Steve Blank's new book - The Startup Owner's Manual | Hacker News Reader

Steve Blank's new book - The Startup Owner's Manual

stevenblank.com

86 pointskurtvarner30 comments

There should be a Kindle/eBook version of this. One of the reasons why I haven't read "The Four Steps to the Epiphany" is because it's only available in paperback.

If you look at the comments on his post announcing the book, the majority are asking for a kindle/ebook version. He implies that it was easier to get going with a printed version, but I just don't understand how that's possible. I would love to hear why.

I offered to do an eBook version for free (even though I would guess he could spare a dime or two) with LiberWriter. I suspect the problem is not time or money or access to competent people, but a desire to maintain the book as a print-only production, which is frustrating. Sure, perhaps it is better in print, but for some people, they're not going to get it if it's not an eBook.

Ironic, given that he preaches working hard to figure out what people want before creating something.

Steve Blank always justified it as saying "you want it to be on your shelf, with notes..." I think it's just a luddite reaction on Steve's part.

Apparently he hasn't done enough customer development.

Doubly ironic since I love to have reference books with me in Kindle format on my iPad - searchable, scannable (highlighted sections can be compressed together, and always with me). My paper books languish at home. With multiple offices and an apartment I don't, and I suspect this is relatively common, have "a" bookshelf.

I have Four Steps to the Epiphany and I hate its design (awkward size) and typography (the lines are too long!). It would look much better on my Kindle for sure.

You are selling yourself short by not reading it.

I second the eBook Version. It'e pretty frustrating that Steve doesn't want to create/ship one. I offered to pay MORE for an ebook than the paper book...

He's said on his twitter that Kindle version will be available later in the year.

https://twitter.com/#!/sgblank/status/162317687681318913

First 33 pages are up on Stadford's site for free

http://www.stanford.edu/group/e145/cgi-bin/winter/drupal/upl...

This. I bought two cust devel books last year and Four Step wasn't one of them only because of the lack of a digital edition. I live in South America and I have no desire to wait a full month for a book that I have already paid for.

I bought the ebook version of Running Lean... it had quite a few diagrams that are quite useless in that form. I imagine business books with lots of diagrams. This might suffer from the ebook format too.

probably piracy concerns? much harder to photocopy 608 pges of a paper book, then to crack a kindle version & turn it in a pdf on piratebay

Essentially a duplicate from just two days ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3577624

Here's his blog post about the book http://steveblank.com/2012/02/09/two-giant-steps-forward-for...

I can't wait to get my hands on this. Steve's previous book The Four Steps to the Epiphany was amazing. I would put it squarely in the top 2-3 most influential books I've ever read.

I don't know that you can ever reduce "starting a startup" to a "paint by numbers" recipe, but Steve has done an amazing job of creating a rigorous methodology for going from idea -> business.

Thanks for the recommendation. I've began reading the first 33 pages by the Stanford link above, and it's very difficult to put down.

The issue of customer discovery and validation has always felt like a "large amorphous blob of negative feelings and gut unease" that I would simply ignore. This book faces it squarely and rigorously. I find that exhilarating, and I feel already more confident in tackling this issue while creating things for other people.

25% off and (supposedly) free shipping everywhere in the world: http://www.bookdepository.com/Startup-Owners-Manual-Steve-Bl...

How reputable is this source?

I've ordered books from them (were delivered to me in Ireland, just to note my location).

Steve himself links to the bookdepository in his blog comments.

B&N has it almost 50% off.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-startup-owners-manual-st...

doh. I should've looked a little longer before ordering it from there on Steve's say-so.

wow, now I feeled cheated

personally i have decided to wait until this is published in March 1st, then read reviews (if people can read through 608 pages that fast), before deciding to order this. the thought of reading 608 pages in this day of 140 character tweets makes me shudder. why couldn't this be turned into a pay per view movie? that would be faster to learn it all. with a companion login website to take notes & track your startup progress, like lean lauch pad is... just my incorrect personal opinion

Lol $39.99

What have you built?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Blank

That whole introduction needs to be scrapped and rewritten for NPOV (also for shitty writing). And I'm not sure the guy is notable enough for his own page.

That being said, his 'about' page is more useful than wikipedia in this case:

http://steveblank.com/about/

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