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Uncommon #1
Uncommon Stock: Version 1.0
Book 1 of The Uncommon Series, the tech startup thriller trilogy.
Mara Winkel is rock climbing, mountain biking, and 'studying' her way through school at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
But when her best friend James asks her to partner with him to start a disruptive new software company she discovers that the world of technology startups is fraught with intrigue, adrenaline, soaring successes, and scorching failures. It turns out this is especially true when your technology threatens entrenched drug cartels.
Mara has to juggle mysterious investors, opaque partners, critical customers, and a team that is as brilliant as it is dysfunctional until only one question remains: win or die.
Mara Winkel is rock climbing, mountain biking, and 'studying' her way through school at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
But when her best friend James asks her to partner with him to start a disruptive new software company she discovers that the world of technology startups is fraught with intrigue, adrenaline, soaring successes, and scorching failures. It turns out this is especially true when your technology threatens entrenched drug cartels.
Mara has to juggle mysterious investors, opaque partners, critical customers, and a team that is as brilliant as it is dysfunctional until only one question remains: win or die.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2014
201 people are currently reading
778 people want to read
About the author
Eliot Peper
14 books356 followersEliot Peper is the author of eleven novels, including, most recently, Foundry.
He's helped build technology businesses, survived dengue fever, translated Virgil's Aeneid from the original Latin, worked as an entrepreneur-in-residence at a venture capital firm, and explored the ancient Himalayan kingdom of Mustang.
The best way to follow Eliot's writing is to subscribe to his newsletter.
He's helped build technology businesses, survived dengue fever, translated Virgil's Aeneid from the original Latin, worked as an entrepreneur-in-residence at a venture capital firm, and explored the ancient Himalayan kingdom of Mustang.
The best way to follow Eliot's writing is to subscribe to his newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
March 4, 2014
Disclosure: I've been involved from the beginning. A year ago Eliot sent me a one chapter draft out of the blue (we didn't know each other) asking me what I thought. It was love at first site - an action / adventure book about entrepreneurship and co-founders based in Boulder, CO? I was thinking about working on some fiction in between my writing on the Startup Revolution series and realized I could play along with Eliot and see how he did it.
Over the next few months, he kept sending me chapters. I'd give him feedback but the storyline came together quickly and I realized Eliot was doing the same thing to entrepreneurial fiction that Grisham did to legal fiction. Lots of plot twists, lots of tension, great character development, and easy to relate to the situations if you are a first time entrepreneur, or an experienced entrepreneur remembering back to your first company.
We ultimately created a publishing company (FG Press - [...]) and approached Eliot about having Uncommon Stock be the first title we published.
I think the genre of entrepreneurial / startup / thriller / fiction is ripe for action now that entrepreneurship has become mainstream. Uncommon Stock is a dynamite first book in what will be at least a trilogy about Mara and James, the two founders of Mozaik.
If you are into startups, entrepreneurship, and fiction, grab a copy. You'll love it.
Over the next few months, he kept sending me chapters. I'd give him feedback but the storyline came together quickly and I realized Eliot was doing the same thing to entrepreneurial fiction that Grisham did to legal fiction. Lots of plot twists, lots of tension, great character development, and easy to relate to the situations if you are a first time entrepreneur, or an experienced entrepreneur remembering back to your first company.
We ultimately created a publishing company (FG Press - [...]) and approached Eliot about having Uncommon Stock be the first title we published.
I think the genre of entrepreneurial / startup / thriller / fiction is ripe for action now that entrepreneurship has become mainstream. Uncommon Stock is a dynamite first book in what will be at least a trilogy about Mara and James, the two founders of Mozaik.
If you are into startups, entrepreneurship, and fiction, grab a copy. You'll love it.
September 5, 2016
Once in a while you come upon a book that throws you completely unguarded off your feet. When you buy a book you usually have an idea what to expect to find between the covers and you prepare yourself for a pleasurable journey into a new world unknown. But when you get a free copy of an e-book as a runner up for the review giveaway contest, you do not know much about it, or whom you are going to deal with and spend your Kindle-time with during the next few days or weeks.
Mara Winkle is the heroine of Eliot Peper's Uncommon Stock: Version 1.0. She is a strong female character caught in the bizarre love-business triangle between her boyfriend Craig and her best friend James. Craig and James are not too much fond of each other, which makes Mara's life even more colorful and exciting, pushing her every now and then to express her strong character in both decision-and-relationship making. Beside being strong headed and ready to cut off people seemingly without a second thought or regret, Mara is passionate about mountain biking and especially rock climbing. "Climbing was the most intellectually intense sport Mara had experienced. She had heard it described as physical chess. It was a kind of dynamic athletic geometry and there was a good reason bouldering routes were called problems. Every move was an exercise in balance, a special mixture of intuition and calculation." However, she is not so enthusiastic about studying at the University of Colorado, Boulder, especially when her best friend James asks her to partner with him to start a new software company Mozaik Industries.
This is a decision that changes both James' and Mara's lives. In their new partnership, James focuses himself on "what he does best, technical development to make Mozaik as awesome as it can possibly be" while Mara becomes "the buffer between him and all the rest of the random shit that needs doing" (Peper describes them as sales, investment, legal, and marketing). In short, they split their roles in doing what they are both best at: "programming for James, juggling for Mara." How this decision affects Craig we won't mention here, so as not to reveal too much and thus spoil the thrill of reading!
