Wild Ride: Inside Uber's Quest for World Domination
In your pocket is something amazing: a quick and easy way to summon a total stranger who will take you anywhere you'd like. In your hands is something equally amazing: the untold story of Uber's meteoric rise, and the massive ambitions of its larger-than-life founder and CEO.

Before Travis Kalanick became famous as the public face of Uber, he was a scrappy, rough-edged, loose-lipped entrepreneur. And even after taking Uber from the germ of an idea to a $69 billion global transportation behemoth, he still describes his company as a start-up. Like other Silicon Valley icons such as Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, he's always focused on the next disruptive innovation and the next world to conquer.

Both Uber and Kalanick have acquired a reputation for being combative, relentless, and iron-fisted against competitors. They've inspired both admiration and loathing as they've flouted government regulators, thrown the taxi industry into a tailspin, and stirred controversy over possible exploitation of drivers. They've even reshaped the deeply ingrained consumer behavior of not accepting a ride from a stranger-against the childhood warnings from everyone's parents.

Wild Ride is the first truly inside look at Uber's global empire. Veteran journalist Adam Lashinsky, the bestselling author of Inside Apple, traces the origins of Kalanick's massive ambitions in his humble roots, and he explores Uber's murky beginnings and the wild ride of*its rapid growth and expansion into different industries.

Lashinsky draws on exclusive, in-depth interviews with Kalanick and many other sources who share new details about Uber's internal and external power struggles. He also examines its doomed venture into China and the furtive fight between Kalanick and his competitors at Google, Tesla, Lyft, and GM over self-driving cars. Lashinsky even got behind the wheel as an Uber driver himself to learn what it's really like.

Uber has made headlines thanks to its eye-popping valuations and swift expansion around the world. But this book is the first account of how Uber really became the giant it is today, and how it plans to conquer the future.
1124566289
Wild Ride: Inside Uber's Quest for World Domination
In your pocket is something amazing: a quick and easy way to summon a total stranger who will take you anywhere you'd like. In your hands is something equally amazing: the untold story of Uber's meteoric rise, and the massive ambitions of its larger-than-life founder and CEO.

Before Travis Kalanick became famous as the public face of Uber, he was a scrappy, rough-edged, loose-lipped entrepreneur. And even after taking Uber from the germ of an idea to a $69 billion global transportation behemoth, he still describes his company as a start-up. Like other Silicon Valley icons such as Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, he's always focused on the next disruptive innovation and the next world to conquer.

Both Uber and Kalanick have acquired a reputation for being combative, relentless, and iron-fisted against competitors. They've inspired both admiration and loathing as they've flouted government regulators, thrown the taxi industry into a tailspin, and stirred controversy over possible exploitation of drivers. They've even reshaped the deeply ingrained consumer behavior of not accepting a ride from a stranger-against the childhood warnings from everyone's parents.

Wild Ride is the first truly inside look at Uber's global empire. Veteran journalist Adam Lashinsky, the bestselling author of Inside Apple, traces the origins of Kalanick's massive ambitions in his humble roots, and he explores Uber's murky beginnings and the wild ride of*its rapid growth and expansion into different industries.

Lashinsky draws on exclusive, in-depth interviews with Kalanick and many other sources who share new details about Uber's internal and external power struggles. He also examines its doomed venture into China and the furtive fight between Kalanick and his competitors at Google, Tesla, Lyft, and GM over self-driving cars. Lashinsky even got behind the wheel as an Uber driver himself to learn what it's really like.

Uber has made headlines thanks to its eye-popping valuations and swift expansion around the world. But this book is the first account of how Uber really became the giant it is today, and how it plans to conquer the future.
17.5 In Stock
Wild Ride: Inside Uber's Quest for World Domination

Wild Ride: Inside Uber's Quest for World Domination

by Adam Lashinsky

Narrated by Adam Lashinsky

Unabridged — 7 hours, 36 minutes

Wild Ride: Inside Uber's Quest for World Domination

Wild Ride: Inside Uber's Quest for World Domination

by Adam Lashinsky

Narrated by Adam Lashinsky

Unabridged — 7 hours, 36 minutes

Audiobook (Digital)

$17.50
FREE With a B&N Audiobooks Subscription | Cancel Anytime
$0.00

Free with a B&N Audiobooks Subscription | Cancel Anytime

START FREE TRIAL

Already Subscribed? 

Sign in to Your BN.com Account


Listen on the free Barnes & Noble NOOK app


Related collections and offers

FREE

with a B&N Audiobooks Subscription

Or Pay $17.50

Overview

In your pocket is something amazing: a quick and easy way to summon a total stranger who will take you anywhere you'd like. In your hands is something equally amazing: the untold story of Uber's meteoric rise, and the massive ambitions of its larger-than-life founder and CEO.

Before Travis Kalanick became famous as the public face of Uber, he was a scrappy, rough-edged, loose-lipped entrepreneur. And even after taking Uber from the germ of an idea to a $69 billion global transportation behemoth, he still describes his company as a start-up. Like other Silicon Valley icons such as Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, he's always focused on the next disruptive innovation and the next world to conquer.

