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Working Backwards: Insights, Stories, and Secrets from Inside Amazon

Working Backwards will likely become—or perhaps already is—cannon for people in tech building companies and designing organizations. Optimistically, it's an account of what systems and structures made Amazon successful, and how it continued to innovate even at very large size. It is a bit starry eyed, and one of my critical realizations is that most of us aren't building Amazon, so what works for them may not work for everyone.

That said, the book is full of actionable takeaways. Founders and leaders of all types of companies will likely benefit from reading and discussing this book with their teams.

Ratings

These are entirely subjective, and roughly try to capture my personal enjoyment and usefulness, and how likely I'd recommend it to others. Don't read too much into this unless you love my judgement. Rough guidelines:

A: Top quartile. Changed the way I think about something.

B: Worthwhile. I took away something useful.

C: Didn't hit, wouldn't directly recommend. Likely won't revisit.

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