The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets that Power Amazon's Success

by Carmine Gallo

From the bestselling author of Talk Like TED, renowned communications coach Carmine Gallo reveals the leadership secrets of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos – and gives you the tools to master them yourself.

Jeff Bezos built Amazon. A dreamer who turned a bold idea into the world’s most influential company, a brand that likely touches your life every day. As a student of leadership and communication, he learned to elevate the way Amazonians write, collaborate, innovate, pitch and present. He created a scalable model that grew from a small team in a Seattle garage to one of the world’s largest employers.

In The Bezos Blueprint, Carmine Gallo reveals the communication strategies that Jeff Bezos pioneered to fuel Amazon’s astonishing growth. As one of the most innovative and visionary entrepreneurs of our time, Bezos reimagined the way leaders write, speak and motivate teams and customers.

The communication tools Bezos created are so effective that former Amazonians who worked directly with Bezos adopted them as blueprints to start their own companies. Now, these tools are available to you.

‘Carmine Gallo examines more than two decades of Bezos letters to reveal the writing and communication strategies that should be taught to everyone with a story to tell’ – Marc Randolph, co-founder and first CEO of Netflix

Genres: Business, Communication, Nonfiction, Writing, Buisness, Audiobook, Management

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2022

About the author

Carmine Gallo is an American author, columnist, keynote speaker, and former journalist and news anchor. Now currently based in Pleasanton, California, he is President of Gallo Communications Group and works as a communications coach and speaker

Reviews

[Hannah Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don’t have to tell a bunch of readers that communication and a great use of the written word are key to success. But for this salesperson, these reminders were awesome and well delivered! I loved the synthesis of so many big ideas organized well in this book.

In summary: Say it well. Keep it short. Make it happen.

Some key takeaways from this book were

1. Keep it simple - take the guesswork out of your writing
2. Tell a story
3. Say it shorter
4. Start and end sentences with power. No meat in the middle
5. Use the active voice
6. BLUF bottom line up front - Use your statement of intent to open
7. Have single threaded leaders with precise focus
8. Unleash the metaphor
9. Create customer obsession
10. Use a traditional story arc
11. Use “If there’s one thing you need to know: it’s this …” to draw attention to a main point
12. Ask “So what?” two times before sharing information with others
13. Rule of 3 - have three legs of support, most effective
14. Take time for creativity
15. Think long term, like looooooong term

I’ve read a business book every month this year and this is top of the list for action items that can affect my business and even personal communication in a global way.

[Cek994 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly banal. The author seems to have two goals: hawk the services of his consulting firm, and name drop all of the famous people he’s interviewed.

The book boils down to a few obvious principles that are easy to emphasize but hard to put into practice. First, simplify every piece of written communication — shorter words, shorter sentences, high school level readability. Second, always have a “logline” (super concise thesis). Third, use a lot of metaphor, analogy, and evocative symbolism (“two pizza team” etc.). Fourth, boil down stories to simplified three act structures (setup, challenge, and resolution). Finally, read a lot and practice repeatedly in order to actualize all of the above.

None of this is bad, per se, but it’s pretty thin gruel. The book is also a bit of a mishmash of different frameworks, with the author interspersing ideas from his consulting practice (“a message map” includes, shockingly, a thesis and three supporting ideas!) with some Amazonian classics (pitching ideas with press releases that anticipate their launch).

In lieu of this TED-esque summary, I’d read Brad Stone’s books to understand Amazon, and do your own synthesis of its lessons.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short and sweet reminder of how to pack a punch with your professional communications and pitching.

[Matt Hutson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading through this ARC was a joy. If you have read any of Carmine Gallo's other books, and you like them, then you will probably like this book too. But when reading self-development books, like this one, the matter of liking something should not play as heavily as finding value in it. The Bezos Blueprint has value to offer anyone, especially in leadership positions, who writes and speaks to persuade or convince people of your opinions and straight-up facts.

The book used Bezos as a model but in a certain way, he was not the central focus of the book. There were plenty of other examples from other writers, entrepreneurs, and speakers that helped to make the concepts of the book more understandable and applicable. I believe that Carmine Gallo is a storyteller and he believes in the power of storytelling, however, there is a certain point where stories can interfere with the key takeaway of the main points. The books definitely could have gone with less storytelling and more practical examples of how the reader could apply the takeaways in their own life.

But all the takeaways are very valuable and can be practiced and implemented to improve your communication. There are a total of 20 drills throughout this book that helps you to apply the knowledge in your own life. I found this to be extremely useful and also it is summarized at the end of the book which makes it even easier to come back to and practice.

Overall, if you are a leader, a writer, a teacher, or any type of person who communicates and wants to persuade well, then I highly recommend reading The Bezos Blueprint.

[Carolina Rondón Diplán · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great reminder that technical skills are not enough if you don’t know how to communicate effectively among all your audiences. The author, through Jeff Bezos' story and communication style, guides you and inspires you to level up your game.