This is the moment when all the fun starts in Uncommon Stock, placing this novel among the ranks of fast-paced tech startup thrillers. For new entrepreneurs and enthusiasts Uncommon Stock may serve as a greatly informative and educational reading full of useful advice, but also as the warning on the cruel facts of starting your own business. "Founding a company is a fuck-ton of work. The sausage factory reality is far from the glitzy Silicon Valley mythology. It's a grinding slog that can be enormously satisfying and rewarding, but it's also painful, frustrating, and soul-crushing. If you're going to make it you'll have to sink blood, sweat, and tears into the process. And if you're going to make that kind of a commitment, you've got to truly believe in what you're doing. You've got to be such a zealot that other people are magnetically attracted to you and what you're working on. You've got to dream."
Eliot Peper masterfully leads us through a painful startup process, showing us all the traps and hardships we face along the way. No price is too high, every mistake is paid dearly. Before we realize it, we have already accumulated basic knowledge of the craft, ending up much smarter than we were before starting reading this exciting, adventurous, wise and gripping novel of a slightly unusual title.
In between twists and turns, Eliot Peper amazes us with beautifully intelligent descriptions and ingenious eye for a detail. "They people-watched along the way, relishing the familiar oddities of Boulder's unique human condition. Cyclists were out in force. Mara wondered why it was considered cool to wear jerseys plastered with tacky Fortune 500 branding. A shirtless homeless man was loudly touting the spiritual virtues of vegetarianism and handing out handwritten flyers on the evils of meat from a street corner." "The sky was mostly clear with a thin patina of smog and the sun shone down on an endless grid of concrete, steel, asphalt, and cars. An occasional palm tree or soccer field broke up the urban mélange." "Trees occupied a different dimension than humans. Movement was never an option. They were literally rooted in place and experienced the world through a permanently local lens. Seeds blew off in the wind to sprout new trees in places the parents would never see. And entire generations lived in one area."
Or, "The snakes in her stomach had distilled into a cocktail of righteous anger and frustration."
Beautiful!
I don't shun admitting: Eliot Peper bought me with his descriptions, if not only with his page-turning plot. Uncommon Stock is a high-quality intelligent and intriguing writing of a skillful and undoubtedly talented author whose success and a true value cannot be measured only by a number of sold copies, but also by a commitment and professionalism of this indie writer invested into creating the best end-product for his readers, the only ones that matter to him.
I wouldn't be surprised if it also helps a few startup businesses in the process with his motivational and inspirational dialogues, situations and advices, because, as the author himself says in the novel, "there is something ephemeral but infinitely satisfying about starting something yourself."
BJ
www.bernardjan.com
Original blog post
Mara Winkle is the heroine of Eliot Peper's Uncommon Stock: Version 1.0. She is a strong female character caught in the bizarre love-business triangle between her boyfriend Craig and her best friend James. Craig and James are not too much fond of each other, which makes Mara's life even more colorful and exciting, pushing her every now and then to express her strong character in both decision-and-relationship making. Beside being strong headed and ready to cut off people seemingly without a second thought or regret, Mara is passionate about mountain biking and especially rock climbing. "Climbing was the most intellectually intense sport Mara had experienced. She had heard it described as physical chess. It was a kind of dynamic athletic geometry and there was a good reason bouldering routes were called problems. Every move was an exercise in balance, a special mixture of intuition and calculation." However, she is not so enthusiastic about studying at the University of Colorado, Boulder, especially when her best friend James asks her to partner with him to start a new software company Mozaik Industries.
This is a decision that changes both James' and Mara's lives. In their new partnership, James focuses himself on "what he does best, technical development to make Mozaik as awesome as it can possibly be" while Mara becomes "the buffer between him and all the rest of the random shit that needs doing" (Peper describes them as sales, investment, legal, and marketing). In short, they split their roles in doing what they are both best at: "programming for James, juggling for Mara." How this decision affects Craig we won't mention here, so as not to reveal too much and thus spoil the thrill of reading!
This is the moment when all the fun starts in Uncommon Stock, placing this novel among the ranks of fast-paced tech startup thrillers. For new entrepreneurs and enthusiasts Uncommon Stock may serve as a greatly informative and educational reading full of useful advice, but also as the warning on the cruel facts of starting your own business. "Founding a company is a fuck-ton of work. The sausage factory reality is far from the glitzy Silicon Valley mythology. It's a grinding slog that can be enormously satisfying and rewarding, but it's also painful, frustrating, and soul-crushing. If you're going to make it you'll have to sink blood, sweat, and tears into the process. And if you're going to make that kind of a commitment, you've got to truly believe in what you're doing. You've got to be such a zealot that other people are magnetically attracted to you and what you're working on. You've got to dream."
Eliot Peper masterfully leads us through a painful startup process, showing us all the traps and hardships we face along the way. No price is too high, every mistake is paid dearly. Before we realize it, we have already accumulated basic knowledge of the craft, ending up much smarter than we were before starting reading this exciting, adventurous, wise and gripping novel of a slightly unusual title.
In between twists and turns, Eliot Peper amazes us with beautifully intelligent descriptions and ingenious eye for a detail. "They people-watched along the way, relishing the familiar oddities of Boulder's unique human condition. Cyclists were out in force. Mara wondered why it was considered cool to wear jerseys plastered with tacky Fortune 500 branding. A shirtless homeless man was loudly touting the spiritual virtues of vegetarianism and handing out handwritten flyers on the evils of meat from a street corner." "The sky was mostly clear with a thin patina of smog and the sun shone down on an endless grid of concrete, steel, asphalt, and cars. An occasional palm tree or soccer field broke up the urban mélange." "Trees occupied a different dimension than humans. Movement was never an option. They were literally rooted in place and experienced the world through a permanently local lens. Seeds blew off in the wind to sprout new trees in places the parents would never see. And entire generations lived in one area."
Or, "The snakes in her stomach had distilled into a cocktail of righteous anger and frustration."
Beautiful!
