What do you think?
Rate this book
No Red Lights: Reflections on Life, 50 Years in Venture Capital, and Never Driving Alone
As featured in The Wall Street Journal!
One of Business Insider’s “5 Best Leadership Books I Read This Year” for 2022!
A look back at entrepreneurial growth and venture capital in the last half century by one of the leading figures in the industry.
Extensive media and online coverage of the business arena, news of start-ups, mergers, and deals are familiar headlines these days. But that wasn’t always the case. The early years of venture capital were a far cry from today’s very public dealings. Alan Patricof, one of the pioneers of the venture arena, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the past fifty years of the industry. From buying stock in Apple when its market valuation was only $60 million to founding New York Magazine to investing in AOL, Audible, and more recently, Axios, his discerning approach to finding companies is almost peerless.
All of Patricof’s investments—from Xerox to Venmo—share certain qualities. Each company had sound product with wide appeal, the economics were solid, and the management team was talented and committed to seeing their visions come to fruition.
One of Business Insider’s “5 Best Leadership Books I Read This Year” for 2022!
A look back at entrepreneurial growth and venture capital in the last half century by one of the leading figures in the industry.
Extensive media and online coverage of the business arena, news of start-ups, mergers, and deals are familiar headlines these days. But that wasn’t always the case. The early years of venture capital were a far cry from today’s very public dealings. Alan Patricof, one of the pioneers of the venture arena, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the past fifty years of the industry. From buying stock in Apple when its market valuation was only $60 million to founding New York Magazine to investing in AOL, Audible, and more recently, Axios, his discerning approach to finding companies is almost peerless.
All of Patricof’s investments—from Xerox to Venmo—share certain qualities. Each company had sound product with wide appeal, the economics were solid, and the management team was talented and committed to seeing their visions come to fruition.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
42 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 27, 2022
I found this book fascinating. The author talked about everything from investments to the things he didn't invest in to how he started investing. He also shared intimate details about his late wife's descent into Alzheimer's and aphasia, going over all of the stages and his family life. This story was comprehensive, thought-provoking, emotional, and ultimately, inspiring.
One part that struck me was when the author talked about how successful APA/Apax (the company he founded) was, how it had more than sixty million dollars, and how he got bored. The author says, "I was bored. I remember calling Susan from the office one hot summer Friday in 2001. I was feeling very low about something, and I said, 'We should go to a funny movie.'" Then he says, "After thirty years, the time had come to try something new. My sons have pointed out that the decision I made shortly thereafter to transition from Apax left a lot of money on the table. Money alone, however, wasn't enough to keep me. I was ready to try a new route."
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
One part that struck me was when the author talked about how successful APA/Apax (the company he founded) was, how it had more than sixty million dollars, and how he got bored. The author says, "I was bored. I remember calling Susan from the office one hot summer Friday in 2001. I was feeling very low about something, and I said, 'We should go to a funny movie.'" Then he says, "After thirty years, the time had come to try something new. My sons have pointed out that the decision I made shortly thereafter to transition from Apax left a lot of money on the table. Money alone, however, wasn't enough to keep me. I was ready to try a new route."
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://www.momsdonthavetimetoreadboo...
May 9, 2022
Was there at the beginning
In the early '70's I was married to one of Alan's sisters. Well, that didn't last as is often times the case with college sweetheart marriages. However, one of the pluses, retrospectively, was that I met Alan.
What an amazing investor! What a life!
This is a good read, but more so for those who know or knew the author. A little bit tedious for a totally non-financial reader but very relevant to those in the business. Also, lots of life lessons. Those are the gems for the readers who take the time to think about those nuggets. That's what I got from my reading.
In the early '70's I was married to one of Alan's sisters. Well, that didn't last as is often times the case with college sweetheart marriages. However, one of the pluses, retrospectively, was that I met Alan.
What an amazing investor! What a life!
This is a good read, but more so for those who know or knew the author. A little bit tedious for a totally non-financial reader but very relevant to those in the business. Also, lots of life lessons. Those are the gems for the readers who take the time to think about those nuggets. That's what I got from my reading.
January 13, 2023
You better just read the business part which has a lot of insights. The narratives about politics and philanthropy make me laugh. Here in the country I live in, no one does or talks much about philanthropy because everyone is busy complaining about and paying taxes. And I doubt his political sainthood since Bush and Clinton both used his services.
Still a valuable book from the investing perspective.
Still a valuable book from the investing perspective.
May 14, 2022
In short: If you're interested in venture capital investing of the last 50 years and don't mind reading it in form of an auto-biography by one of the first VCs, you'll probably get something out of this fairly quick read.
---
< I took notes while I was reading >
I'm 10% in. So far, it's all very self-absorbed, background about his family, him getting into college, growing up in New York, playing in Central Park in the 1940s...
Nothing about actual investing or thoughts about what makes a good company. Clearly could've used a brutally honest editor. It's just not all that interesting to read about some stranger's upbringing, unless sth crazy happened or you're a famous person, I suppose.
Here an example. He arrived at a college in a 1952 Oldsmobile his dad bought.
"Rush Week starts before the semester kicks off: seven days of parties, drinking, gorging, and everything else you can imagine. The fraternities compete for the pledges they want, and I found myself in demand. My connection to Horace Mann came in handy after all, as did my semi-new convertible and the modicum of comfort I had discussing world events and sports— and chatting up girls. I chose Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT), as much for the new, modern frat house and parking space for my car as for the organization itself. It beat living in the dorms."
Is this interesting to you? I don't know the man and the only reason I'm reading this book is because I'm interesting in investing. Reading about the banalities of college fraternities might be interesting to his grandchildren, but it's hardly worth putting into a book.
I'm 25% in now and there were a few things worth highlighting. But there is too much listing of whom he worked for, which other person worked for which other company and who, working at what, invested in which uninteresting company you probably have never heard of. It's pointless listing of names, no valuable insights for pages.
The author has spent a lot of time talking about New York magazine, which the author, Alan Patricof, helped raise two rounds of funding for. There was no talk of margins or numbers, other than the raised amount (between 1 and 2 million dollars in around 1968). What made him want to invest? Just the eccentric editor whose idea it was to start the magazine, I guess.
Quite a few pages were about meeting his second wife and some talk about wanting to spend time with his sons. This book is more of a biography for his kids and grandkids to read, I suppose.
Finally, 31% in, an insight what he likes to invest in:
"The deals I support have strong foundations in four fundamentals: a large market to serve, a product that addresses a clear problem or need, sound economics, and a management team in which I have confidence."
This is very fitting to today (he must have written this in 2021, the book came out in 2022, stock market was extremely bullish early 2021, has been in a serious downtrend since late 2021):
"In today’s environment, fundamentals seem to have gone out of fashion. Investors instead succumb to euphoria when extrapolating future value that the present performance often doesn’t justify."
53% in. There is hardly any mention at all, of what their returns were. It's basically a chronological listing of investments in this or that little company and sometimes he mentions, that the company later IPOd or was bought out for a giant sum 20 years later or so. Sometimes he mentions, they had long sold out at that point, sometimes no mention at all. Thus, the reader can assume, APA (Alan Patricof's fund) didn't participate in the spectacular gains. I'm sure he'd mention a 200x etc...
He mentioned, that he/APA would often be introduced as an early investor in Apple. It's true. But, as the author admits, they sold out very very early. It's one of the most interesting couple pages: The invested pre-IPO, when Apple was valued at $60m, with $47m sales and $5m profits!
They invested $315,000, which would have been worth... $7,500,000,000 some 42 years later!!!
APA sold out several years after IPO. No mention what the return was, but he does say, that at IPO their investment was a 20x worth $6m.
72% in now. Patricof has been very involved in supporting Democratic candidates for office. So if you're fond of dictators, corruption, orange narcissistic liars of epic proportions, in short, if you're a Republican voter, you're not going to like Patricof.
During the last 20 years or so, he gave much of his time and effort and expertise to helping small business in poor countries. He was involved in various good causes. Even travelled pot-holed streets in Africa, messing up his back. He clearly is a man who cares about unprivileged people. I like him.
You certainly can tell, the man has lived an active life, above average achievements. It's not too long a read, but I don't particularly care to read all the listing of names and places. Seasoned readers will know how to fly over passages that are of low interest.
At this point, I can tell this book is more of a biography. You'll find some wisdoms in it, but the book is mostly a chronolocial listing of names and places, probably with his descendents in mind. Look what your grandfather achieved :)
I like the man, the book is alright. It lacks specific talk about businesses and investing. For a man who clearly cares about fairness and helping people in poverty, the writing style is surprisingly neutral/objective. Since it is a biography, it could've used a bit more... personality.
The last quarter of the book interrupted the listing of funded companies with more personal biographical pages. He talks about his wife's Alzheimer desease and her long decline, cared-for at home. After that he talks about his fondness of jogging in the 1970s and that he has had a personal trainer in his later years, keeping him fit.
Let's get serious: I barely care about a friend of my running a marathon. How much do I care if a complete stranger ran marathons in the 1970s?
At 93% Alan Patricof posted a letter to a founder. This letter alone is almost worth an entire star. The situation: Patricof's VC company had signed a deal to invest in a social media startup. "As the ink was drying, we learned that a very famous West Coast VC was courting the entrepreneur in a luxurious fashion. The entrepreneur shortly thereafter called me to say he wanted out of our arrangement."
There is a powerful line in Alan Patricof's letter to the entrepreneur:
"Ethics and honor are either something you have or you don’t."
The one page letter is so well written, it shows the man is a pro and values integrity!
There is some real wisdom in this book, if you can make it past the less interesting pages. Her is one of the most important lessons: "life is cumulative"
"All of these experiences gave me information and context, and thereby revealed pathways for my future."
If the reader recalls this "life is cumulative" wisdom and can realize decisions in their own life
they only could've made because of this and that prior event in their life... it could be eye-opening. The same is true for some investments: You might be turned on or turned off by an investment idea, because of a prior experience. All kinds of daily decisions probably are a result of what came before!
Another important part of Alan's life: He is a people person, who makes effort ot contact people, to meet new people.
"To this day when I attend a conference, I make it a point not to sit surrounded by people from my firm. Instead, I sit with an anonymous group and introduce myself to the person to my left and to my right"
"I’ve met hundreds of people this way. With some of them I simply pass a pleasant meal, and with others, I end up making a new best friend. You never know, but I always hope for the friend. What I’m not doing is simply adding to my contact list or LinkedIn connections."
Another great sentence:
"Opportunities don’t wait until you are ready to receive them."
"The next best thing to yes is a quick no. And the best no is direct and honest, yet respectful."
I was tending towards 3/5 stars, but this book easily deserves 4. There is too much quality in here!
---
< I took notes while I was reading >
I'm 10% in. So far, it's all very self-absorbed, background about his family, him getting into college, growing up in New York, playing in Central Park in the 1940s...
Nothing about actual investing or thoughts about what makes a good company. Clearly could've used a brutally honest editor. It's just not all that interesting to read about some stranger's upbringing, unless sth crazy happened or you're a famous person, I suppose.
Here an example. He arrived at a college in a 1952 Oldsmobile his dad bought.
"Rush Week starts before the semester kicks off: seven days of parties, drinking, gorging, and everything else you can imagine. The fraternities compete for the pledges they want, and I found myself in demand. My connection to Horace Mann came in handy after all, as did my semi-new convertible and the modicum of comfort I had discussing world events and sports— and chatting up girls. I chose Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT), as much for the new, modern frat house and parking space for my car as for the organization itself. It beat living in the dorms."
Is this interesting to you? I don't know the man and the only reason I'm reading this book is because I'm interesting in investing. Reading about the banalities of college fraternities might be interesting to his grandchildren, but it's hardly worth putting into a book.
I'm 25% in now and there were a few things worth highlighting. But there is too much listing of whom he worked for, which other person worked for which other company and who, working at what, invested in which uninteresting company you probably have never heard of. It's pointless listing of names, no valuable insights for pages.
The author has spent a lot of time talking about New York magazine, which the author, Alan Patricof, helped raise two rounds of funding for. There was no talk of margins or numbers, other than the raised amount (between 1 and 2 million dollars in around 1968). What made him want to invest? Just the eccentric editor whose idea it was to start the magazine, I guess.
Quite a few pages were about meeting his second wife and some talk about wanting to spend time with his sons. This book is more of a biography for his kids and grandkids to read, I suppose.
Finally, 31% in, an insight what he likes to invest in:
"The deals I support have strong foundations in four fundamentals: a large market to serve, a product that addresses a clear problem or need, sound economics, and a management team in which I have confidence."
This is very fitting to today (he must have written this in 2021, the book came out in 2022, stock market was extremely bullish early 2021, has been in a serious downtrend since late 2021):
"In today’s environment, fundamentals seem to have gone out of fashion. Investors instead succumb to euphoria when extrapolating future value that the present performance often doesn’t justify."
53% in. There is hardly any mention at all, of what their returns were. It's basically a chronological listing of investments in this or that little company and sometimes he mentions, that the company later IPOd or was bought out for a giant sum 20 years later or so. Sometimes he mentions, they had long sold out at that point, sometimes no mention at all. Thus, the reader can assume, APA (Alan Patricof's fund) didn't participate in the spectacular gains. I'm sure he'd mention a 200x etc...
He mentioned, that he/APA would often be introduced as an early investor in Apple. It's true. But, as the author admits, they sold out very very early. It's one of the most interesting couple pages: The invested pre-IPO, when Apple was valued at $60m, with $47m sales and $5m profits!
They invested $315,000, which would have been worth... $7,500,000,000 some 42 years later!!!
APA sold out several years after IPO. No mention what the return was, but he does say, that at IPO their investment was a 20x worth $6m.
72% in now. Patricof has been very involved in supporting Democratic candidates for office. So if you're fond of dictators, corruption, orange narcissistic liars of epic proportions, in short, if you're a Republican voter, you're not going to like Patricof.
During the last 20 years or so, he gave much of his time and effort and expertise to helping small business in poor countries. He was involved in various good causes. Even travelled pot-holed streets in Africa, messing up his back. He clearly is a man who cares about unprivileged people. I like him.
You certainly can tell, the man has lived an active life, above average achievements. It's not too long a read, but I don't particularly care to read all the listing of names and places. Seasoned readers will know how to fly over passages that are of low interest.
At this point, I can tell this book is more of a biography. You'll find some wisdoms in it, but the book is mostly a chronolocial listing of names and places, probably with his descendents in mind. Look what your grandfather achieved :)
I like the man, the book is alright. It lacks specific talk about businesses and investing. For a man who clearly cares about fairness and helping people in poverty, the writing style is surprisingly neutral/objective. Since it is a biography, it could've used a bit more... personality.
The last quarter of the book interrupted the listing of funded companies with more personal biographical pages. He talks about his wife's Alzheimer desease and her long decline, cared-for at home. After that he talks about his fondness of jogging in the 1970s and that he has had a personal trainer in his later years, keeping him fit.
Let's get serious: I barely care about a friend of my running a marathon. How much do I care if a complete stranger ran marathons in the 1970s?
At 93% Alan Patricof posted a letter to a founder. This letter alone is almost worth an entire star. The situation: Patricof's VC company had signed a deal to invest in a social media startup. "As the ink was drying, we learned that a very famous West Coast VC was courting the entrepreneur in a luxurious fashion. The entrepreneur shortly thereafter called me to say he wanted out of our arrangement."
There is a powerful line in Alan Patricof's letter to the entrepreneur:
"Ethics and honor are either something you have or you don’t."
The one page letter is so well written, it shows the man is a pro and values integrity!
There is some real wisdom in this book, if you can make it past the less interesting pages. Her is one of the most important lessons: "life is cumulative"
"All of these experiences gave me information and context, and thereby revealed pathways for my future."
If the reader recalls this "life is cumulative" wisdom and can realize decisions in their own life
they only could've made because of this and that prior event in their life... it could be eye-opening. The same is true for some investments: You might be turned on or turned off by an investment idea, because of a prior experience. All kinds of daily decisions probably are a result of what came before!
Another important part of Alan's life: He is a people person, who makes effort ot contact people, to meet new people.
"To this day when I attend a conference, I make it a point not to sit surrounded by people from my firm. Instead, I sit with an anonymous group and introduce myself to the person to my left and to my right"
"I’ve met hundreds of people this way. With some of them I simply pass a pleasant meal, and with others, I end up making a new best friend. You never know, but I always hope for the friend. What I’m not doing is simply adding to my contact list or LinkedIn connections."
Another great sentence:
"Opportunities don’t wait until you are ready to receive them."
"The next best thing to yes is a quick no. And the best no is direct and honest, yet respectful."
I was tending towards 3/5 stars, but this book easily deserves 4. There is too much quality in here!
Read
May 24, 2022Always remain adaptable – in business and in life.
In 1961, the first stretches of the Berlin Wall were laid down to separate the two halves of the city, East and West. Not long after, US President Kennedy responded by activating 156,000 army reserves. One of the units called up was the one Alan belonged to – the 411 Quartermaster Corps.
Alan’s life and career were suddenly flipped upside down. In just 30 days, he had to complete all the preparations to leave and then report to Fort Lee, Virginia.