Every couple of pages I could easily picture myself applying Gallo's advice to create more value with my messages in both professional and personal settings.

[Shiva Shetty · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is for anyone who wants to get better at presenting and written communication. Which is casting a wide net indeed. Who doesn't !?

among the 3, was the most 'enjoyable' to read. Although 'enjoyed' may be carrying it a bit too far, the book did a decent job of Communicating well. What are the odds. And imagine if it didn't.


TBB has 3 parts/sections, titled
1. Set the Foundation
2. Build the Story Structure
3. Deliver the Plan

For a book on good communication, these are cryptic and unhelpful titles.
I would re-title them to,
1. Improve you Writing. 6 Chapters will tell you how.
2. Tell better stories. 5 Chapters will tell you how.
3. Get better at convincing people. 5 Chapters will tell you how.


Section 1 - How to improve your writing ?
TBB has the following guidance : Go SIMPLE. Then go SIMPLER. Simple Short Sentences that your nephew, mum and dad will easily grasp is the sweet spot. Don't write for grads. Write for 8th graders. Smart leaders keep things simple because simple things lead to smart decisions. “If you care about being thought credible and intelligent, do not use complex language where simpler language will do,” writes Kahneman in his groundbreaking book Thinking, Fast and Slow. Persuasive speakers, says Kahneman, do everything they can to reduce “cognitive strain.” Anything that requires mental effort adds to the load that people carry in their heads while reading or listening. Every unfamiliar word, every unknown acronym, every convoluted sentence, every new idea—all add to the load. If you keep adding weights to the load, your reader or listener will drop everything and give up. Kahneman says that “cognitive ease” offers a more pleasing experience, and when people are pleased, they’re more likely to support your idea.
Great communicators don’t start with what they know; they start with what the audience knows.
Churchill said, “The discipline of setting out the real points concisely will prove an aid to clear thinking.” As your idea grows in complexity, the length of your words should shrink

The author also elaborates on 7 writing tips to better achieve the above guidance :
1. begin sentences with subjects and verbs
2. order words for emphasis
3. use the active voice when possible
4. unleash string verbs
5. avoid verb qualifiers and weasel words
6. vary sentence length
7. constuct parallel structures

In this first section the author also introduces one of the truly useful ideas in the book : The Logline, a concept he borrowed from Hollywood screenwriters. When writers pitch screenplays to studios, they enter the meetings armed with a logline, a concise and compelling sentence that answers the question: 'What is my story about?'. A successful logline is ~25 words that can be delivered in fifteen seconds or less. eg. Titanic's logline woule be : A love story between two passengers aboard the doomed Titanic's maiden voyage.

Each logline effectively communicates the main character, their situation, and the central conflict or stakes of the story, which is exactly what studio executives would need to quickly understand the essence of a screenplay.
Logline seems to be a cousin of what the US Military calls 'BLUF' - Bottom line up front.
BLUF.Logline. These are memorable ways to reinforce a key message in the book : Be Brief.

Brevity clarifies, and clarity inspires. You can have the greatest idea in the world, but if you cannot express it in one clear, concise, and specific sentence, no one will pay attention. The secret to catching a person’s attention is not to cut through the noise but to boost the signal....Brevity doesn’t come from compressing a mountain of information into a short amount of time. Instead, brevity happens when you start with one big idea and carefully select the stories, examples, and data that support your big idea.

Another guidance TBB provides is to use good metaphors & analogies. The author goes into a lot of details of why these two when well placed can boost the stickiness of any message, written or spoken.


Section 2 - How to tell better stories ?

1#
TBB advises we all use the Thee Act Structure.

Act 1 is the setup
Act 2 is the challenge
Act 3 is the resolution

Add the following 'beats' to the Thee Act Structure, before the resolution, to boost its efficacy :
Add a Catalyst ('inciting incident')
then throw in a Debate
then fun and games
then a 'all is lost' moment.
These beats will boost the memorability and interestingness of your presentation/talk tremendously. Dan Roam even wrote a good about about how to do this. worth checking out.

Then TBB goes into how this above structure can be used in any 'ORIGIN STORY' presentation. He assumes that is a very common type of 'pitch' the reader of this book could be likely making and I think he is right there.

2#
Chapter 9 then deep dives into one of Amazon's most famous "exports" to the wider white collar Management world : the no powerpoint 'narrative memo'. After a lot of context TBB provides the following guidance to anyone who wants to adopt it in their team and firm :

- Focus on Narrative, not six pagers (which is what amazon does)
- Stick to heading and sub headings
- don't rush it
- collaborate to communicate
- hold study halls

3#
Chapter 10 then expands on another less famous amazon export : the PR/FAQ. This document forces a manager, before a product/service is launches, AT THE START, to pretend it is the DAY of the launch and they are going to share a PR/FAQ explaing the product/service to the wider world. This forces stunning clarity about what the end goal is on Day 0. Before a minute of a dollar is spent on the product/service. Brilliant insight. The kernel of this idea is that writing forces clear and precise thinking. Which bleeds into the planning. And it gets at that hardest unicorn in any large company - INTERNAL ALIGNMENT.

the last chapter in this book just had a simple message with a lot of padding in anecdotes and examples : Leaders READ a lot and so should you. Reading will help you become a better story teller and presenter.

Section 3 - How does one get better at convincing people ?

Here TBB introduces us to a new acronym 'AMP'
A = Ability (something that is intrinsic, difficult to change)
M = Message (the core content, style and structure of your message)
P = Practice (time spent on, and very easy to scale)

then TBB dissects just why and how Bezos and Steve Jobs were so good at communicating and what the reader can 'borrow' from both these legends.

the next chapter in this section has less direct tactic or advice and strays into 'fuzzy guidance' territoty. Here TBB advises the reader to be clear about their team/firms misson and constantly commuinicate it until they are a broken record. And the chapter after that goes even further into fuzzy advice territory by urging the reader-leaders to sprinkle visible 'symbols' that stresses the Mission their firm is committed to. Bezos had a empty chair in his Staff meetings to remind his team THE CUSTOMER in that chair needs to be kept front and center in all discussions.
And in the last but one chapter TBB goes niche into how data and numbers can be 'humanized' with a good use of smart analogies and metaphors that brings the numbers and data to scale.

The last chapter introduces us to the modestly named 'The Gallo Method Map Template' which is just a newer watered down version of MECE Model Barbara Minto made famous decades ago. The Template can be condensed into the following : Make sure your talk/ppt/presentation has a starting LOGLINE, makes more than 3 key points, each supported by logical stories/data/analogy and ends with the Logline repeated.

Some good lines from the book:

- “Every new thing creates two new questions and two new opportunities.”

- Great storytellers get accepted into the world’s most elite universities. Great storytellers get hired for top jobs. Great storytellers attract investors for their start-ups. And great storytellers inspire others to do the impossible.

- Structure doesn’t confine creativity; structure unshackles it.

- Feynman popularized a technique for learning new things: Write the concept on a sheet of paper in your own words, the words you would use to explain the topic to someone else. Write the explanation in complete sentences with nouns and verbs—not bullet points. Feynman once said, “You can recognize truth by its beauty and simplicity.”

- Long presentations are often convoluted, disjointed, overwhelming, and just plain boring. Short presentations are almost always more persuasive than long ones.

- Practice is not something you do because you’re bad; practice is something you do because you are good. Great communicators put in practice time because time is what makes communicators great

- Harvard business professor John Kotter found that most leaders undercommunicate their vision by a factor of ten. “Transformation is impossible unless hundreds or thousands of people are willing to help, often to the point of making short-term sacrifices,” Kotter wrote in the Harvard Business Review. “Without credible communication, and a lot of it, the hearts and minds of the troops are never captured.”

- You don’t want to hire mercenaries at your company, you want to be surrounded with missionaries, Bezos would later say. Missionaries care about the mission.


The 3 sections in the book have diminishing utility. Each section's utility was a square of the previous section. So if you stop at Section 1 you likely have extracted 70% of the value in this book. Not saying the other chapters are uselss or boring. they are not. Just less useful vs the earlier chapters.

What was my take away from the book ? I don't have a single huge take awau but I can distill it into 4 messages:
# Keep the message memorable AND simple. Ruthlessly cull all fluff from your presentations.
# Work on the Narrative until it is clear and memorable.
# To make it memorable, follow the 3 Act Structure.
# Practice Practice Practice.

[Tom Groen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insights on communication.

[Carla Parreira]

O Modelo Jeff Bezos de Comunicação (Carmine Gallo). O livro explora as estratégias de comunicação utilizadas por Jeff Bezos, fundador da Amazon, que se destacam pela clareza e eficácia. Gallo analisa como Bezos transforma ideias complexas em mensagens simples e impactantes, enfatizando a importância de contar histórias para engajar a audiência. O autor também discute a prática de escrever documentos em vez de fazer apresentações, uma abordagem que incentiva a reflexão profunda e a colaboração entre equipes. Além disso, o livro destaca a relevância de uma comunicação centrada no cliente, que é um princípio fundamental na filosofia de Bezos, mostrando como essa mentalidade pode ser aplicada em diversas áreas de negócios. A narrativa continua a explorar exemplos práticos e dicas que podem ser adotadas por líderes e profissionais para aprimorar suas habilidades de comunicação, enfatizando a necessidade de adaptação e inovação constante no ambiente corporativo.O autor destaca que Jeff Bezos não é apenas um empresário, mas um visionário que transformou o comércio eletrônico e a experiência de compra. As estratégias de comunicação que ele implementou na Amazon são fundamentais para o crescimento da empresa e para a inovação contínua. Gallo enfatiza que Bezos elevou a forma como seus funcionários se comunicam, promovendo uma cultura de escrita clara e objetiva, que facilita a colaboração e a apresentação de ideias. O livro também revela como essas práticas de comunicação se tornaram um modelo a ser seguido por outras organizações, mostrando que a eficácia na comunicação pode ser um diferencial competitivo. Carmine Gallo, ao organizar essas ferramentas, oferece um guia prático para que qualquer pessoa possa aplicar os princípios de Bezos em sua própria vida profissional, destacando a importância de contar histórias e de se conectar emocionalmente com a audiência. A obra é um convite para que os leitores adotem uma abordagem mais estratégica e inovadora em suas comunicações, inspirando-se no legado de um dos empresários mais influentes da atualidade.Carmine Gallo, nascido em 26 de julho de 1965 em São José, Califórnia, é um autor de bestsellers internacionais e um renomado especialista em comunicação. Com uma carreira que inclui trabalho como repórter e apresentador em grandes redes como CNN e CBS, Gallo desenvolveu um estilo de comunicação direto e fundamentado em pesquisa. Ele se especializou em técnicas de apresentação, storytelling e influência, sendo amplamente reconhecido como um dos principais consultores de comunicação para empresas da Fortune 500. Seus treinamentos e palestras ao redor do mundo têm como objetivo capacitar líderes a se comunicarem com clareza, convicção e carisma, refletindo a importância de uma comunicação eficaz no ambiente corporativo. A obra sobre o modelo de comunicação de Jeff Bezos é um exemplo de como Gallo aplica suas experiências e conhecimentos para ajudar outros a se destacarem em suas respectivas áreas, promovendo uma cultura de comunicação que valoriza a clareza e a conexão emocional.Carmine Gallo explora ainda como a comunicação de Bezos não se limita apenas a documentos e reuniões, mas também se estende à forma como ele se relaciona com sua equipe e o público. A habilidade de escutar ativamente e de fazer perguntas incisivas é destacada como uma parte fundamental do estilo de liderança de Bezos. Ele acreditava que a comunicação eficaz envolve não apenas transmitir informações, mas também criar um ambiente onde todos se sintam à vontade para compartilhar ideias e feedbacks. Essa abordagem colaborativa fomenta a inovação e a criatividade, essenciais para o crescimento contínuo da Amazon. Além disso, Gallo menciona a importância da repetição e da consistência na comunicação. Bezos frequentemente reforçava mensagens-chave em diferentes contextos, garantindo que todos na organização estivessem alinhados com a visão e os objetivos da empresa. Essa repetição ajuda a solidificar a cultura organizacional e a manter todos focados nas prioridades estratégicas. O autor também analisa como a comunicação de Bezos se adapta a diferentes públicos, desde investidores até clientes e funcionários. Ele enfatiza a necessidade de personalizar a mensagem de acordo com o público-alvo, utilizando uma linguagem que ressoe com suas experiências e expectativas. Essa flexibilidade na comunicação é vista como uma habilidade crucial para qualquer líder que deseja influenciar e engajar efetivamente. Gallo conclui apresentando exercícios práticos que os leitores podem implementar para aprimorar suas próprias habilidades de comunicação. Ele sugere a prática de contar histórias em reuniões, a elaboração de memorandos narrativos e a realização de sessões de feedback estruturadas. Essas atividades não apenas melhoram a clareza na comunicação, mas também promovem um ambiente de aprendizado contínuo e colaboração dentro das equipes. Assim, o livro se torna uma fonte valiosa de insights e estratégias que qualquer profissional pode aplicar para se tornar um comunicador mais eficaz, refletindo a filosofia de Bezos de que a comunicação clara é a chave para o sucesso em qualquer empreendimento. O modelo Jeff Bezos de Comunicação revela que comunicar bem não é apenas um talento, é uma habilidade que pode ser desenvolvida com disciplina, método e intenção. A partir das práticas da Amazon, Carmine Gallo demonstra que empresas e líderes que priorizam a clareza, o foco no cliente e a narrativa são mais eficazes ao liderar pessoas e provocar mudanças reais. A obra enfatiza que a comunicação não se limita a transmitir informações, mas envolve a capacidade de inspirar e motivar equipes, criando um ambiente onde todos se sintam valorizados e engajados. Gallo destaca que a narrativa é uma ferramenta poderosa que pode transformar a maneira como as mensagens são recebidas. Ao contar histórias que conectam emocionalmente, os líderes conseguem não apenas informar, mas também criar um senso de propósito e pertencimento entre os colaboradores. Essa conexão emocional é fundamental para cultivar uma cultura organizacional forte e coesa. Além disso, o autor sugere que a prática constante e a reflexão sobre a comunicação são essenciais para o aprimoramento. Ele incentiva os leitores a se autoavaliarem e a buscarem feedback sobre suas habilidades comunicativas, promovendo um ciclo de aprendizado contínuo. Essa abordagem proativa permite que os profissionais se adaptem às mudanças e se tornem mais eficazes em suas interações diárias. A obra também ressalta a importância de um ambiente de trabalho que valorize a transparência e a honestidade na comunicação. Quando os líderes se comunicam de forma aberta e autêntica, eles estabelecem confiança e credibilidade, elementos cruciais para o sucesso de qualquer equipe. Essa confiança, por sua vez, facilita a colaboração e a inovação, permitindo que as organizações se destaquem em um mercado competitivo. Ao adotar os princípios apresentados, podemos nos tornar líderes mais inspiradores, profissionais mais estratégicos e comunicadores mais influentes em qualquer área de atuação. O livro, portanto, não é apenas um guia sobre a comunicação de Bezos, mas um convite à transformação pessoal e profissional por meio das palavras, mostrando que todos têm o potencial de se tornar comunicadores excepcionais.

