The Upstarts: How Uber, Airbnb, and the Killer Companies of the New Silicon Valley Are Changing the World

The sharing economy is pretty revolutionary, and Stone (senior executive of global technology, Bloomberg News; The Everything Store) tries to take its measure by examining the history of two companies: ride-sharing Uber and home-sharing Airbnb. The emphasis is very much upon the personalities and decisions of the founders and leaders. Stone's admiration for their accomplishments is evident, but he never falls into outright hero worship. He does not ignore or minimize their poor decisions, or the costs others have borne for the companies' success. This book does a good job of comparing the companies' origins and behavior, finding both similarities and differences. In this regard, what is perhaps most striking is the self-glorification in which both indulge, and the often resulting lack of perspective. Stone's descriptions of competitors and also government officials who seek to regulate the companies are similar to those of the main protagonists, though naturally less extensive.