Hardware Podcasts

Books in the box redux

Oxide and Friends · 28 Jun 2022 · 1h 43m · Episode 18

What this episode covers

Guest Scott Johnson shares a detailed war story about being fired by Dave Mahoney after a corporate acquisition, illustrating the dangers of hiring leaders who are 'rich, not hungry' and lack marketing skills. The group discusses the importance of reading industry history, citing books like 'Soul of a New Machine' and 'Steve Jobs & the NeXT Big Thing' to understand organizational dynamics and failure modes. They also explore broader themes of social capital in 'Bowling Alone' and the ethical complexities of technology in 'IBM and the Holocaust'.

Most relevant to

established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Oxide Computer Company, Dataware, DEC, Dyson, Fairchild Semiconductor, Acorn, Sinclair, Trader Joe's, McIlhenny Company, Cummins Engine Company
Products
WordPerfect
Also
Soul of a New Machine, Steve Jobs & the NeXT Big Thing, Bowling Alone, IBM and the Holocaust, Reinventing the Wheel, Creative Capital, Beautiful C++, ENIAC, John von Neumann

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