I don't shun admitting: Eliot Peper bought me with his descriptions, if not only with his page-turning plot. Uncommon Stock is a high-quality intelligent and intriguing writing of a skillful and undoubtedly talented author whose success and a true value cannot be measured only by a number of sold copies, but also by a commitment and professionalism of this indie writer invested into creating the best end-product for his readers, the only ones that matter to him.
I wouldn't be surprised if it also helps a few startup businesses in the process with his motivational and inspirational dialogues, situations and advices, because, as the author himself says in the novel, "there is something ephemeral but infinitely satisfying about starting something yourself."
BJ
www.bernardjan.com
Original blog post
May 16, 2014
At 242 pages long with 69 chapters, each chapter is only about 3.5 pages which makes it feel like a quick and easy read. It is not great literature, but it is fun and full of excellent advice and quotes. For example, here is a consistent theme throughout the book:
I love it. So true. People often are consumed with worry about externalities: funding and customers and revenue. They rarely spend a second thought looking inside at themselves and their team. At one point in the book, the protagonist walks out furious in her first business negotiation. Then her advisor asked her this simple question:
Beautiful. And anybody who has ever tried to do fundraising can instantly sympathize with this part of the book:
But my favorite passage from the entire book was when the advisor was explaining to Mara about his great failure, how his company blew up and what it meant to him:
I’ll finish with a simple choice quote that has some deep truth in it.
Uncommon Stock is loads of fun and I highly recommend it. If you have never started a company before, it gives you an authentic taste of what its like. If you have started a company before, it is fun to go along for someone else’s roller coaster for a change.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars. Given that it is Eliot’s first novel, there is still room for improvement in the writing style. The conflict between Mara and her main opponent was not as strong as it could have been. But overall it is terrific fun and the first chapter of the sequel (included as an epilogue) seems like he is setting up his second book to be a real nail-biter.
Buy the book. Now, before you forget. It is a fun read and you will learn a lot.
Most startups fail because their teams implode, not because their products sucked.
I love it. So true. People often are consumed with worry about externalities: funding and customers and revenue. They rarely spend a second thought looking inside at themselves and their team. At one point in the book, the protagonist walks out furious in her first business negotiation. Then her advisor asked her this simple question:
What would you think of a CEO who walked out on a critical negotiation with a key employee because she got angry?
Beautiful. And anybody who has ever tried to do fundraising can instantly sympathize with this part of the book:
I’ve been cranking away at this fundraising effort for three months now with nothing to show for it. I know it can take time. I’m sure my expectations were somewhat out of touch with reality. But that doesn’t help. Everyone wants to talk, buy me a coffee, and hear our story. Everybody has friends they think might be interested. But nobody’s willing to make a goddamn decision! I follow up and within a couple of weeks most people just drop off the map.
But my favorite passage from the entire book was when the advisor was explaining to Mara about his great failure, how his company blew up and what it meant to him:
“Mara, it’s not an easy life. It breaks you down, builds you up again, and crushes you flat. Great works require great sacrifice. It can be addicting as all hell and I can’t imagine anything more satisfying. But you’ll be able to count the grey hairs and the age lines. And the holes. You’ll be able to count the holes you’ve dug yourself into. Don’t forget there are people out there who will help, who will extend a hand to pull you up. You just have to let them. That’s the hardest part, especially for entrepreneurs.”
I’ll finish with a simple choice quote that has some deep truth in it.
Hold on to that fear. That’s an important feeling. That fear is part of what will drive you to figure your shit out.
Uncommon Stock is loads of fun and I highly recommend it. If you have never started a company before, it gives you an authentic taste of what its like. If you have started a company before, it is fun to go along for someone else’s roller coaster for a change.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars. Given that it is Eliot’s first novel, there is still room for improvement in the writing style. The conflict between Mara and her main opponent was not as strong as it could have been. But overall it is terrific fun and the first chapter of the sequel (included as an epilogue) seems like he is setting up his second book to be a real nail-biter.
Buy the book. Now, before you forget. It is a fun read and you will learn a lot.
March 5, 2014
A startup thriller? I remember being slightly skeptical when I heard "Uncommon Stock" fell under this genre. How can a story about starting a new business be read with anything more than lukewarm disinterest?
Well, I was wrong. I was blown out of the water by this fascinating, fun, and yes, thrilling novel about friendships, personal growth, and being an entrepreneur in the startup industry.
The main character, Mara, is smart as a whip and her voice comes through clearly as she adventures equally on bikes, climbs, and learning about the world of startups.
This story not only surpassed my expectations, but I've found myself thinking about what will happen in the next installment. It's suspenseful, informative, and even poignant. I can't wait to share this with friends and read the next edition, Version 2.0!
Well, I was wrong. I was blown out of the water by this fascinating, fun, and yes, thrilling novel about friendships, personal growth, and being an entrepreneur in the startup industry.
The main character, Mara, is smart as a whip and her voice comes through clearly as she adventures equally on bikes, climbs, and learning about the world of startups.
This story not only surpassed my expectations, but I've found myself thinking about what will happen in the next installment. It's suspenseful, informative, and even poignant. I can't wait to share this with friends and read the next edition, Version 2.0!
December 2, 2014
I'm an entrepreneur myself and was going through my first slightly rough patch with my first company when starting the book. I can't recommend it enough for all entrepreneurs out there, it's actually therapeutical :)
Here's a quote from an interview that I did with the author, that, for me, perfectly summarises the book:
"People don’t talk about that stuff publicly in a non-fiction context — they don’t want to make that their sort of public life. The beauty of fiction is that you can experience that alongside the character. You can give people a window into what it’s like to be the startup or to be in business. And I think for people interested in learning about entrepreneurship that’s really special because there’s a lot more to it that just lean product development."
Plus, it's simply well written.
Here's a quote from an interview that I did with the author, that, for me, perfectly summarises the book:
"People don’t talk about that stuff publicly in a non-fiction context — they don’t want to make that their sort of public life. The beauty of fiction is that you can experience that alongside the character. You can give people a window into what it’s like to be the startup or to be in business. And I think for people interested in learning about entrepreneurship that’s really special because there’s a lot more to it that just lean product development."
Plus, it's simply well written.
March 5, 2014
Uncommon Stock is so d@mn good. Being a Creative Producer of feature-length films and digital media content in Los Angeles and London, I work with non-profits, foundations, and social entrepreneurs on their media strategies and content management.
I can't tell you how informative yet enjoyable this techno thriller is - it has already informed my work about leveraging start-up and tech culture in my work. The e-book looks and reads well, and is a must for all self-identified innovators, entrepreneurs, and techies alike. Ohh, and it is a hell of a lot of fun to read too!
I can't tell you how informative yet enjoyable this techno thriller is - it has already informed my work about leveraging start-up and tech culture in my work. The e-book looks and reads well, and is a must for all self-identified innovators, entrepreneurs, and techies alike. Ohh, and it is a hell of a lot of fun to read too!
March 9, 2016
Eliot Pepper's intriguing thriller had the perfect combination of mystery and comedy allowing the reader/listener to follow along with ease. The writing was witty and raw which really worked for the story's plot and characters.
Narrator Jennifer O'Donnell's narration was well done. She has an easy voice to listen to, and kept the pace and vocals natural.
Overall a great story and I look forward to seeing what comes next in the series.
This audiobook was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
Narrator Jennifer O'Donnell's narration was well done. She has an easy voice to listen to, and kept the pace and vocals natural.
Overall a great story and I look forward to seeing what comes next in the series.
This audiobook was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2015
I've spent months trying to find a fiction book that looked at business in a positive lens and couldn't find anything. Finally fed up I sent a cold email out and was connected with Eliot. Uncommon Stock is the book I was searching for. I found myself smiling through various aspects of the story and was deeply engrossed throughout. Can't recommend it enough
April 10, 2014
Great reading, really shows what it is to create a Startup. If you already are an entrepreneur, you'll love to see that you are not alone. If you don't know startups, this is a tour of this incredibly addictive sector. I'm eagerly waiting for the next volume.
February 12, 2018
Unique start-up story about two College drop-outs who create their own company while slowly but surely becoming involved in a murder mystery.
To my surprise, the story focuses more on the entrepreneurship than the thriller aspect. It's almost a non-fiction story about early investment, the do's and don'ts, applying for tech events and pitching your idea. You definitely learn along the way.
Since this is the first book of a trilogy, I think the thriller/murder mystery becomes a bigger aspect of the following novels. Since I did entrepreneurship and there are few stories out there covering it, I liked it a lot. The relatively short size of the novel also makes this a fast-paced read.
Highly recommended if you want to read start-up fiction with a dash of thrill.
To my surprise, the story focuses more on the entrepreneurship than the thriller aspect. It's almost a non-fiction story about early investment, the do's and don'ts, applying for tech events and pitching your idea. You definitely learn along the way.
Since this is the first book of a trilogy, I think the thriller/murder mystery becomes a bigger aspect of the following novels. Since I did entrepreneurship and there are few stories out there covering it, I liked it a lot. The relatively short size of the novel also makes this a fast-paced read.
Highly recommended if you want to read start-up fiction with a dash of thrill.
July 10, 2021
I've read earlier other book from an author and it was interesting, especially with good combinations with technology, future of social media future and some pretty good dystopian ideas.
This was more about startup culture and was told from "younger" perspective. Proper thriller with some good surprises in plot. Nothing astonishing, but easy read.
This was more about startup culture and was told from "younger" perspective. Proper thriller with some good surprises in plot. Nothing astonishing, but easy read.
January 12, 2016
Uncommon Stock : Version 1.0 is a riveting piece of fiction by Elliot Peper. Mara Winkel and James are students at The university of Colorado, Boulder. Mara is a law major and James is studying computer science. James comes up with a pattern recognition algorithm nicknamed Mosaic that can identify fraud in accounting. Being childhood friends, James asks Mara to be his partner in building a company. Bored by the idea of being stuck behind a desk, Mara took the plunge. Trouble arises when James hacks into the Center for Mathematics and Society’s systems to gather data for testing his algorithm. Mara is furious at James for putting the company in jeopardy. Together they decide to bury the issue. Craig, Mara’s boyfriend decides to investigate the discrepancies flagged by Mosaic. Things take an ugly turn. How James and Mara go on raise funds and keep the company going while the perpetrators try to get back at them forms the plot.
An interesting character in the story is David Grossman. He is a successful entrepreneur and an angel investor. He mentors Mara and guides her through choppy waters. His interactions contain profound revelations about starting up a company. These are some of the best ones.
The Team
Founding a company with someone is like a marriage. You’re going to have to dig through mountains of crap together and it’s a long-term commitment. It can be one of the most rewarding relationships out there but, like a marriage, it needs to be based on a strong foundation of trust.
Most startups fail because their teams implode, not because their products sucked.
Worth the pain
Hold on to that fear. That’s an important feeling. That fear is part of what will drive you to figure your shit.
It’s not an easy life. It breaks you down, builds you up again, and crushes you flat. Great works require great sacrifice. It can be addicting as all hell and I can’t imagine anything more satisfying.
Venture Capitalists and hostile takeovers
Don’t worry, they always have a way to justify themselves to themselves. They’ve got good reasons. In their own minds, they’re benevolent conquerors, not malicious raiders.
Business plans
Don’t spend your time dicking around. Wordsmithing and number crunching is about as useful to a startup as theoretical physics to a newborn baby.