Alan was fortunate in the fact that his boss at the time assured him he’d still have his job when he came back, and that he’d even pay Alan his salary while he was gone. Despite that, the sudden activation of the reserves was deeply disruptive to Alan and everyone else in his unit. But Alan rose to the challenge and adapted to it, as he always aims to do.
Undoubtedly, one of the biggest challenges that Alan faced in life was watching the slow decline of his wife, Susan, who fell ill in 2008.
The issue began with Susan experiencing fairly minor memory issues. It didn’t seem like such a big deal at first, but eventually, she and Alan decided she needed to see a doctor.
Susan was eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Alan watched as her illness progressed over ten-plus years, taking a deep emotional toll on him as Susan’s mind and body slowly slipped away from her. She ultimately died peacefully among her family in January 2021.
Although the experience was extremely difficult, witnessing his wife’s decline in addition to his own experiences with aging inspired Alan. He considered how aging could potentially apply to a business venture. Despite the fact that the aging sector is the fastest-growing segment of the population, the market for products, services, and technologies designed for aging individuals is still relatively untapped.
The opportunity seemed too good to pass up, so Alan thought: Why not create a third business focused on investing in older entrepreneurs and business ideas related to aging?
And that’s exactly what he did, opening up his latest company, Primetime Partners, on July 1, 2020. Most people may be inclined to say that at Alan’s age, it’s time to throw in the towel and retire. But Alan disagrees. He’s still got plenty of energy, so why stop now? That, essentially, has been the overarching motto of his life: just keep going; there are no red lights.
---
Keep your eyes and ears peeled for paradigm shifts in your field.
One day, Alan was walking down Madison Avenue when he ran into David Carey, the former president of a large media publisher called Hearst Publications. David had his headphones on, and his eyes were far away, as if he were peering into a different galaxy. Alan wondered what in the world could be so engrossing.
He asked David as much and found out the answer: a podcast. The interaction got Alan thinking. The podcasting medium must have grown in maturity, if someone like David – a senior official at a large company – was spending his leisure time listening to them. It may be worthwhile, Alan thought, to look more seriously and carefully into the audio space.
Alan began learning about the podcasting industry by attending a start-up accelerator called Voicecamp. Accelerators are designed to help cohorts of start-ups get a start in investing, so by attending, Alan got to know some audio-focused businesses.
Then, some months later, Alan caught wind of a promising podcast company called Wondery. Ultimately, Alan decided to lead a syndicate of investors to raise a round of funding for the company.
Wondery was purchased by Amazon in 2020, generating a substantial profit for Alan’s second company, Greycroft. Paying attention to paradigm shifts can pay big dividends, and it’s worth your while as an investor to do so.
A key strategy is to look not just at the content that’s being produced – like podcasts themselves – but also the technology that supports that content, like high-quality headphones. A holistic view can help you catch paradigm shifts early, helping you potentially become an early supporter of a medium. That will, in turn, cause companies working in that medium to seek you out.
Remember, though, not to get caught up in the euphoria of a new platform or product just because everyone else is. It can be all too easy to fall into this trap, as the example of Viddy shows. Viddy was a video-focused social media platform that everyone pegged as the next Twitter. The hype grew and grew – right up until the company tanked.
The moral of the Viddy story? Don’t get overexcited when the numbers seem too good to be true. If that’s the case, they probably are.
In 1961, the first stretches of the Berlin Wall were laid down to separate the two halves of the city, East and West. Not long after, US President Kennedy responded by activating 156,000 army reserves. One of the units called up was the one Alan belonged to – the 411 Quartermaster Corps.
Alan’s life and career were suddenly flipped upside down. In just 30 days, he had to complete all the preparations to leave and then report to Fort Lee, Virginia.
Alan was fortunate in the fact that his boss at the time assured him he’d still have his job when he came back, and that he’d even pay Alan his salary while he was gone. Despite that, the sudden activation of the reserves was deeply disruptive to Alan and everyone else in his unit. But Alan rose to the challenge and adapted to it, as he always aims to do.
Undoubtedly, one of the biggest challenges that Alan faced in life was watching the slow decline of his wife, Susan, who fell ill in 2008.
The issue began with Susan experiencing fairly minor memory issues. It didn’t seem like such a big deal at first, but eventually, she and Alan decided she needed to see a doctor.
Susan was eventually diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Alan watched as her illness progressed over ten-plus years, taking a deep emotional toll on him as Susan’s mind and body slowly slipped away from her. She ultimately died peacefully among her family in January 2021.
Although the experience was extremely difficult, witnessing his wife’s decline in addition to his own experiences with aging inspired Alan. He considered how aging could potentially apply to a business venture. Despite the fact that the aging sector is the fastest-growing segment of the population, the market for products, services, and technologies designed for aging individuals is still relatively untapped.
The opportunity seemed too good to pass up, so Alan thought: Why not create a third business focused on investing in older entrepreneurs and business ideas related to aging?
And that’s exactly what he did, opening up his latest company, Primetime Partners, on July 1, 2020. Most people may be inclined to say that at Alan’s age, it’s time to throw in the towel and retire. But Alan disagrees. He’s still got plenty of energy, so why stop now? That, essentially, has been the overarching motto of his life: just keep going; there are no red lights.
---
Keep your eyes and ears peeled for paradigm shifts in your field.
One day, Alan was walking down Madison Avenue when he ran into David Carey, the former president of a large media publisher called Hearst Publications. David had his headphones on, and his eyes were far away, as if he were peering into a different galaxy. Alan wondered what in the world could be so engrossing.
He asked David as much and found out the answer: a podcast. The interaction got Alan thinking. The podcasting medium must have grown in maturity, if someone like David – a senior official at a large company – was spending his leisure time listening to them. It may be worthwhile, Alan thought, to look more seriously and carefully into the audio space.
Alan began learning about the podcasting industry by attending a start-up accelerator called Voicecamp. Accelerators are designed to help cohorts of start-ups get a start in investing, so by attending, Alan got to know some audio-focused businesses.
Then, some months later, Alan caught wind of a promising podcast company called Wondery. Ultimately, Alan decided to lead a syndicate of investors to raise a round of funding for the company.
Wondery was purchased by Amazon in 2020, generating a substantial profit for Alan’s second company, Greycroft. Paying attention to paradigm shifts can pay big dividends, and it’s worth your while as an investor to do so.
A key strategy is to look not just at the content that’s being produced – like podcasts themselves – but also the technology that supports that content, like high-quality headphones. A holistic view can help you catch paradigm shifts early, helping you potentially become an early supporter of a medium. That will, in turn, cause companies working in that medium to seek you out.
Remember, though, not to get caught up in the euphoria of a new platform or product just because everyone else is. It can be all too easy to fall into this trap, as the example of Viddy shows. Viddy was a video-focused social media platform that everyone pegged as the next Twitter. The hype grew and grew – right up until the company tanked.
The moral of the Viddy story? Don’t get overexcited when the numbers seem too good to be true. If that’s the case, they probably are.
July 8, 2025
Experiential Joirney
I M so glad, to have come across this book!
I saw Alan P., interview on CNBC, where this book was mentioned. I was fascinated with all Mr. Alan had to say in his interview. I googled him and then ordered this book.
It has taken me some months to finish this book, but has been a fun and informative read! I have been reading it, like drinking small sips from a big glass of wine!
Recommended read for early stage investors as well as Entrepreneurs.
A life, i can only dream of! Seeing the tech progression from 70’s till today….some of the acquisitions that i did not hear about , became known from this book.
US market place is indeed like an animal lifecycle, where bigger fish/species, eat the smaller ones fast, thus amplifying the superpower of the bigger species and overall wealth /value/valuations , of the participants inside the jungle of start- ups and early stages generating revenues, cash flows species etc.
I admire positive unbeatable attitude of going till 114!
To 114! Cheers to remarkable meteoric achievement, great values and ethos!
I M so glad, to have come across this book!
I saw Alan P., interview on CNBC, where this book was mentioned. I was fascinated with all Mr. Alan had to say in his interview. I googled him and then ordered this book.
It has taken me some months to finish this book, but has been a fun and informative read! I have been reading it, like drinking small sips from a big glass of wine!
Recommended read for early stage investors as well as Entrepreneurs.
A life, i can only dream of! Seeing the tech progression from 70’s till today….some of the acquisitions that i did not hear about , became known from this book.
US market place is indeed like an animal lifecycle, where bigger fish/species, eat the smaller ones fast, thus amplifying the superpower of the bigger species and overall wealth /value/valuations , of the participants inside the jungle of start- ups and early stages generating revenues, cash flows species etc.
I admire positive unbeatable attitude of going till 114!
To 114! Cheers to remarkable meteoric achievement, great values and ethos!
