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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Uncanny Valley summary
Anna Wiener
A Memoir
28 mins
Brief summary
Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener is a memoir that delves into the world of tech startups. It gives a gritty and honest look at the downsides of the industry, revealing the often toxic culture and the urgent need for ethical considerations.
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Uncanny Valley
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Anna was pursuing her dream career in publishing in New York, but after the 2008 recession, it seemed like a dead end.
Before the financial crisis in 2008, a degree from a top US university all but guaranteed a job and eventually a career. But Anna Wiener and other humanities majors were looking to break into the New York publishing world in the wake of the recession, and success was far from a sure thing.
In post-recession America, publishing held a nostalgic glamor that resonated with her milieu. In Brooklyn at the time, people talked unselfconsciously about urban homesteading, wore suspenders, and drank homemade sloe gin from Mason jars. They took analog photographs and bought replacement needles for their record players.
Publishing was an industry that fit into this cozy, simplistic nostalgia, righteous in its stand against the corporatization of literature by a certain online superstore that had gotten its start selling books and then expanded to selling everything. Publishing professionals were passionate believers in literature who couldn’t bear losing to companies whose executives didn’t care about books.
But it was no longer a tenable career path.
Anna and everyone else she knew in the publishing-assistant class had a secondary source of income, gigging as copywriters or bartenders. Most of them, Anna included, could afford to work in publishing because they had a financial safety net.
What’s more, they were expendable. There was always someone available to work for less money – a fresher, more energetic, more idealistic graduate with an even more forgiving financial safety net.
Meanwhile, in Silicon Valley, people Anna’s age were starting companies, making their first millions and, she thought, doing work that mattered. She, on the other hand, was smoking weed, buying wrap dresses she couldn’t afford, and complaining dramatically.
Anna wanted to make money, to feel valued, to find her place in the world, and to create a career. One day, hungover and eating a sad desk salad at work, she saw an article about a start-up that had raised three million dollars to revolutionize book publishing. She didn’t know, yet, that this was basically pocket change in Silicon Valley terms. She was in.
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What is Uncanny Valley about?
At the peak of the tech boom, Anna Wiener left a dismal professional life in New York for the modern Californian gold rush in Silicon Valley. Looking for money, stability, and social affirmation, she found an industry running on inflated valuations, gargantuan egos, toxic masculinity, and a whole lot of jargon. In Uncanny Valley (2020), you’ll follow her journey through three start-up jobs toward a more realistic valuation of herself.
Uncanny Valley Review
Uncanny Valley (2020) by Anna Wiener is an eye-opening memoir about the author's experiences working in the male-dominated tech industry in Silicon Valley. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Wiener's sharp observations and honest account of her time in the tech world expose the dark side of the industry and its impact on society.
- Through vivid storytelling and personal anecdotes, Wiener explores themes of corporate culture, gender inequality, and the search for meaning in a hyper-connected world.
- The book offers a unique perspective on the rise of tech giants and the complexities of navigating the ever-evolving landscape of innovation.
Who should read Uncanny Valley?
- Anyone terrified by big tech’s takeover of our lives
- Those disappointed by the inaction following Snowden's revelations
- Start-up employees wondering if they've made the right career choice
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Uncanny Valley FAQs
What is the main message of Uncanny Valley?
The main message of Uncanny Valley explores the dark side of Silicon Valley while providing insights into the tech industry.
How long does it take to read Uncanny Valley?
The estimated reading time for Uncanny Valley varies based on individual reading speed. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in a matter of minutes.
Is Uncanny Valley a good book? Is it worth reading?
Uncanny Valley is worth reading because it offers a unique perspective on the tech world, shedding light on the challenges and complexities within Silicon Valley.
Who is the author of Uncanny Valley?
The author of Uncanny Valley is Anna Wiener.
What to read after Uncanny Valley?
If you're wondering what to read next after Uncanny Valley, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Born For This by Chris Guillebeau
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy
- Breath by James Nestor
- The Teenage Brain by Frances E. Jensen & Amy Ellis Nutt
- Good Arguments by Bo Seo
- Stop Doing That Sh*t by Gary John Bishop
- Hidden Potential by Adam Grant
- It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
- Lead Like a Coach by Karen Morley
- Breaking Up With Sugar by Molly Carmel