Guesses and plans don’t matter in business; results and outcomes are what count.What you need to do is figure out how you can validate what you’re working on. What are the specific milestones that will prove that what you’re doing is valuable and that people will pay for it? If you focus on that, you’ll end with a successful business as an outcome.
Fail fast and pivot
It is dangerous to start chasing different verticals at the same time when you’re just getting started.
Vision
Realising a dream isn’t easy, so it better be a dream you really fucking care about.
The explanation of several terms related to raising funds such as pre and post-money valuation, lead investor, etc are quite useful to budding entrepreneurs. The tiff between Mara and James when he insists he should hold the majority stake in the company because he is the technical founder highlight the common cause of contempt among co-founders.
People do not buy algorithms, they buy products. Running a business and crunching numbers is no less than important than technical prowess.
The Uncommon Stock feels like a primer on startups disguised as a novel. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
An interesting character in the story is David Grossman. He is a successful entrepreneur and an angel investor. He mentors Mara and guides her through choppy waters. His interactions contain profound revelations about starting up a company. These are some of the best ones.
The Team
Founding a company with someone is like a marriage. You’re going to have to dig through mountains of crap together and it’s a long-term commitment. It can be one of the most rewarding relationships out there but, like a marriage, it needs to be based on a strong foundation of trust.
Most startups fail because their teams implode, not because their products sucked.
Worth the pain
Hold on to that fear. That’s an important feeling. That fear is part of what will drive you to figure your shit.
It’s not an easy life. It breaks you down, builds you up again, and crushes you flat. Great works require great sacrifice. It can be addicting as all hell and I can’t imagine anything more satisfying.
Venture Capitalists and hostile takeovers
Don’t worry, they always have a way to justify themselves to themselves. They’ve got good reasons. In their own minds, they’re benevolent conquerors, not malicious raiders.
Business plans
Don’t spend your time dicking around. Wordsmithing and number crunching is about as useful to a startup as theoretical physics to a newborn baby.
Guesses and plans don’t matter in business; results and outcomes are what count.What you need to do is figure out how you can validate what you’re working on. What are the specific milestones that will prove that what you’re doing is valuable and that people will pay for it? If you focus on that, you’ll end with a successful business as an outcome.
Fail fast and pivot
It is dangerous to start chasing different verticals at the same time when you’re just getting started.
Vision
Realising a dream isn’t easy, so it better be a dream you really fucking care about.
The explanation of several terms related to raising funds such as pre and post-money valuation, lead investor, etc are quite useful to budding entrepreneurs. The tiff between Mara and James when he insists he should hold the majority stake in the company because he is the technical founder highlight the common cause of contempt among co-founders.
People do not buy algorithms, they buy products. Running a business and crunching numbers is no less than important than technical prowess.
The Uncommon Stock feels like a primer on startups disguised as a novel. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
March 27, 2016
A tech startup stumbles upon info that could kill
Mara who loves the outdoors and any kind of outdoor activity she can be a part of. She's attending the University of Colorado to become a lawyer, but feels like something is missing. Enter her best friend James asks her to be a partner in a new startup he's founding that uses a new algorithm and program to help teachers grade and read papers faster. This algorithm has potential in almost product vertical that they look. After running some dry runs they come across some data that has serious implications. That is where things being to take a turn from good to bad. Uncommon Stock is a mix of thriller and tech/startup. With lots of "business thriller" thrown in.
Narration for this was done by Jennifer O'Donnell and she does a killer job on this. The character that she is portraying is a confident and strong woman in a tech world that is surrounded by men. The voice that she gave her was perfect for this role and allowed me to really get into the story. The other voices that she used for the other characters was really enjoyable too. There was never a time that I felt like I wasn't sure who the focus was on inside the audiobook.
Well, I love a good business/techno thriller. This was a wonderful mix of both. With business thriller just being the world that they were living in -- start ups, tech firms, buyouts, hostile takeovers, angel investors, VC's, and more. It really had it all if you enjoy both thriller and "tech/business" type books. I work in a tech field and there was a lot of things that really clicked with me from the inside, and I went to school for business so the business side of things that Mara had to deal with were also familiar.
Peper really wrote Mara's character well for this. She was incredibly likable when Peper wanted her to be, and at times she was also easy to hate. This, to me is a sign of a well-thought out character and character arc. She really grows and changes throughout the book. If you were to look at her from the beginning to her in the final pages, it almost feels like a different person. But the way it was written took the reader along for a ride with Mara. I really felt like I knew her by the end.
Well, once I finished the book, the first thing I did was head over to Audible and look up to see if the other books in this series were on audio. To my dismay--they are not... yet. I hope that Eliot Peper continues this series in audiobook. And to do that I'm sure that the more reviews he gets, the more likely he'll continue it. So, pick this up and leave a review. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Did you enjoy this review? Check out my others at Brian's Book Blog
Mara who loves the outdoors and any kind of outdoor activity she can be a part of. She's attending the University of Colorado to become a lawyer, but feels like something is missing. Enter her best friend James asks her to be a partner in a new startup he's founding that uses a new algorithm and program to help teachers grade and read papers faster. This algorithm has potential in almost product vertical that they look. After running some dry runs they come across some data that has serious implications. That is where things being to take a turn from good to bad. Uncommon Stock is a mix of thriller and tech/startup. With lots of "business thriller" thrown in.
Narration for this was done by Jennifer O'Donnell and she does a killer job on this. The character that she is portraying is a confident and strong woman in a tech world that is surrounded by men. The voice that she gave her was perfect for this role and allowed me to really get into the story. The other voices that she used for the other characters was really enjoyable too. There was never a time that I felt like I wasn't sure who the focus was on inside the audiobook.