[Elena Mishchenkova]

In The Bezos Blueprint, the author of some Harvard classes and the bestselling author of Talk Like TED Carmine Gallo argues that reading is the surest way to become an aspiring leader.

The words matter. They are such stuff as every secret sauce of success (and failure) is made of. As the story unleashes the three potent communication tactics to capture the attention of your readers and listeners, you will come to appreciate the genius of the Amazon's CEO Jeff Bezos. The language that he uses for his presentations and writings is the seven-grader language. And it is great!

Emotional vitality of a start-up was always represented in the Amazon's DNA. Committed to a noble purpose, Bezos has become a leader who acts as its chief storyteller. He leads with storytelling and always reminds people to think and act like they're working in a start-up, finding opportunities to learn, grow, and create.

The coach drills available are very useful. Because they are English-focused I had a hardship aligning some of them with my experience in communication. Let's take the tip of aiming to fit your key messages (ideally) into a 140 character Tweet. Do no try to do it in German to save yourself from getting very frustrated. Next, a writing feels somewhat monotonous in Russian, like a broken record, if you keep using the same words on the same page. You really have to give up this practice if you want to put your message through on a global market. There is no stickiness in ANY words when you repeat them like a mantra — your audience is very likely to make their jaws hurt from yawning. Trust me, I'm a localization specialist. In a nutshell, take it as a general guidance and remember: you do not sell boxes.

I had a tender moment on a passage that agues that we are made of books we read. And there's more, "a book is the single most valuable tool to boost your leadership skills."

Loved it!

They key takeaway? Forget about carbon-copied texts generated by NLP models. Instead, sharpen your brain, read more, and shape your story to grow through storytelling. At the end of the day, reading is the best way to spend our time that ChatGPT freed up. It broadens our horizons. And once again: no slice, dice, and a drop-shot — play big and make your story world classics.

[Alexis Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Insightful Yet Slightly Biased Read: "The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World's Greatest Salesman"

Rating: 3.8/5

"The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World's Greatest Salesman" offers a fascinating look into the world of Amazon and the renowned entrepreneur, Jeff Bezos. While reading this book, I found myself immersed in the company's history and gained valuable insights into effective communication techniques.

One of the highlights of this book is its ability to provide in-depth knowledge about Amazon as a company. The author masterfully explores the strategies and principles that contributed to Amazon's success, offering readers a unique perspective on Bezos' journey and the growth of the company.

Furthermore, "The Bezos Blueprint" offers valuable lessons on effective writing and communication. The book presents techniques that can be applied not only in the business world but also in various personal endeavors. Aspiring writers will find the advice on clear and persuasive communication particularly useful.

However, it's important to note that this book does have a slight bias towards Bezos and Amazon. While it provides valuable information, the author's admiration for Bezos occasionally seeps through, which may leave some readers questioning the objectivity of the content.

Additionally, I found certain sections of the book to be repetitive, which affected reading experience a bit. The repetition of certain concepts and anecdotes could have been condensed, allowing for a more concise and engaging narrative.

Despite these minor flaws, "The Bezos Blueprint" remains an insightful and informative read for anyone interested in business, communication, and the success of Amazon. It offers valuable lessons and thought-provoking ideas, making it a worthwhile addition to one's reading list.

Overall, I give "The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World's Greatest Salesman" a rating of 3.8 out of 5. It's a book that provides ample knowledge and learning opportunities, even though it could have benefited from a slightly more balanced perspective and tighter editing.

