Published on 13th November, 2024

Notes on: Build - An unorthodox Guide to Making things worth Making.

What is this book?

I started reading this book on my way to the Zebo HQ at Adenta in trotro. Most people sitting in Trotro always try to kill time by browsing social media. When I try it bores me off quickly. I can't always help it knowing that I am wasting my precious time which actually gets converted to money into someone's account.

So I try to do something more worthwhile mostly educative videos on youtube or read something.

Why did I pick this book?

Good question, As I type this, there are over 70 books in a folder on my computer called "Self Development" in contains all my non technicals books with lessons I wish to learn and improve myself. But one the way to the office, I didn't reach out to any of those books. I got onto the internet searched Tony Fadell - Build and got the book and started reading - Sorry Tony, too broke to buy your book now, I promise to buy a paperback version someday, I promise. I have known about the book for a while, now. I think I first saw it one Amazon when it lauched two years ago.

I am in the cross roads of potentially joining Zebo, might happen, might never happen I don't know. So I thought joining a startup and being the 3rd* non-national-service employee, I need to know more about building. I need to read a thing or two on building and out of the whim, I thought why not Build? the book's title is literally build.

Reaching out for books that I need to learn a thing or two from, has been my thing for a very long time, I don't know how but strangely at some points in time, I just reach out for the right book that ends up changing my life completely or I end up learning very profound lessons exactly when I need them.

In JHS 2 when I was fed up with school and started thinking certainly there is a way to become successful in life, someone brought Rich dad, Poor dad into our class, I glanced on it, saw that title and went like this is the book I was looking for, it felt like how facebook creepily shows you ads based on your google searches except that this was a good ad that literally changed my life. If I never read Rich Poor, Poor Dad within that time of fraustration, I would have probably caved to my mum's pressure and gone to the University and can you imagine how crazily different a life can be in this situation?. I know not everyone agrees with this decision but hey! this is my life, I pull the shorts here. Shafiu is still on my neck to come join him at KNUST.

Aww, snap! Let's go back to Build. So yeah, finding myself closer and closer to joining a startup - not mine this time - a startup founded my people I respect and want to learn from - we will come back to this - I needed to read something little on Building. But when I picked up Build it was more like just read a few pages and see what I can learn from it and before I realized I was in Part IV as I type this. Some books are just that good, you say oh, lemme see what is inside and you lose track of time. That was how I read all of "The Psychology of Money" in a weekend.

Who is Tony Fadell?

So at the Zebo HQ, while I was reading this, an intern asked me what the book was about and I said "It is about building things, it is written by a guy called Tony Fadell. Do you know Thim?" He said No! and I said "He helped build the first iPod and also the iPhone". If that makes you want to read this book then you are at the right place if you feel indifferent then you probably shouldn't continue reading this. But Tony Fadell is much much more that than just that guy, He was at General Magic - They failed building the "iPhone" 15 years earlier before the world would grasped the concept of the iPhone, he built Nest which was later bought by Google. You see, I knew all these before I picked up the book, these helped in my decision to pick the book up when I had the thought. And also, I love hardware, got plans of building hardware startups when I secure some bag! Oh you don't know General Magic? There is a beautiful movie about them see General Magic: The Movie and also this Slidebean video - I think that is where I first learnt of General Magic - and this wikipedia page General Magic

Introduction

Assume you are young, ambitious and eager to make a dent in the world. You build and put youreself on the path of greatness and soon you find yourself working with people that you would regard as your heroes because they have done amazing things, achieved so much and you wish to learn from them. But you didn't get there all alone, so many people helped you with lessons and as they say time and tide waits for no man, one day you realize they are no more. You realize you are now the one others come asking for advice and you want to put that advice in a box for everyone. That is what this book is. A book of advice. Advice Tony learnt from others and advice he learnt from mistakes, successes and the relentless ambition to build great products. He offers enough advice so you too can build great products, great not mediocre products. Tony believes that any one trying to build great products deserves a mentor so he put one in a book hoping that it might help you. of course this is not the only way, but one that worked for Tony, Steve Jobs and many other great builders.