Well, I love a good business/techno thriller. This was a wonderful mix of both. With business thriller just being the world that they were living in -- start ups, tech firms, buyouts, hostile takeovers, angel investors, VC's, and more. It really had it all if you enjoy both thriller and "tech/business" type books. I work in a tech field and there was a lot of things that really clicked with me from the inside, and I went to school for business so the business side of things that Mara had to deal with were also familiar.
Peper really wrote Mara's character well for this. She was incredibly likable when Peper wanted her to be, and at times she was also easy to hate. This, to me is a sign of a well-thought out character and character arc. She really grows and changes throughout the book. If you were to look at her from the beginning to her in the final pages, it almost feels like a different person. But the way it was written took the reader along for a ride with Mara. I really felt like I knew her by the end.
Well, once I finished the book, the first thing I did was head over to Audible and look up to see if the other books in this series were on audio. To my dismay--they are not... yet. I hope that Eliot Peper continues this series in audiobook. And to do that I'm sure that the more reviews he gets, the more likely he'll continue it. So, pick this up and leave a review. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Did you enjoy this review? Check out my others at Brian's Book Blog
March 10, 2014
So, on Goodreads, I don't think 2 stars is harsh. 2 means "It was ok." and for me, that's exactly what it was.
I began reading this on my Kindle as I shuttled my students back and forth on the SF BART. It was fun describing the plot to curious students since it's not everyday that you read a book on a tech start-up.
For me, the story felt a bit slow in starting and towards the end, I understand that it's because this is actually the set-up for a series.
Once the ball got rolling, however, things definitely got interesting, and I don't want to give away spoilers.
I was definitely impressed by how realistic this start-up sounded and how it didn't mimic pre-existing ones. Peper definitely displayed extensive knowledge about both start-ups and the tech industry.
With that said, the fact that this is his inaugural book makes sense. I think a lot could have been cut from this book. I spent a lot of time skimming or predicting what would next be described... this book had so much description! Or maybe it had few identity issues -- was this a "start-ups for dummies" whipped up in narrative form with excerpts from Yelp reviews sprinkled throughout? Were the daily details on James's tshirts and Mara's workouts (with each muscular detail) necessary? How often must Craig's sandpaper face be described thus? *shrug* Maybe these details appeal to both the hipster crowds of SF and Boulder. (Love both cities.. and yeah, i *did* feel like an insider bc i understood the associations).
Also, the earlier parts of the dialogue felt more like monologues that didn't differentiate themselves from the narrative voice. The conversations just felt unrealistic, and Mara's reactions didn't.. seem to make sense. Then later, some expositional device would explain the reasoning once or twice. So yeah, I just skimmed.
But honestly? It's definitely a feat to write a novel and dedicate the time to build a series. Pretty ballsy! And most likely, with each new one, the narratives will get tighter.
I began reading this on my Kindle as I shuttled my students back and forth on the SF BART. It was fun describing the plot to curious students since it's not everyday that you read a book on a tech start-up.
For me, the story felt a bit slow in starting and towards the end, I understand that it's because this is actually the set-up for a series.
Once the ball got rolling, however, things definitely got interesting, and I don't want to give away spoilers.
I was definitely impressed by how realistic this start-up sounded and how it didn't mimic pre-existing ones. Peper definitely displayed extensive knowledge about both start-ups and the tech industry.
With that said, the fact that this is his inaugural book makes sense. I think a lot could have been cut from this book. I spent a lot of time skimming or predicting what would next be described... this book had so much description! Or maybe it had few identity issues -- was this a "start-ups for dummies" whipped up in narrative form with excerpts from Yelp reviews sprinkled throughout? Were the daily details on James's tshirts and Mara's workouts (with each muscular detail) necessary? How often must Craig's sandpaper face be described thus? *shrug* Maybe these details appeal to both the hipster crowds of SF and Boulder. (Love both cities.. and yeah, i *did* feel like an insider bc i understood the associations).
Also, the earlier parts of the dialogue felt more like monologues that didn't differentiate themselves from the narrative voice. The conversations just felt unrealistic, and Mara's reactions didn't.. seem to make sense. Then later, some expositional device would explain the reasoning once or twice. So yeah, I just skimmed.
But honestly? It's definitely a feat to write a novel and dedicate the time to build a series. Pretty ballsy! And most likely, with each new one, the narratives will get tighter.
July 10, 2015
Before I get too far into my review of this book I firstly want to say that I really enjoyed the story and read it fairly quickly. I have a few free weeks so am catching up on books on my kindle. I very often download free books, so am presuming that this was a freebie and I thank Eliot Peper for a good holiday read.
The protagonists are both strong characters and are students. Not having internet access I could not check at the time of reading to see if this book is classed as YA or not, but I felt that the language and the constant referral to James T-shirts was possibly aimed at YA readers. I don't know why I felt that the occasional swearing by Marra did not feel right, but it jarred a bit. The story is a bit like a coming if age, where Marra and James still act in a child like manner, but realise that others have a lot to offer them in their struggle to get their business started. Marra very often acted like a spoilt know it all brat, but I liked her spunk and determination even after lots of set backs. The story ends with a cliff hanger ( not my favourite endings), but it is done in a really good way, that should encourage readers to buy the next book ( as long as it does complete the story). I am not sure I will, not because I did not enjoy the book, because I did. It is well researched and the author clearly understands business and start ups. Personally I could not relate to the characters as they were young, but I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy easy read contemporary, mystery, business or YA.
The protagonists are both strong characters and are students. Not having internet access I could not check at the time of reading to see if this book is classed as YA or not, but I felt that the language and the constant referral to James T-shirts was possibly aimed at YA readers. I don't know why I felt that the occasional swearing by Marra did not feel right, but it jarred a bit. The story is a bit like a coming if age, where Marra and James still act in a child like manner, but realise that others have a lot to offer them in their struggle to get their business started. Marra very often acted like a spoilt know it all brat, but I liked her spunk and determination even after lots of set backs. The story ends with a cliff hanger ( not my favourite endings), but it is done in a really good way, that should encourage readers to buy the next book ( as long as it does complete the story). I am not sure I will, not because I did not enjoy the book, because I did. It is well researched and the author clearly understands business and start ups. Personally I could not relate to the characters as they were young, but I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy easy read contemporary, mystery, business or YA.
April 26, 2016
This book is among the best books I've ever read. It's one hell of a fantastic book!
Things that I liked about the book:
* It's a thriller. I was gripped into the plot and wanted to know what happens next.
* It's about startups which is a very unique topic to write a story on. And it's not just "he was forging a startup. He wondered about kissing her luscious lips while she fantasized about him becoming a wolf". Nopes. This is actually not just mention-the-profession-and-then -talk-about-something-completely-different. It's more than that on startups.
* You gain some knowledge about startups by the end of the book. To me it felt like a number of things that I wouldn't ever have known about startups. I won't spoil anything for you in this review but it just felt like I was using my time productively.
The whole thing feels like you are experiencing everthing in the protagonists shoes. This was one hell of a ride! Loved it. His book reminds me of Michael Crichton's style where it fills you with some wonder, you learn something about the world and still end up enjoying your story. It's like non-fiction meets fiction. I got this book from my KU subscription. Very thankful for that!
Things that I liked about the book:
* It's a thriller. I was gripped into the plot and wanted to know what happens next.
* It's about startups which is a very unique topic to write a story on. And it's not just "he was forging a startup. He wondered about kissing her luscious lips while she fantasized about him becoming a wolf". Nopes. This is actually not just mention-the-profession-and-then -talk-about-something-completely-different. It's more than that on startups.
* You gain some knowledge about startups by the end of the book. To me it felt like a number of things that I wouldn't ever have known about startups. I won't spoil anything for you in this review but it just felt like I was using my time productively.
The whole thing feels like you are experiencing everthing in the protagonists shoes. This was one hell of a ride! Loved it. His book reminds me of Michael Crichton's style where it fills you with some wonder, you learn something about the world and still end up enjoying your story. It's like non-fiction meets fiction. I got this book from my KU subscription. Very thankful for that!
February 29, 2016
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast and I’m glad I got the opportunity to get it as I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story is well thought out and well written. The characters are interesting and while it take a while, do have some growth by the end of the tale. I work for a startup so I enjoyed getting to see all of the back office work and drama that goes into building a company and how the characters worked (or didn’t) to try and resolve their issues. Reading the story it felt very real to me. While I did find the story line interesting, since the primary part of the story is the building of Mosaic Industries I didn’t find the plot to be very thrilling or mysterious, but I finished it in three days so you can tell my enthusiasm for tale. My biggest issue with this book is that it doesn’t tell a complete story. There is a giant cliffhanger at the end trying to get you to go into the next version of the story which is one of my pet peeves. Other than that I can’t recommend this enough, especially for anyone who thinks they want to start their own company.
July 22, 2014
Great Read - Excited to See Where It Goes
I really enjoyed this book. It's an interesting new genre - fiction based around tech / startups. It was a great first book by Eliot and am excited to see his future work.
I wasn't a fan of the numerous, smaller chapters format. I wanted to see more substance in each part. I'd also like to see a bit more polished character development. The book focuses largely on Mars, but I'm left wanting a bit more insight into other characters.
The storyline was strong and I had a hard time putting the book down once I started. I'm bummed it may be early 2015 before I find out what happens next! The author weaves in good insights and pop culture details of tech and start up life, but chooses an interesting setting of Boulder - away from the hubbub of Silicon Valley and SF -- interesting choice!
Give this book a shot. Easy read and likely to hook you!
I really enjoyed this book. It's an interesting new genre - fiction based around tech / startups. It was a great first book by Eliot and am excited to see his future work.
I wasn't a fan of the numerous, smaller chapters format. I wanted to see more substance in each part. I'd also like to see a bit more polished character development. The book focuses largely on Mars, but I'm left wanting a bit more insight into other characters.
The storyline was strong and I had a hard time putting the book down once I started. I'm bummed it may be early 2015 before I find out what happens next! The author weaves in good insights and pop culture details of tech and start up life, but chooses an interesting setting of Boulder - away from the hubbub of Silicon Valley and SF -- interesting choice!
Give this book a shot. Easy read and likely to hook you!
June 5, 2016
"More than anything else ... she wanted a peach"
Two undergraduates and long term friends decide to risk going into business together based on his revolutionary new computer programme and her facility to undertake the legal paperwork and, hopefully, find investors. It turns out to be more complicated than they expect. Very good, realistic writing, the main protagonists are fully rounded and alive. Long descriptions of physical activity are not uncommon but where these could so easily become tedious, the author has created tiny vignettes of pleasure. Drinks and meals are given prominence and lovingly listed, also, helping to give deeper context to the characters (and making me hungry). It is an enjoyable book with much information along the way about the pitfalls and excitements of trying to start up a business with very limited funds. Plus, there is a mystery in there, too.
Four stars only because of the unfinished ending
Two undergraduates and long term friends decide to risk going into business together based on his revolutionary new computer programme and her facility to undertake the legal paperwork and, hopefully, find investors. It turns out to be more complicated than they expect. Very good, realistic writing, the main protagonists are fully rounded and alive. Long descriptions of physical activity are not uncommon but where these could so easily become tedious, the author has created tiny vignettes of pleasure. Drinks and meals are given prominence and lovingly listed, also, helping to give deeper context to the characters (and making me hungry). It is an enjoyable book with much information along the way about the pitfalls and excitements of trying to start up a business with very limited funds. Plus, there is a mystery in there, too.
Four stars only because of the unfinished ending
June 15, 2016
If you love Shark Tank and Startup the podcast, like me, you will love Uncommon Stock. It was such an entertaining, fast-paced story, but I also felt like I got a crash course in the startup industry. Startups make for such interesting stories because there are so many dramatic highs and lows throughout their creation. I admired the smart, bad ass protagonist, Mara. But, Mara was definitely flawed which made her such a deep character.
The first book of Peper's I read was his latest novel, Cumulus. It was an interesting experience to read a writer's fourth book followed by his debut novel, instead of reading them in order. I can see how his writing has matured and how his plot lines have become more sophisticated.
My absolute favorite scene in this book is when Mara used her rock climbing skills to save herself from a bad guy.
I highly recommend it!
The first book of Peper's I read was his latest novel, Cumulus. It was an interesting experience to read a writer's fourth book followed by his debut novel, instead of reading them in order. I can see how his writing has matured and how his plot lines have become more sophisticated.
My absolute favorite scene in this book is when Mara used her rock climbing skills to save herself from a bad guy.
I highly recommend it!
August 29, 2015
I enjoyed this book a lot. I may be a little biased (I graduated from CU, Boulder, I've worked in the tech industry in Silcon Valley, my husband is a software engineer - aslo a graduate from CU and currently working for a start up, and, as many others, I just listened to the Start Up podcast). It was fun to revisit Boulder though the descriptions in the book, the writing was a nice easy read, and the tech touch was a good addition. Mix in a mystery and it's really good. Looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.
April 5, 2016
Really loved this book! I was so invested in the characters and the story they were living! It dealt with real world problems and the heartaches and rewards that come along for the ride! I find the startup thriller to be "well, thrilling"! I love getting pulled into the finances, getting a glimpse into the technical world with all its possibilities, and the way the startup world can go from highs to lows and back again on a dime! I am thrilled that there are more Mara & James adventures just waiting to be read! I can't wait to start the next one! Thanks Eliot!
March 11, 2014
i enjoyed reading eliot's first book under the fg press label. the back drop of boulder for the mara's and james' startup (mozaik) was fun, as it brings back good memories from living in the area and what boulder is doing as a startup community. the depiction of the ups and downs for entrepreneurs is realistic (although this is a novel / non-fiction). a fun read. it leaves you hanging at the end, so i look forward to the sequel. :-)
May 2, 2015
What a fun read - quick @ times and a bit slower at others, the book kept my attention to finish it in record time. Mara and team have some interesting exploits on their journey in creating a startup and the situations, people, interactions, frustrations, trials and tribulations will be familiar to many tech startup founders. What will not be familiar is the quick descent into a world of crime and more - and how Mara comes to terms with it and, in true startup world style, begins to pivot.
March 15, 2016
Contemporary, fast paced read
While the main characters are somewhat stereotypical - geeky, socially awkward guy and head strong woman battling a glass ceiling of sorts - her own and societies, there is nuance to the characters. Mara's character dominates the storyline. I'd like to see James's character developed a bit more.
Bad guys pop up in some very interesting places... Keeps you wanting more.
It's a quick, fast paced read. Good fun.
While the main characters are somewhat stereotypical - geeky, socially awkward guy and head strong woman battling a glass ceiling of sorts - her own and societies, there is nuance to the characters. Mara's character dominates the storyline. I'd like to see James's character developed a bit more.
Bad guys pop up in some very interesting places... Keeps you wanting more.
It's a quick, fast paced read. Good fun.
February 20, 2017
Combining whodunnit & tech startups turns out well
The characters in this book set about building a tech startup - something I know a bit about (having started 3). This book feels like a good, accurate primer on what it's like to do so, wrapped in a nice thriller of a novel.
On to the next in the series. (And a shout out to Brad Feld, for both helping with the book and for the pointer to it.)
The characters in this book set about building a tech startup - something I know a bit about (having started 3). This book feels like a good, accurate primer on what it's like to do so, wrapped in a nice thriller of a novel.
On to the next in the series. (And a shout out to Brad Feld, for both helping with the book and for the pointer to it.)
August 1, 2014
2 all MBA's struggling through college - Buy this book and quit school right now , save a ton of money and go make some. Read this book and your life will never be the same. Great job Foundry 4 bringing this young author to us. Every complex business and or technical subject should have a companion fictional novel written this well. Cannot wait for Rev 2 U .
June 18, 2015
A thrilling book well written.
Definitely deserves a five star rating. A remarkable story of how difficult is is for an entrepreneur to get a company up and running. The story was real life believable. I found it difficult to put the book down. Looking forward to reading the next book.
Definitely deserves a five star rating. A remarkable story of how difficult is is for an entrepreneur to get a company up and running. The story was real life believable. I found it difficult to put the book down. Looking forward to reading the next book.
March 9, 2016
Novel premise
This book was unusual in that it focused on a tech startup involved in a murder case and corporate corruption. In fact I didn't give it 5 stars because it dealt with the financial aspects of a startup just a bit too much. Nevertheless, it was a good read with interesting characters and a dash of suspense. I look forward to reading more in this series.
This book was unusual in that it focused on a tech startup involved in a murder case and corporate corruption. In fact I didn't give it 5 stars because it dealt with the financial aspects of a startup just a bit too much. Nevertheless, it was a good read with interesting characters and a dash of suspense. I look forward to reading more in this series.
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April 12, 2016Really liked this book. I could tell that the author was well versed in start up businesses and enjoyed hearing the nuggets of how to do it. Also could tell he spent some time really knowing about running and skiing, etc. The descriptions were there to put you right with the character. Would recommend this book to anyone.
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