In "Bad Blood," investigative journalist John Carreyrou unveils the shocking rise and scandalous fall of Theranos, a biotech startup promising revolutionary blood-testing technology. Through a gripping narrative, he exposes the cunning deception of founder Elizabeth Holmes, who captivated investors and the public while hiding the truth about her company's capabilities. As whistleblowers emerge and the medical world takes notice, the web of lies begins to unravel, revealing the dark side of Silicon Valley ambition. With each revelation, the stakes escalate, putting patients' lives at risk and sparking a fierce battle for accountability. This true story of ambition, ethics, and betrayal raises a haunting question: how far will one go to achieve success?
By John Carreyrou
Published: 2020
"Good people are the key to building a great company."
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The gripping story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos—one of the biggest corporate frauds in history—a tale of ambition and hubris set amid the bold promises of Silicon Valley, rigorously reported by the prize-winning journalist. With a new Afterword covering her trial and sentencing, bringing the story to a close. “Chilling ... Reads like a thriller ... Carreyrou tells [the Theranos story] virtually to perfection.” —The New York Times Book Review In 2014, Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes was widely seen as the next Steve Jobs: a brilliant Stanford dropout whose startup “unicorn” promised to revolutionize the medical industry with its breakthrough device, which performed the whole range of laboratory tests from a single drop of blood. Backed by investors such as Larry Ellison and Tim Draper, Theranos sold shares in a fundraising round that valued the company at more than $9 billion, putting Holmes’s worth at an estimated $4.5 billion. There was just one problem: The technology didn’t work. Erroneous results put patients in danger, leading to misdiagnoses and unnecessary treatments. All the while, Holmes and her partner, Sunny Balwani, worked to silence anyone who voiced misgivings—from journalists to their own employees.
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“Good people are the key to building a great company.”
Bad Blood
By John Carreyrou
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
John Carreyrou is an acclaimed American investigative journalist and author, best known for his groundbreaking reporting on the Theranos scandal. A former reporter for The Wall Street Journal, his work has earned him multiple awards, including the George Polk Award for Financial Reporting. Carreyrou's critically praised book, "Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup," details the rise and fall of Theranos and its founder, Elizabeth Holmes. His investigative prowess and commitment to uncovering the truth have made him a prominent figure in journalism. Outside of his writing, Carreyrou frequently speaks on issues of ethics, innovation, and the responsibility of the media in holding powerful entities accountable.
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