- Many of the tips are pretty common - i just don't get much value from them.
- The tips related to apps are quite old and almost out of style by now.
Who should read this book
- Someone from a low income family who needs to have some motivations to go through the tough time. It's a plus if you are a software engineer.
- Someone who is interested in the idea of learning life lessons in a biography form.
- Many tips (a.k.a lifehacks) about living a life narrated in a way of biography about the author, Allen Wong.
- Some tips on how to build successful apps.
What I like
- Combining the tips with his biography makes it interesting to read.
- I feel more related to him since he doesn't come from a rich background. The struggle sounds real enough to be relatable.
- Most of the tips he provide genuinely sound good and align quite well with what I think.
What I don't like
- Many of the tips are pretty common - i just don't get much value from them.
- The tips related to apps are quite old and almost out of style by now.
Who should read this book
- Someone from a low income family who needs to have some motivations to go through the tough time. It's a plus if you are a software engineer.
- Someone who is interested in the idea of learning life lessons in a biography form.
March 24, 2022
This book is kind of ridiculous, written in a hurry, and full of contradictions. This guy manages to rationalize all his shady and obviously illegal actions, all the while professing the importance of ethical behavior. It's a remarkably frank account of the real hustler mentality. Many in the valley gloss over the shady tricks they employed to win, but this guy doesn't. Clickfraud, hacking, dark user interface patterns. It's all in there.
If you suspect you're slightly naïve about how silicon valley really works, this is the book to read.
If you suspect you're slightly naïve about how silicon valley really works, this is the book to read.
May 17, 2017
The writing style was very simple and it made for a quick read. A lot of the tips were pretty obvious, but it's still fun to read a positive story and think that it could happen to you.
October 26, 2018
There are little tidbits of helpfulness in here, but overall it doesn't do much to help the reader on toward success, it's more of a retelling of how the author enabled himself to buy expensive cars.
September 10, 2013
The book is actually a collection of essays or short stories about the events in life, the decisions he's made, and the outcomes of both. It runs in a chronological order, but it does skip around between present day and past, because he applies what he has learned in past to his business decisions in the future.
I found out about this book after a friend of mine commented on the author's blog entry that he posted on Facebook. If you're unsure about this author's business acumen, I suggest that you browse through his Facebook to get a sense of who he is.
But it's hard to argue that the author doesn't know what he's talking about. I checked iTunes for his apps, and he has not just one top-ranked apps, but several top-ranked apps. This is a feat that usually would take corporations with a large marketing budget to do. Yet he single-handedly manages to accomplish all that and still retain a down-to-earth demeanor after all of that. And by this I mean that the book doesn't read like a book about all his achievements. Instead, it's mostly about the hard times in his life and how and why he was able to overcome them.
At times I laughed, and at times I shed a tear. His family's story of survival and perseverance sounds almost fantastical at times. Because I don't want give away too much, I can only tell you that this is one of those books that you can't just read a few pages and be done with it. It is constantly drawing you and pulling you through his life. It reinvigorates an entrepreneurial spirit that we all have, but fail to act upon for one reason or another. Ultimately, he leaves you with the focus, motivation, and business plan that many entrepreneurs seem to have lost.
I found out about this book after a friend of mine commented on the author's blog entry that he posted on Facebook. If you're unsure about this author's business acumen, I suggest that you browse through his Facebook to get a sense of who he is.
But it's hard to argue that the author doesn't know what he's talking about. I checked iTunes for his apps, and he has not just one top-ranked apps, but several top-ranked apps. This is a feat that usually would take corporations with a large marketing budget to do. Yet he single-handedly manages to accomplish all that and still retain a down-to-earth demeanor after all of that. And by this I mean that the book doesn't read like a book about all his achievements. Instead, it's mostly about the hard times in his life and how and why he was able to overcome them.
At times I laughed, and at times I shed a tear. His family's story of survival and perseverance sounds almost fantastical at times. Because I don't want give away too much, I can only tell you that this is one of those books that you can't just read a few pages and be done with it. It is constantly drawing you and pulling you through his life. It reinvigorates an entrepreneurial spirit that we all have, but fail to act upon for one reason or another. Ultimately, he leaves you with the focus, motivation, and business plan that many entrepreneurs seem to have lost.
August 31, 2013
I didn't really enjoy this book at all. Something about the author's tone of voice was really annoying. I respect that he's made money, I respect that he's made himself what he is, but I don't really like the way he just dishes out advice with a side of "I made the right decision because I'm me and it was obvious".
There were also some grammatical and spelling mistakes that grated on me. I understand that this is a first book, but an editor really should have review this before it was published.
All in all the author's tone was annoying, there were errors, and the book itself wasn't very informative. I feel this book was marketed as a "tips and tricks" book but read as a biography. A biography is fine, but that's not what I wanted or expected when I bought this book.
There were also some grammatical and spelling mistakes that grated on me. I understand that this is a first book, but an editor really should have review this before it was published.
All in all the author's tone was annoying, there were errors, and the book itself wasn't very informative. I feel this book was marketed as a "tips and tricks" book but read as a biography. A biography is fine, but that's not what I wanted or expected when I bought this book.
August 26, 2019
I loved reading Wong's story. It was very inspirational. He is for sure very wise and accomplished for his age. I felt like many of the ideas in his book weren't fully flushed out and a few were slightly out of touch with reality. Nonetheless, it was a worthwhile read and fascinating to see in the mind of another entrepreneur around my age.
April 21, 2014
"Do this, don't do that" type of book! No emotions, no stories, no human touch!
January 6, 2015
This book reads more like a really long blog post but the content is sound. Allen's writing style is very down-to-earth but he gives good life tips and app dev tips parsed into his life story.
January 4, 2016
Very poorly written, clearly just designed to make the guy even more money. No real insights here in my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews