Valley Boy: The Education of Tom Perkins » (Bargain)

Tom Perkins co-founded the leading venture-capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, which started and/or financed some of America's best-known companies. More recently, he was a key player in all the changes at the top of Hewlett-Packard. He also is the author of Sex and the Single Zillionaire.

The national bestseller now in paperback: the revealing personal memoir from Tom Perkins—renowned venture capitalist, Silicon Valley and biotechnology pioneer, and one of America's most successful businessmen.

Known for his idiosyncratic ideas and golden touch, Tom Perkins has always been one of the business world's most intriguing figures. In this insightful memoir, Perkins recalls many fascinating episodes of his life, both personal and professional, including his involvement in the creation of American industries no one could have dreamed of not long ago.

Publishers Weekly

In contrast to the American classic The Education of Henry Adams, in which the author lamented that his traditional education had not prepared him for the modern world's rapid progress in science and technology, Silicon Valley venture capitalist Perkins's early studies in science (MIT) and business (Harvard) were perfectly adapted to building high technology companies in California. But historians and aspiring venture capitalists will be disappointed that his memoir says little about the companies he helped found and manage, focusing instead on gossipy accounts of boardroom squabbles. Instead of discussing making money, he concentrates on anecdotes about spending it on playboy activities like buying, building and racing expensive cars and yachts. The writing is clear but wooden. While the stories would be unremarkable if told about ordinary people, they will interest some readers due to the millions of dollars and celebrities involved. There are clunker jokes about women and homosexuals and the references to women are generally uncharitable (except for wives and mistresses of male friends, who are "slim and attractive"). Perkins's book is a pale imitation of Henry Adams's original. (Oct.)