Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal

Hatching Twitter is a great read, telling the story of how Twitter rose, somewhat haphazardly from Blogger and then Odeo. The story focuses on the backgrounds, personalities and infighting between the four co-founders (Noah Glass, Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, Evan Williams) and it's a fascinating read. You're left wondering how the company was ever successful given the dysfunction throughout its history. I thoroughly enjoyed the book but I would have two complaints. Firstly, this book takes the Evan Williams side throughout and he was clearly one of the more active participants (though all four co-founders were interviewed). Jack Dorsey in particular gets a very rough treatment being characterised as incompetent, narrow-minded, scheming and Machiavellian at various points. Maybe this is correct, but I couldn't help feel that the book lacked balance. Secondly, the book focuses almost solely on the people, not the product. It would have been fascinating to see how the product developed, how features were decided and added, and how the service we know today took shape. But this is sadly glossed over at best.In summary, a great read, had me gripped, but has left me wanting to get another perspective and learn more about the company.

I read this book as a non-twitter user, an older person who frankly is not that interested in Social Media. I knew about Twitter but never really understood what it was, how it worked and why it seemed to be so addictive to so many people.What made celebrities for example want to spend their time tweeting what they were doing to millions of fans so that they were constantly " on call" to them. So I hoped this book would give me an insight into what this phenomenon was all about. And to a degree it did. It explained how a group of geeks got together to think up this idea. It explained how the idea caught on and how the idea developed into a world wide sensationIt explained what it was about Twitter that made it such a valuable source of information as people used it to report on what they saw around them. The power of a crowd of people to Tweet at public events and let them be understood and exposed to a world wide audience. It also gave the reader an understanding of the social side of Tweeting and the way it could allow people to share their likes and dislikesFinally it gave what to me was a completely unknown story about the board room shenanigans that engulfed Twitter and the bitter disputes between those who were its founders. We all know about Mark Zuckerberg and the disputes he had both with his original partner and the Winklevoss twins but that was a tea party compared to the divisions that engulfed Twitter and possibly still cause problems today according to this book.If I had a complaint it was that it did not really explain the technology behind Twitter. I would have liked to have understood how it actually works and what level of infrastructure is needed to allow it to operate.But that is a small quibble against what was an interesting read on one of the key developments since 2000 that are transforming the landscape in which we all operate on a word wide basis

Having been a user of Twitter since 2008, I was interested to read the background to the company and understand how someone was able to create such a disruptive technology out of a seemingly simple idea.The book tells the surprisingly tumultuous story about the inception of Twitter and the internal power struggles between the various invent... err, co-founders of the company. It takes the reader through the key characters of the company in its humble beginnings and attempts to give insight into the minds of Ev, Jack, Biz, Noah and everyone else as they adapt to the increasing maturity of the Twitter.The Good:- It's a great story about egos, emotions, and the birth of a disruptive technology out of a side project. It genuinely inspires budding technology entrepreneurs who think they need the killer idea up front. My favourite quote of the book is the sign hanging in their office saying "Let's make better mistakes tomorrow".- Cameos from Mark Zuckerberg, President Medvedev and Snoop Dogg are very entertaining and give an insight into the rollercoaster early days of the company- Nick Bilton seems to have been given great access to current and former Twitter employees, founders, board of directors etc. to be able to give such an in-depth account of movements in an organisation.The Other:- It's entirely a matter of personal taste, but I personally found the language to, at times, start sounding like fiction which threw me off a couple of times. The scene is set with such description that I wonder whether this is artistic license or a description given by an interviewee.Example "It was dark outside as the rain pelted Dick Costolo's car relentlessly. He gripped the steering wheel with both hands trying to concentrate on the dark road. He was exhausted after the long flight from Indianapolis, where he had been speaking at a conference about Twitter. A few more miles, he thought, and I'll be home, out of these wet clothes"Personally, I like non-fiction books that are detailed, but very matter-of-fact. This book has a different perspective which some people may find enjoyable.Overall - Very enjoyable book, which I am pleased is being turned into a movie so people who may not be reading it, can still enjoy the story of Twitter.

This book will open your eyes about who really made Twitter what it is today! It's also a great book for any aspiring entrepreneur - Twitter was not a smooth ride to success! I highly recommend this book!

I bought this as a present for my son-in-law who is interested in all things geeky, and he was pleased with it.

I can't comment on the accuracy of the content and this version of events of the forming of Twitter and at times the writing is a little on the unnecessarily flowery side (reminded me of reading a story written by a college student). However, this was a really good read and I enjoyed it a lot. One of the better (in terms of entertainment at least) bios of a tech company.

Given I've spent well over two decades working within the IT industry, I wasn't really surprised by the skull duggery that was described to have taken place behind the closed doors of the Twitter office. Its rapid growth, significant potential and interest from influencers certainly left the start up open to being a target.It's a great insight into what happens & it certainly demonstrates very clearly that Ego has no rightful place in business.Twitter has changed the way people view social media platforms and use its services. Freedom of speech, the realtime validation of what's happening around the world... all surged forward with a leap when the founders of Twitter provided a mechanism to write 145 char in a square box.Brilliant.

Story of Twitter.Right from the blurred idea of the mind who was half drunk till the Bn$ company.From its ups & downs and ever changing CEOs. Real life story of the four guys containing all elements of drama movie friendship/betrayal/trust/power/struggle.The story is about Jack/Noah/Biz/Evan. Four guys who collectively work on the idea and then turn on each other to get the ultimate power of the company.Should read this book to understand the how and what are the challenges faced by startup who become popular beyond the expectation that was never thought.Must read.

Well,written and compulsively researched with inside stories galore, Bilton's through the looking glass look at Twitter demonstrates that techies are no better than politicians and straight company execs at infighting and cutthroat behavior. It's hard to believe that Jack Dorsey triumphed, and that idealism was soon besmirched at a company one would hope to,emulate due to its news and world--changing role. As for Dorsey's parroting, and channeling Steve Jobs, one can only paraphrase the famous comment about Dan Quayle and JFK: Jack, you ain't no Steve Jobs. one does get to know these lonely people and not to like many of them. It makes you wish Ev Williams well, and Biz Stone, too. It also makes you appreciate Twitter even more. A worthwhile but maybe not a must read.

The best available book on the story of Twitter. Often we forget the real inventors of these global platforms. Nick has done a great job of bringing out the great agony and effort with which Twitter was created. Those in background as well as those in front like Ev, Noah, Jack and what happened in their personal lives during the period. A good read.

Big congrats to Nick Bilton! What a journey is to jump into this book expecting nothing and getting everything one could expect! A true-life cliffhanger. A Must-Read for any entrepreneur (a gold-mine of wisdom) and for any person interested in learning how to spot those conflictive bad traits around you that could ruin your big project, and your friendships ...The story of the starting-up of Twitter Inc. is not only relevant (the characters keep developing in real life as you read this, so this is a never-ending book that continues after you finish it) but thrilling and full of twists. I read it one year ago while on holidays on a virgin beach of Formentera, and no matter how amazing was that beach, I couldn't put down the book until I finished it!Highly recommendable.

This is one of the best inspiresnal book in my collection now... I've purchessd hardcover. Binding is good. Delevery was also quick.Nick Bilton is really good Author as well jurnolist. He has collected really good information about the raise of company and the story behind it.Worth Reading!!!

This is a great read for anyone interested in what really happens at the top level of a high potential startup. While it all looks rosy to outsiders, the reality is all but. Loved the story. Very engaging, informative and entertaining. Well done...

Nick Bilton is a great great journalist and story teller. Captivating story!

Brilliant writing by Nick Bilton - the story of the startup and the power struggle within

La vera storia di twitter

Nick con este libro logra transmitir el dinamismo, pasión y frustración de los primeros días de twitter y toda la sucesión de eventos que marco al mundo

libro sobre startups intrigas y traiciones, si te gusta todo el mundillo de internet y startupero mola. La única pega es que no habla mucho sobre como hizo Twitter en crecer su negocio, está más centrado en las relaciones personales de los fundadores, volvería a comprarlo!!

Fast paced, reads like a Thriller - just waiting to be made into a movie or something! Nick Bilton hits it out of the park!

Rarely get to see the behind the scenes politics of big business, although boring to some written well to keep it interesting. By no means a business novel but a good story.

Nick Bilton puts life, colour into each and every page while narrating the Twitter story.Must read.