May 23, 2022
Alan Patricof’s autobiography is as interesting a read about venture capital as you’re likely to find. Patricof virtually invented the industry in the 1970s and has reinvented it over and over in the last 50 years. The book chronicles has big wins and some big misses, but the real story here is the way he attacked life in between. And when you read the book, you get the sense of a person utterly incapable of thinking that something is impossible. He started three venture capital firms, he ran a major magazine, helped launch night clubs and became one of the country’s most prominent fundraisers for candidates seeking higher office all while maintaining a devotion to his family and community.
While I’m sure the printed word is enjoyable to read, I listened to Patricof narrating the story himself on an audiobook. It made the connection between his life and the book all the more real.
Can’t say enough good things.
While I’m sure the printed word is enjoyable to read, I listened to Patricof narrating the story himself on an audiobook. It made the connection between his life and the book all the more real.
Can’t say enough good things.
September 24, 2022
One of the earliest pioneers of the venture capital industry, Alan Patricof shares his expertise and stories over the past 50 years of how it got started and changed over the decades. His experiences range from media and online coverage to business, tech startups, mergers and other deals. An amazing treatise considering his hand in financing/investing in the startup of AOL, New York Magazine, Apple, Audible and other companies. Along the way we come to understand and appreciate Patricof’s temperament and life lessons in working with people and businesses while know the difference between the two. His talent and ability to network and cultivate lasting relationships has been a winning formula he embraced from the start. A great read!
October 6, 2025
Wasn't fully sure what to expect—the cover reads business book and the subtitle reads memoir. In the end, it was more memoir than business, despite all the names of companies and people name dropped throughout. The narrative was meandering; every time there was an interesting story, by the next paragraph we'd already pivoted to something else, and every time we transitioned to the takeaway sections, we actually devolved into other tangents that weren't takeaways at all. All-in-all, it read as rather self-indulgent. I can appreciate wanting to record all your triumphs and pitfalls in the hopes they'll inspire or steer someone else, but there are other books that have done this much more successfully.
October 16, 2022
A relatively easy read, though not as focused on business lessons. A comprehensive memoir enjoyable for insights into business, politics and the unique chemistry of New York elite life. Patricof certainly comes off as someone I would want to meet to experience some of his dynamism, and I did take some lessons from it so ultimately happy I read it!
January 8, 2025
المفترض في مثل هذه الكتب أن تحفزك لمعاركة الحياة لكنني في الحقيقة عندما أقرأ مثل هذه الكتب أشعر بالغضب و الاحباط و خيبة الأمل ... فهذا و أمثاله نجحوا و قد وهبتهم الحياة حظا لا مثيل له بدأ من كونهم ولدوا وعاشوا في الولايات المتحدة حيث الفرص و كل شئ متاح و ما عليك إلا السعي و حتما ستصل أما في بلادنا حيث نعيش في تقب مؤخرة العالم فلا أمل سوى للمحظوظين من أبناء الأثرياء
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2024
Modestly informative book on the life and travails of Alan Patricof, a venture capitalist who specialized in media deals. While there are occasional useful nuggets, the book's narrative is less impactful and engaging than I had hoped.
Read
December 28, 2021If you can judge a book by it’s cover, this one is a winner!!
May 16, 2022
A worthwhile memoir of a trailblazing venture capitalist, investor and entrepreneurs and stark contrast to the recent excesses among venture capital and growth investors…
July 15, 2022
The audio book is narrated by the author, which is nice. But the content is so so. I didn't learn much.
November 6, 2022
Great advice and insight
Loved the stories and behind-the-scene look into the world of venture capital (and how things have changed over the years) - highly recommended.
Loved the stories and behind-the-scene look into the world of venture capital (and how things have changed over the years) - highly recommended.
January 2, 2023
Wonderful reading
I love the love in the book for doing stuff. At age 74 as of Dec. 29th 2022 I will use it in whatever time I have left.
I love the love in the book for doing stuff. At age 74 as of Dec. 29th 2022 I will use it in whatever time I have left.
August 31, 2023
Gives the perspective of the life of an investor. Key advice to stay curious, connected and healthy.
October 21, 2023
Not overly enlightening or interesting
November 12, 2023
Really honest stuff with little self-promotion of course;-)
March 21, 2024
A captivating read about a venture capitalist who didn't just establish one VC firm, but three. This book offers a wealth of life advice.
January 31, 2025
One of the highest quality memoir slash industry books in recent memory (for me that is)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews