I read this book about a year ago and one idea really stuck with me: build simple things and make what you do obvious.
A small detail that influenced me a lot was choosing domains that clearly explain the product. When I built InstacallAI, that advice came back to me.
Very practical book for indie builders. No fluff, just lessons from actually shipping products.
It's a gret summary of what you need to bootstrap an idea, but it lacked of sincerity since its inception.
We've been waiting and, in spite the end result is visually attractive, I feel slightly scammed. Early adopters payed a lot for an ebook which production lasted too long and is not printed. In the meanwhile, Pieter talked about how he was investing in cryptocurrency —with our investment on his book?
Besides, the community helped him write the book for free.
Moreover, It doesn't have bibliography nor sources from his biz school studies; it seems he withholds some tricks from himself (or his blog). Also, there is some media out there where he says almost the same things for free.
It's a great exercise of personal branding, but lacks of technical depth, following the rule that if you failed it is because you did not work enough. It would improve with more strategic principles rather than mere tactics.
If you'd like to get in touch with the feeling of successful bootstrapping, read "Things a Little Bird Told Me" by Twitter's founder Biz Stone (paperback, 20$). On how to structure a new business, "Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers" by Alexander Osterwalder (paperback 19$). On great design, I recommend you read "Da cosa nasce cosa" by Bruno Munari.
Pros:Easy peasy tricks to build a digital product.
Cons:We payed 30$ for an ebook, extended production time while harvesting pre-orders
eu/acc: European Accelerationism
eu/acc: European Accelerationism
Makerbook
Cursor
Vision Directory
Many if not most business books are written by authors, rather than actual entrepreneurs. This makes sense considering entrepreneurs are busy running their business :)
Despite Pieter being a true entrepreneur he still found the time somehow to write this book.
I would recommend any (wannabe) maker to just go out and build stuff rather than read books. I bet Pieter would say the same. However, if you feel stuck or need some motivation, then this is the book for you. Buy it. Read it. And get back to shipping.
Pros:No-nonsense advice like Pieter is known for.
Cons:You still actually need to go and do the work. Reading is not enough.
eu/acc: European Accelerationism
Viz
Brutal Teardowns
This is the second time that the book has been featured on ProductHunt. The first time was back in 2015, when I pre-ordered. Yet to receive anything from Pieter indicating that the book is actually finished.
Pros:Sounds like a great book!
Cons:Ordered in 2015, have not received my copy yet
eu/acc: European Accelerationism
eu/acc: European Accelerationism
The author popularised digital nomad term and wannabes flushed tropical countries. I backed this book and was very dissatisfied its quality.
Name of book reminded me books by 37signals, which was revolutions for me (except book about freelance, but that was made by them intentionally, to sell idea of remote work to conservatives). Buuuut I started to read - and discovered set of obvious and questionable selfdevelopment ideas with redudant technical details of how author edit texts or which frameworks he use.
I understand, that he writes from his own view, from view of techy gus, not enterpreneur. But also I understand, that book will help to very narrow audience of the book. I'd like to see first idea, system, then example. In other case you don'y get idea. And you don't understand, that there are a lot of similar or even advanced and simplier tools/ways.
This is an example of author texts: https://levels.io/how-i-build-my... . MVP ideas expanded today, it's not just one idea, there a lot of tricks, a lot of formats of MVP, it's a new field of knowledge. But author literally enumerate which apps and frameworks he uses.
Is it matter? A bit, but customer doesn't care, which tools you used. He is doing target action or not, this is the marketing.
Conclusion: if you're know a lot of marketing theory but can't start to make - this book can help you with tools or show you that it's quite easy to build a product nowadays. If you prefer to learn the base, the abstract system which will lasts for years and don't care about tools which changes all the time - better to find another book.
Pros:Can motivate casual ppl to start their own biz
Cons:Nowadays a very subjective view of IT-guy, not enterpreneur
Equidam
I don't know of anyone who is as much an authority on bootstrapping and launching product ideas as Levelsio. He's probably also responsible for the plague of 'curated resources' on Product Hunt.
Pros:Bootstrapping wisdom from someone who lives that life
Cons:$30 might be a steep price relative to the length
eu/acc: European Accelerationism