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The Bootstrapper's Bible: How to Start and Build a Business With a Great Idea and (Almost) No Money (Paperback)

by Seth Godin (Author) "No one in this country has the right to a job..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Bill Gates, United States (more...)

2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Starting out in 1986 with practically nothing, book packager and cyberentrepreneur Seth Godin has created a new- and old-media business that now employs 40 and generates around $5 million in annual revenue. In The Bootstrapper's Bible: How to Start and Build a Business with a Great Idea and (Almost) No Money, Godin shows precisely how his own venture, and a slew of others like Dell Computer, Burton Snowboards, Bose Corporation, Starbucks, and many lesser-known companies, ultimately managed to turn that nothing into something quite substantial. "Bootstrappers built this country, and they continue to make it great," he writes. "Virtually every business--from IBM to the local dry-cleaner--was bootstrapped, usually by people with far less smarts, less money, fewer connections, and less vision than you have right now." He elaborates on specific practices that he believes are critical to entrepreneurs who may have great ideas and boundless enthusiasm but lack the financial resources to launch their businesses in the traditional way. Writing in a clear and straightforward manner, he lays out Nine Magical Rules (such as "Find people who care about cash less than you do"), Ten Commandments (including "Don't forget where you came from"), and lots of other helpful tips. --Howard Rothman

Product Description
Seth Godin offers inspiration, ideas, and roadmaps to those starting their own business. To encourage bootstrappers, he shares his own story and covers other bootstrappers (from Dell Computer to Haagen Dazs) who have parlayed a great idea into a sizable fortune, using the smart strategies and cash-stretching tactics revealed in this book.

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Product Details

Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: Upstart Pub Co (December 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 157410103X
ISBN-13: 978-1574101034
Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds

Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #605,151 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
No one in this country has the right to a job. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Bill Gates, United States, Stereo Advantage, America Online, Pizza Hut, Jeff Bezos, Michael Dell, New Jersey, Post-It Notes, Ray Kroc, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Western Electric

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 24 books:

Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business, Seventh Edition by Fred S. Steingold on page 172, and Back Matter
How to Incorporate: A Handbook for Entrepreneurs and Professionals by Michael R. Diamond in Back Matter
Disney What if? ...Surprising twists to your favorite stories by Christopher Nicholas on page 96
The Business Planning Guide by David H. Bangs in Back Matter
How to Start, Finance, and Manage Your Own Small Business by Joseph R. Mancuso in Back Matter

See all 24 books this book cites

1 book cites this book:

The Rebel Rules: Daring to be Yourself in Business by Chip Conley in Back Matter

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	31% buy We, Me, Them & It: How to Write Powerfully for Business 4.0 out of 5 stars (4) $13.46
	28% buy The Bootstrapper's Bible: Volume 1 4.8 out of 5 stars (9) $2.86
	20% buy The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything 4.6 out of 5 stars (197) $17.79
	11% buy The Bootstrapper's Bible

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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

Average Customer Review

2.9 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bootstrapper gives this book the big thumbs up., December 6, 1999

By	R. Blumenthal "Roy Blumenthal" (Johannesburg, South Africa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As an experienced bootstrapper myself -- having tried it twice and failed, and then another twice and succeeded -- I give Godin's book a massive vote of confidence.

I had several jolts of recognition seeing things to avoid, and a whole lot of smiles at things I've been doing right in my latest venture. But more than that, I was given practical advice and strategies to use and use again.

It's clear that Godin knows what he's talking about, and the book offers clear and helpful advice, with templates for success (such as the employee handbook), and to-do lists that really do mean business.

I'm presently consulting the book for tips on getting my product ready to take to market.

I'm glad I bought the book, and I have strong suspicions that the naysayers among us are sour graping our good man Godin.

Blue skies love Roy

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book if your looking for some re-motivation., February 13, 1999

By A Customer

This book is a great book if you are interested in the not so black and white aspects of starting a business with little money. It also can kick start some of that fresh desire you had back when you first came up with your business idea. I finished reading the book the other day and I am still running off the boost of refreshing ideas it has given me. Try it.

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a "How to start a business in 7 easy steps" book..., April 29, 2002

By	H. Baumann (Lexington, KY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this book a few years ago and once again I reread it recently (ok, some areas I grazed over but I reread most of it.) Not only does this book cover a wide variety of issues about starting a business on little money, it also provides you with examples of how other businesses started (including some of the big brands that exist today.) From stretching your existing cash to finding your niche, this book is not a black and white "how to start a business in x number of easy steps" but instead a book that can be applied to whatever business you want to start. Or if you have already started and want to go back over some of the fine points it can also be helpful.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars all this book will do is change your life
if you think you need a lot of money to start and run a successful business... you're wrong.

This book changed the way I look at business. And it worked. Read more

Published on April 26, 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic.
Again and again, I find myself going back to this book to find things I missed. Goden has produced a resource that's essential for anyone starting or running a small business. Read more

Published on January 30, 2000 by Steve Ross

1.0 out of 5 stars Another Big Let-down
Fluff. Piffle. Regurgiation. How long did it take the author to "write" this tome? The answer is probably one evening. Don't waste your money.

Published on July 12, 1999

1.0 out of 5 stars Buyer Beware
After reading this dull uninformative text, I no longer want to succeed. I just want my money back. There's a reason why many of Mr. Read more

Published on April 19, 1999

1.0 out of 5 stars I want my money back!
This book is dreadful. Don't buy it

Published on April 10, 1999

1.0 out of 5 stars Great Title; Dumb Book
Great title but the book itself is a total letdown. I feel ripped-off

Published on April 3, 1999

1.0 out of 5 stars Another Over-hyped Product
After a friend told me about this book I checked it out at the library. I never buy a book without first knowing what I am getting. Mr. Read more

Published on March 14, 1999

1.0 out of 5 stars Really basic primer; not very helpful for businesspeople
This is more of a high school level course on entrepreneurship. Even rookies will find it too simplistic.

Published on February 4, 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars This book saved my company!
My friend gave me a copy of the bootstrapper's bible for Christmas. What a wonderful way to start the new year. Read more

Published on February 2, 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars don't, don't, don't start a business without this book
Godin doesn't mince words, and his stories are funny. Most important, he really focuses on the issues entrepreneurs mess up in over and over again.

Published on February 2, 1999

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