Amazon Book Review – Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup — John Carreyrou
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ABOUT THE BOOK
Bad Blood details the extraordinary rise and calamitous fall of Theranos, the Silicon Valley startup once valued at nearly $10 billion, led by its enigmatic founder Elizabeth Holmes. Through John Carreyrou’s investigative journalism, the book reveals how a combination of unchecked ambition, hubris, and the cult of personality in big tech enabled an astounding case of corporate fraud. Holmes sold a vision of revolutionizing healthcare via a device that promised to run comprehensive blood tests from a single drop. Despite attracting investments from blue-chip names and board members with celebrated reputations, the technology was fundamentally flawed—and sometimes dangerously so.
Carreyrou’s narrative reads like a business thriller, uncovering how Theranos’s leadership, including Holmes and COO Sunny Balwani, systematically deceived employees, regulators, investors, and patients. Whistleblowers faced internal intimidation and external legal threats. The book also explores organizational dysfunction in startups, the blind faith of venture capital, failures of due diligence, and the structural risks when boards lack domain expertise. By chronicling the relentless pursuit of truth that ultimately exposed the fraud, Bad Blood dissects the Silicon Valley ethos: bold disruption at all costs—sometimes, to the detriment of ethics, oversight, and basic business fundamentals.
WHY THIS BOOK
Bad Blood is a vital read for business leaders seeking insight into risk management, corporate governance, and the perils of unchecked founder charisma. It exposes how even sophisticated investors and experienced board members can be swept up in hype, sacrificing due diligence for fear of missing out. Carreyrou’s scrutiny is a powerful reminder that robust diligence, ethical leadership, and open cultures are essential for sustainable innovation. The actionable lessons are as important for those building new ventures as for those investing or advising in high-growth environments.
WHO IS RECOMMENDED TO READ THIS BOOK?
- CEOs, founders, and C-suite leaders in tech and healthcare
- Venture capitalists, angel investors, and board members
- Risk, compliance, and corporate governance professionals
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John Carreyrou is an award-winning investigative journalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize recipient. His reporting at The Wall Street Journal broke the Theranos story and has been recognized for its rigour, clarity, and impact on business ethics globally. Carreyrou’s background in business journalism makes his work particularly credible and relevant for executive audiences navigating high-stakes environments.