[Tyler Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can have an idea, but the secret to success in any endeavor is convincing someone else to take action on your idea

There is a difference between gifts and choices. Cleverness is a gift; kindness is a choice. Gifts are easy - they are given after all. Choices can be hard. In the end, we are our choices

If you’re writing for a broad audience of adults, you should aim to actually write at the 8th grade level

Speak in active sentences. Bezos annual letters are 94% active sentences (where subject performs the action)

Warren Buffett approach to learning his audience is 3 Qs. Who is the target? He writes for his sisters Doris and Bertie in his shareholder letters. What do they need to know? Focus on what they need to know that they do not know already. Why should they care? Nobody cares about your idea. They care about how your idea will lead a better life

Messages should be able to be spoken in 7-9 sentences or printed in 20 words

There is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so

Chiasmus: fancy word for inverting the same phrase. “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” JFK

You never know who’s swimming naked until the tide goes out

BLUF: Bottom line up front, started as a writing technique in the US Army

Book recommendations:
- Mythical Man Month - inspired Amazon two pizza teams
- Good to Great - inspired flywheel strategy
- Built to Last & Creation inspired AWS
- The innovators dilemma - inspired Kindle
- Made in America - inspired leadership principles
- Zingerman’s Guide to Giving Great Service - offered ideas on how to amaze and delight customers
- The Goal - how to manage bottlenecks

To rescale numbers to make them easier to comprehend, compare them to size, distance, or time

Always use the rule of three

Walking boosts creative output by 60%

[Kamis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do I think that Jeff Bezos is an excellent business man who has shaped the way we shop? Yes. Do I think he knows how to communicate to get people to listen to him and follow him? Yes. Do I think he's a good person? Hell no. Do I support him by using Amazon? Also no.

It is obvious throughout the book that Bezos has become a great communicator, with a laser sharp focus and ideas to continue achieving his dreams. I think a lot of the ideas in this book are excellent and can help others who struggle with communication. In fact, I would have loved to show my recent history professor the part about PowerPoint being useless and how presentations make it seem like the audience is listening and that the presenter is giving an actual talk, but they degrade quality of communication. Last semester I took a public speaking class that I was dreading. I hate public speaking, like many people do. I got through it pretty well, but I know there's things I could have improved. Some of what was in this book could have helped through that class. I can't go back to it now, but I can use the information for my current job and any others I may have in the future. This can be a very useful book for someone looking to improve communication in business dealings or school settings and everything in between.

I admire Bezos for being such an effective communicator. I just wish he actually cared as much about his employees and other mattes as he does about his profit.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Beth Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bezos Blueprint" by Carmine Gallo is a fascinating, fun, and informative book that explores the leadership principles and strategies of Amazon's founder and former CEO, Jeff Bezos. I loved it for so many reasons!

One of the strengths of the book is its clarity. The material is presented in a clear and engaging manner, using real-world examples and stories. He also breaks down complex ideas into practical and simple steps and actions that readers can apply to their own lives and work.

Gallo also delves into the unique culture and leadership style that Bezos has fostered at Amazon. He shows how Bezos has created a culture of innovation, risk-taking, and long-term thinking, and how this culture has been instrumental in driving the company's growth and success.
Reading "The Bezos Blueprint" can also help you become a better communicator. One of the key principles that Bezos emphasizes is the importance of clear and concise communication. I loved how Bezos communicated with his people and enjoyed reading many of his pieces referenced in the book. The examples from both him and other leaders were great.
He provides practical tips and strategies for how readers can improve their own communication skills, whether it's through writing, public speaking, or other forms of communication.
This is a great resource for anyone looking to improve their communication skills and become a better leader. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

[Matt Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit I liked this book more than I expected. I’m going through a career phase where communication is becoming more and more important and this book delivers a clear set of techniques for doing exactly those things.
Granted, there are more better books on some of the techniques - for example, part one on writing is basically a business centric paraphrase of “On Writing Well”. Nonetheless, by relating the writing techniques more directly to business situations, the Bezos Blueprint helps put these techniques in context and rekindled my desire to write clearly and concisely.
One of the most interesting parts was the discussion of reading level & Fleish Kincade scores. The book cleverly posits that a lower reading level isn’t necessarily something the dumbs down an idea, but rather clarifies something by complicated and is in fact far more difficult than writing a complicated idea at a high reading level.
Still, much of this book is eye rolling. Insofar as you have an opinion about Jeff Bezos (and you should) this book treats him with such awe that I had to snort occasionally. Even so, it’s hard to deny his results.
For impatient readers, the book’s most useful bits are at the start. As the book develops to speaking strategies and anecdotes of Titans of Industry, it starts to feel less informative and more like a sales pitch.

[Chris Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative read on the art of communication and a timely reminder that while some have natural strengths, it is a skill that can be obtained by all through rigorous application

Actionable Takeaways

1) Buffet's trick
- He pens every shareholder letter to his two sisters (which forces him to keep things simple and digestible) and when complete erases their name from the top of the letter.

2) Tips from the best
Begin with subject, verb. Use the active voice. Use strong verbs.

3) BLUF
-Convey the "Bottom Line Up Front." Otherwise known as "Commander's Intent" in the military

4) Harness the power of the metaphor
- CMT: "Conceptual Metaphor Theory" - Our brains make sense of the world by mapping things across domains
- Most knowledge is a matter of metaphor

5) Harness the power of the analogy
- Analogies in far domains (opposed to near domains) are better for retention
-Far Domain: Lymphatic system: Like the flow of water through a sponge
-Near Domain: Lymphatic system: Like the movement of blood through the veins

6) Storytelling
- Use the three act structure in conversation (Start, Conflict, Resolution)

7) Rule of Three
- Three charms and four alarms. The human brain can only easily remember three things at once

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mining Bezos Communication Skills

One of the most important skills for a would be entrepreneur is being able to communicate effectively. The author chose Bezos as an example of a successful entrepreneur. Combing through the twenty-four letters from Bezos to the Amazon shareholders, the author extracted writing skills that can help anyone improve their communication.

The chapters range from telling a story to how to place the critical information at the beginning and end of sentences to leave your readers with the critical points. I found the author’s emphasis on creativity and storytelling one of the most interesting facets of the book. Most writers on business communications focus strictly on what to get across. Thinking about storytelling is a way to involve the reader in what you’re saying. Stories are often the most effective way to make the reader remember your points.

This is a very readable book. If you’re interested in improving your communication skills, it’s a good choice. I highly recommend it.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

[Dany Colunga · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterclass in understanding the true value of communication. Carmine Gallo doesn’t just highlight Jeff Bezos’s leadership, but unpacks how Amazon’s success has been built on clear, purposeful, and persuasive communication.

What I loved most is how the book goes beyond theory—it gives practical insights into why effective storytelling, concise writing, and structured thinking are not “soft skills,” but core drivers of innovation and leadership. Every chapter reinforces the idea that communication is not a side skill, but the foundation of scaling ideas, building teams, and inspiring action.

If you’ve ever underestimated the role of communication in business (or life), this book will reset your perspective. It delivers exactly what it promises: showing how clarity, brevity, and vision in communication can transform an organization—and an individual’s impact.

Highly recommended for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to raise their communication game to the level of the world’s most influential builders.

[Lisa Konet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this contained some good information but felt I really had to endure to find the "gems." I also felt this book had a lot of Bezos' speeches pieced to together to create length. One good takeaway from this book is: " You can have all the technical skills mastered, but if you do not have proper communication, you have nothing."

I felt that was a little harsh. Communication has to be learned and practiced and if you are not in a proper work environment, it is hard to develop this skill and feel worthy.

I will still buy from Amazon. Would I take advice from this book? No. If I am someone that wants or needs to improve my communication skills, I would read a book that fosters that or ask for professional help.

Recommended for others, but not for me.

Thanks to Netgalley, Carmine Gallo and St Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available.

[Bob Deforce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise book about how to communicate effectively.

Having previous working experience at Amazon, this book highlighted the importance of communication within Amazon. I think the book gives good concrete tips on how to improve your communication. These tips are easy to implement in your day to day (professional) life, due to the great real-life examples given by the book.

The importance of getting your point across > the value of your point is sometimes understated and this book reminds the reader of emphasising the importance of communication.

Would definitely recommend this book for everyone trying to improve their communication, especially for people that lack a structured and systematic way of getting their point across. Since Bezos is a king at this practise, his way of working highlighted the way to perfect your communication skills.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book on simplifying your messaging. Filled with great practical advice for communication, messaging, and creativity. Gallo consistently draws from great examples exemplified by Bezos over the years but also sprinkles in a wide variety of other examples from pop culture and history. Going from Jerry Seinfeld giving writing advice to his daughter to a story about a former Greek General turned Sewage Manager and messaging guru, makes for entertaining writing.

I received this advanced copy in a Goodreads giveaway and never intended to read it so fast and actually enjoy it. Gallo lives by the words he speaks, simple and concentrated – 223 pages of effective messaging advice.

[R.Z. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Gallo makes the Bezos Blueprint look as easy as Jeff Bezos creating Amazon.com. Really? For those readers who don't know, Jeff Bezos is one of the world's richest individuals, and one of the most visionary and effective people of our time. This man is simply brilliant in his organizational skills, management skills, and in his understanding of how people think and respond. His visionary thinking is both as broad as it is focused. Christine Ballo breaks it all down for us in a way that you and I can understand, and that leaders world wide have imitated to create their own entrepreneurial businesses. Before I was even finished reading this excellent manuscript, I was beginning to implement the Bezos Blueprint and Christine Gallo's advice into my own projects!

[Miranda Vaughters]

MV Rating: 7/10
•being a ~corporate girlie~ who spent 6 years in business school programs, I’ve read my fair share of books on founders. This one is right up there with the Sam Walton one.
•the main purpose of the book is to teach effective communication in the vein of the man who made Amazon happen.
• I can tell that the write is a huge Bezos stan, which is great, but the best part of the book is that the steps being taught are super easy to follow and implement.
• if you’re looking for a solid self improvement book that doesn’t require a diet, exercise or meditation, this one is for you - communicating well is by far the best skill that you can develop IMO!

Special thanks to @stmartinspress for the advanced reader copy, and this book is available for purchase now!

[Somit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cracked open Carmine Gallo’s “The Bezos Blueprint” and took some time to read and absorb the great bits :)

Here are 3 takeaways that resonate:

* First Principles Thinking: Bezos breaks down complex problems to their core to simplify as to how a layman would see it. 💡

* Long-Term Obsession: Thinking quarters? Bezos plans in decades. Sustainability is about the long game and not giving into #FOMO.🤑🚀📈

* Customer Fanaticism: Obsess over the customer, not the competition. What will get them raving about your product? (Don’t think, what will do now, think how will customer react to your press release when you launch)

#jeffbezos #Innovation #Business #customer #amazon #bookreview #learn #grow #readers #readersofinstagram #readersofig #readersofinstagram

[Manouane Beauchamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

L'auteur analyse les méthodes de communications utilisées par Jeff Bezos autant pour ses communications personnelles que pour les communications au sein de son entreprise. Impressionnant!

On y apprend les outils utilisés, tel que l'utilisation de métaphores et d'analogies, mais aussi les méthodes de story telling ainsi que les façons de rédiger un texte qui attire l'attention.

Si vous êtes un gestionnaires ou un consultant, vous y trouverez un coffre un outil très garni.

Détail intéressant, j'ai particulièrement aimé le chapitre où l'auteur explique que Jeff Bezos est un lecteur de livres de type "business book", et qu'il n'hésite pas à imposer certaines lectures aux hauts gestionnaires de son organisation.

[Muaadh Baothman · Rating 3 out of 5]

كارمين جالو كتب هذا الكتاب بعد أن قرأ رسائل جيف بيزوس السنوية للمساهمين، حيث قام بتحليلها وشرح أسلوب بيزوس الفريد في القيادة والتواصل. واحدة من أبرز اللحظات التي تناولها، هي عندما قرأ بيزوس مقالًا أثناء وجوده على متن طائرة يتحدث عن أضرار العروض التقديمية (PowerPoint)، وكيف أنها تُضعف القدرة على فهم المشكلات وشرح الأفكار بعمق. هذه اللحظة شكّلت نقطة تحوّل؛ إذ اتخذ بيزوس قرارًا حاسمًا بأن تُعرض الأفكار والمشروعات في أمازون من خلال مذكرات مكتوبة من ست صفحات بدلاً من شرائح العرض. وطلب من كبار المديرين التنفيذيين الالتزام بذلك الأسلوب.

بعد هذه الرحلة التي خضتها مع جالو في كتابه، أقول: ما زلت متعطشًا لفهم تفاصيل نجاح أمازون العميقة، وكيف أقدر أستفيد منها خصوصاً آن مجالي يصب في التجارة الالكترونية.

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 5 out of 5]

If someone hears the title of The Bezos Blueprint they may assume the book is about Jeff Bezos' and the empire he has built with Amazon, Blue Origin and countless other companies. They wouldn't be wrong, but they also wouldn't be right. What I enjoyed about reading The Bezos Blueprint is that the concepts are distinct, easy to comprehend and well laid out. This isn't a what Jeff Bezos did, but a how Jeff Bozos achieved his success. Carmine Gallo is able to communicate that message effectively using antidote's, stories and interviews with other success CEO's.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me access to the audio ARC in exchange for feedback.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book on Communication, and a surprisingly interesting and entertaining read.

Gallo gives clear blueprints on how to improve your communication skills, a key ingredient in anyone's success. Filled with tips and anecdotes from a wide variety of successful people, I learned a lot while reading it.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an ARC via NetGalley. The book is scheduled for publication 11/15/22. All opinions in this review are my own and are freely given.

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very pleasantly surprised with this read! I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but appreciated the insight it lent into successful businessmen like Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffet, and more--particularly around their communication styles. As an editor myself, I'm always on the lookout for ways to improve my own (and, yes, others') writing, and this is a great resource to do just that.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Gregory Thompson · Rating 1 out of 5]

A Waste of Time

I was hoping to learn something new from this book but unfortunately I found it to be full of tried and true snippets of how to communicate effectively. The written word is important - especially when communicating to external constituencies but (IMHO) a CEO needs to be just as adept at the spoken word when attempting to get the troops properly aligned and executing well.

I began by reading page by page but then found myself simply skimming and trying to find the highlights. There weren't too many.

[Tswelopele Maputla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came to me at a time when I needed it most. I am falling in love with my career all over again and this book is cupid’a arrow that’s made me fall head over heels. I have been in corporate communications for four years now so I’m familiar with most of the topics Carmine Gallo writes about. It was refreshing to relearn and to discover new tools that I can add to my arsenal to excel at my job and writing for my blog. I love that there is wit, flair and simplicity in The Bezos Blueprint. I also love that Gallo recommends so many texts which shows how much research he did.