A collection of Amazon's annual letters to shareholders and other writings by Jeff Bezos. Walter Isaacson only writes the introduction. It is interesting to see how Amazon evolved over the years through the lens of the shareholder letters.

This is a carefully chosen collection of Jeff Bezos letters and speeches.
It can be seen as a complement to the Everything store book.

The author describes 4 characteristics of truly innovative and creative people:

1. Passionately curious
2. Connecting Arts with Science
3. Think differently
4. Never let go your Childlike sense of wonder

Bezos had them all and it appears very obvious after you read the book.
It's a wonderful source of wisdom for businesses, strategists, analysts and in fact every person.

Some things sound better in letter and theory than in practice. And sometimes the book can make you feel that everything is possible if you just stick to your plan patiently. But there is the sunk cost fallacy and the survivorship bias.

The book is great and has timely practical advice, but it is no recipe for success.

Jeff Bezos is a true inspiration.I was hooked onto his backstory.
Also,it is notable to mention that Walter Isaacson has written an amazing introduction and filled in the book with intriguing details.
Anyone looking for inspiration should read this book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars!

Thanks to PublicAffairs and Harvard Business Review Press for providing me an e-ARC of this book!

Invent and Wander is separated into 3 sections, the biographical introduction, his letters to shareholders, and some personal writings.

The introduction is excellent. Walter Isaacson is a masterful writer. I was drawn into Bezos' history and story, and it was fascinating to learn more about him beyond Amazon as well as more about Amazon beyond my personal experience with the brand.

But Isaacson goes into such great detail that the rest of the book was mostly redundant and boring to read one after another. It's a neat idea: to share his real messages but not a particularly fun read. For every super neat fact, there were pages of reading the same thing over and over in different phrasings. I wonder that it's not meant to be read but rather browsed bit by bit between other books.

I liked the bits about how certain businesses and ventures came to be, like Kindle and Fulfillment. I probably would have rather had a beefed up version of the introduction written by Isaacson with bits of Bezos' letters strewn throughout. Bezos is truly an incredible mind, one of the greats. I can imagine anyone in business or tech would find this inspiring.

And to echo another reviewer, I wish this had contained some of the past and current criticism for Bezos and Amazon. I loved reading about his charitable programs and institutions, but from other things I've heard about what it's like to actually work for Amazon, I'm curious how these programs work in reality and not just in theory as Bezos chats about them. The book did make me both glad I have access to the neat technologies of Amazon as a Prime member and curious about getting a job with the company (currently I'm a stay at home mom, so I daydream about getting a job again, haha).

Thank you PublicAffairs, Harvard Business Review Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Jeff Bezos is truly an inspiration for anyone and sometimes, it is not visible much effort it takes to build a massive global business. In this collection of Jeff Bezos's writings—his unique and strikingly original annual shareholder letters, plus numerous speeches and interviews that provide insight into his background, his work, and the evolution of his ideas—you'll gain an insider's view of the why and how of his success. Inspiring, engaging and interesting for those who are fascinated by such stories, this is a must read.

Enlightening and inspiring combination of a biography and speeches and writings of Jeff Bezos.

This being my first book of such kind, I didn't know what to expect. But as an aspiring business owner, I truly admire what Jeff Bezos has accomplished and want to learn as much as possible from his experience. This book certainly serves this purpose to an extent; it is more of a collection of glimpses into his life and work over the years.

More specifically, the book starts with a short biography of Jeff Bezos, followed by two main sections. Part one is composed of the letters he sent out every April to Amazon.com shareholders. Part two is a collection of his speeches and interviews, all concerning both work and life. The organization was very good and straightforward, and I found the selection of writings very useful. However, I was personally much more invested in part two because it felt more personal and intriguing than the collection of shareholder letters. Nonetheless, the entire book was very interesting and delivered its promise of putting forth everything about and by Jeff Bezos, from business to lifestyle.

The only remark I have is that I wish this book could be expanded to include the existing public criticisms of the man, especially about the consequences of his amassed fortune. But even without this, it's definitely a good book worth a read.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book and learning about Jeff Bezos/Amazon. This book was a fun quick read to learn about the history and also have some key takeaways for building your own businessor success!

Thanks to PublicAffairs, Harvard Business Review Press, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

I have enjoyed reading this book. Sometimes it is not visible much effort it takes to build a massive global business. This book tells the story of Jeff Bezos and Amazon, his journey, vision, aspirations. The way the book is written is also quite special. I'd recommend reading as the contents are interesting and engaging.

Bezos is an interesting master of great advice when it comes to decision making and other business things. His shareholder letters are worth rereading. Cam to know a little more about the Origin of the Blue Origin ambitions. Its like Amazon's diary of accomplishments.