Both Uber and Kalanick have acquired a reputation for being combative, relentless, and iron-fisted against competitors. They've inspired both admiration and loathing as they've flouted government regulators, thrown the taxi industry into a tailspin, and stirred controversy over possible exploitation of drivers. They've even reshaped the deeply ingrained consumer behavior of not accepting a ride from a stranger-against the childhood warnings from everyone's parents.

Wild Ride is the first truly inside look at Uber's global empire. Veteran journalist Adam Lashinsky, the bestselling author of Inside Apple, traces the origins of Kalanick's massive ambitions in his humble roots, and he explores Uber's murky beginnings and the wild ride of*its rapid growth and expansion into different industries.

Lashinsky draws on exclusive, in-depth interviews with Kalanick and many other sources who share new details about Uber's internal and external power struggles. He also examines its doomed venture into China and the furtive fight between Kalanick and his competitors at Google, Tesla, Lyft, and GM over self-driving cars. Lashinsky even got behind the wheel as an Uber driver himself to learn what it's really like.

Uber has made headlines thanks to its eye-popping valuations and swift expansion around the world. But this book is the first account of how Uber really became the giant it is today, and how it plans to conquer the future.

Editorial Reviews

The New York Times Book Review - Walter Isaacson

Wild Ride…is a crisp and lively look at both the good and bad aspects of the rise of Uber and its C.E.O., [Travis] Kalanick.

From the Publisher

Adam Lashinsky is one of the most insightful, enterprising, and energetic reporters covering technology in America today. He’s always a joy to read.”
—WALTER ISAACSON, author of Steve Jobs and The Innovators

“In Silicon Valley, no company is more ambitious, audacious, or annoying than Uber. Adam Lashinsky’s insightful book, brimming with comments and confessions from CEO Travis Kalanick, would be worth reading even at surge pricing.”
—STEVEN LEVY, author of Hackers and In the Plex

“Adam Lashinsky chronicles Uber’s rise from scrappy start-up to global giant with aplomb. It’s an epic story in itself, but Lashinsky’s insight and extensive reporting guarantee that it’s a valuable read as well.”
—BETHANY MCLEAN, author of All the Devils Are Here and The Smartest Guys in the Room

Wild Ride is the unprecedented story of Uber and its ruthless and visionary CEO Travis Kalanick. No new company has ever grown larger faster. Lashinsky captures Uber’s epic ambitions with extraordinary access and keen judgment. It’s a must read for everyone interested in business, technology, and the future.”
—JOHN DOERR, chairman of Kleiner Perkins

“With the eye of a fine journalist and the ear of a mordant humorist, Adam Lashinsky has nailed the formative ingredients which gave rise to the four-letter word known around the world—‘Uber.’”
—MICHAEL MORITZ, partner at Sequoia Capital

“Just a few pages into Wild Ride you can see why the insanely talented Adam Lashinsky is one of the most respected business journalists around today. Lashinsky takes you behind the many layers of tumult and ambition that created one of Silicon Valley’s most controversial and disruptive juggernauts, Uber, and the company’s insatiable, and often frightening, quest to win.”
—NICK BILTON, author of American Kingpin and Hatching Twitter

Library Journal

★ 05/15/2017
Lashinsky (assistant managing editor, Fortune; Inside Apple) takes readers inside the world of Uber and its enigmatic CEO, Travis Kalanick. Drawn from extensive research including interviews with Kalanick and others involved in the company, the author presents a vivid account of the story of Uber. The company came about when Kalanick and his friend Garrett Camp could not catch a cab during a blizzard in 2008. The idea was "if only there were a way to turn one's phone into a taxi dispatcher." Uber's first prototype called UberCab was created by Camp along with Oscar Salazar and Conrad Whelan, with Kalanick as "chief incubator" and adviser. Kalanick became CEO in 2010, with the company ultimately changing its name to Uber. It grew to be worth $69 billion, and along the way, Kalanick has faced government regulators and turned the taxi industry upside down. Uber continues to explore new ventures, including working toward adding self-driving cars (facing competition with Google, Tesla, Lyft, and General Motors). VERDICT An insightful and highly recommended account of Uber, this book should attract a wide audience. Would-be entrepreneurs as well as business and technology students and faculty will appreciate this inspirational story.—Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Queens, NY

JUNE 2017 - AudioFile

Journalist Adam Lashinsky provides a fascinating account of Uber founder Travis Kalanick’s aggressive behavior and ambitions. Lashinksy’s pleasant, if rather workmanlike, narration describes Kalanick’s wild excursion into the creation and management of the company that allows your mobile phone or a similar device to summon you a ride to nearly anywhere. Of special interest is an exploration of Uber’s successes and failures in international locations. The work provides insights into the humor, dedication, rudeness, and extremes of the demanding personalities one associates with a Silicon Valley start-up, especially one that challenges a long-standing industry such as the taxi business. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID: 2940169498646
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Publication date: 05/23/2017
Edition description: Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1
(Continues…)



Excerpted from "Wild Ride"
by .
Copyright © 2017 Adam Lashinsky.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews