The Monk and the Riddle: The Art of Creating a Life While Making a Living Reviews

• Great read with a different perspective

  
  By A3POEZQP6MFT7Y on 2000-05-05
  I really enjoyed this book. I've been recommending it to friends and colleagues, but I've had a real struggle trying to summarize what it's about. Regardless, a big part of my enthusiasm is that Komisar has given a voice to so many of my core beliefs about my own career.

  So, here's my attempt at summarizing the book. It's a story about a business plan being pitched by a budding entrepeneur that Komisar is reviewing for a VC friend. The (factitious...I presume) story includes Komisar's personal perspectives about how one's career interacts with one's life and passions, how his own career, life, and passions have evolved together, and how VC's look at business plans / ideas. The story is well written and not the typical Harvard Business School Press book, in that all of the wisdom and content are presented neatly within a story.

  If you need more from your job than a wage, you will likely find some pearls of wisdom in this story. If you like what you read here, check out Komisar's article in the March/April '00 HBR. If you're interested in some insight into how VC's look at business ideas, there is certainly plenty of information within this story for you too.

  Finally, about the five stars, the book is absolutely deserving of them. This story hit me right between the eyes in so many ways, was so elegantly presented, and so refreshing, that I highly recommend it.
  
  

• Read this book before you write your business plan

  
  By A1OYHQ38350IYE on 2000-05-15
  Consider this book a gift of 15-20 years, the period it took Randy to gain the life lessons that are conveyed in this deceptively thin, but deep, book.

  So deep in fact, that many readers and reviewers may miss their significance for three simple reasons:

  First, the book doesn't give answers. This is a brilliant insight which frustrates 'inside the box thinkers' no end. After you've written a dozen business plans and pitched a hundred venture capitaliists, you quickly discover the conribution of 'dumb luck' in getting a company funded and through a liquidity event. The hubris which generally accompanies fast millions blinds most people to the mere veneer of control they exert on the destiny of a business.

  Second, some people won't get the cosmic joke. Using the vehicle of a pseudo dotcom called Funerals.com, the book gently makes fun of the absurdity of monomaniacal obsession with business, contrasted to the shortness of life. Again, the authors allow the reader to explore the journey of a startup in ways which few others dare imagine.

  Third: they permit the struggle to appear deceptively easy. Randy glosses over how the passions of the founders are quickly subsumed by the demands of capital, perhaps the only shortcoming that bears mention.

  If Randy or a top tier business school could develop an algorithm that properly values passion on the balance sheet, inspired founders everywhere would be more likely to adopt his guidance from day one.

  Implicit in the message is the question: "What do you have to become to be successful?" Their insights may help you avoid a Faustian bargain. That is a gift you'll want to savor and pass on to others.
  
  

• More Monk, Less Riddle

  
  By ABVMTX7KTP4CO on 2001-03-30
  
  I looked forward to reading this book, but was disappointed after reading it. In particular, the subtitle, "The Education Of A Silicon Valley Entrepreneur," led me to expect many lessons about entrepreneurship, which I didn't find in this book. A better book for learning entrepreneurship is "The Entrepreneurial Mindset" (also by Harvard Business School Press)

  Komisar works with entrepreneurs by taking a piece of the company in exchange for his experience, connections, and knowledge of the software industry.

  Komisar's entrepreneurial education began when he went to Harvard Law School. He moved into technology law about the time companies like Apple were becoming established. He took a job with Apple Computer. His specialty was negotiation.

  Apple decided to spin off the part of their company that made many Macintosh applications as Claris Corporation. The lead manager of the spin-off company, Claris, liked Komisar's reputation as a negotiator and asked him to join the spin-off as one of the "founders."

  Claris was later reacquired by Apple, and Komisar's reputation and financial windfall were made. He brags of building a company up to $90 million in revenue, back when $90 million really meant something. Unlike today, where he notes $90 million is chump change in employee stock options.

  Komisar went on to be recruited by several companies, including LucasArts, Go, and WebTV. Throughout his career, he learned much about software and internet-based businesses. He became the CEO of LucasArts Entertainment. With such vast Silicon Valley experience, I expected far more lessons in entrepreneurship. With WebTV, he became a "Virtual CEO."

  Komisar likes his role as "Virtual CEO" as it allows time for driving around the world on a motorcycle and time for playing with his two "horrible hounds." (maybe, it's a dog-person book, and not a cat-person book) Plus, as he points out, he gets a piece of the equity.

  Of course, most entrepreneurs don't follow this course. It's true many successful participants in entrepreneurial ventures are people other than the main entrepreneur. And, it's true some start-ups have the backing of major companies, such as Apple. But, most entrepreneurs create companies from scratch without the benefit of venture capital or an established base. There is no discussion of that.

  The lesson I learned from "The Monk And The Riddle: The Education Of A Silicon Valley Entrepreneur" was that if you want to advance in Silicon Valley, go to Harvard Law School, specialize in securities law or technology law, become a good negotiator, move to Silicon Valley, build personal contacts and negotiation skills, and you might well be well-positioned for getting a piece of other people's entrepreneurial ventures. Being active and being present are two keys to success. Hopefully, your success will snowball.

  The most annoying part of "The Monk And The Riddle" is when it follows the desire of a young, wanna-be entrepreneur who wants to raise money to start an online funeral service. His enthusiasm for getting rich is supposed to be funny.

  Komisar teaches him that if his only goal is to get rich, he probably won't because he won't have the passion to motivate him when times get tough. Komisar explains the weakness of the "Deferred Life Plan." The Deferred Life Plan means trying to create an entrepreneurial venture to get rich, whether or not you really feel passion for the venture. Then, you get rich and go on to do whatever you really want to do with your life.

  Anyway, the entrepreneur sees the light and moves from pure online funeral services to wanting a more touchy-feely service that pays homage to the dearly departed. He wants to put the "fun" back into fun-erals. He truly feels passionately about this. Can he have the money, now? Sure, now that he's passionate! All I can say is that a tiger doesn't change its stripes. And, there's a difference between real passion, and the rhetoric of passion that is so common in parts of Silicon Valley and elsewhere.

  Peter Hupalo
  Author of
  "Thinking Like An Entrepreneur"
  
  
  
  

• The Silliest Waste of Money in a Long, Long Time!

  
  By AQJRKHAWU1TCU on 2000-05-09
  Randy Komisar figures he is one of those stand-outs because he shaves his head and rides a motorcycle.

  BFD!

  As he explains in his book, he also had mummy and daddums pay for his Harvard law school education. Unlike you and I, he never had to actually work for a living and therefore it is extremely easy for him to say that you should choose your work in such a manner that your work is your passion -- as if legions of people had the luxury to make that choice.

  It is no wonder that this book got published by the Harvard Business Press and that is has been spinned by its marketing department as one of the most important new business books one should read. It's feeding its own need.

  I really do not begrudge Mr. Komisar's treasured and very fortunate professional life. However, it is so extremely removed from what 99.9% of the working population has to go through that is laughable on its face.

  He is basically little more than a tired name-dropper who really glorifies his own accomplishments and never gives any credit to anyone else on his way up.

  I strongly suggest that your either donate your money that you would have spent on this book to a charity of your choice, or just light the dollar bills with a match. Either way, saving yourself from having to read this self-serving nonsense is worth it.
  
  

• This one is a real keeper.

  
  By A9RIWMMAJ7ZFW on 2000-04-20
  I don't usually read business books, but this is not your usual buisness book. Randy Komisar has been around the Valley for a long time, and here he tells the story of his wild career. At the same time, he takes readers along as he travels (on a Harley, I think) from deal to deal in Silicon Valley. You would think that his story would be all ego, like so many other business books. But instead he offers an entertaining portrait of a typical entrepreneur. Lenny, a guy who is all boast and energy, but doesn't really understand what drives him. Although the book touches on business issues--how VCs work, how to think through a business plan--its real focus is on personal growth and values. Unfortunately, this is a message sorely missing from most business books these days, and one that really needs to be heard. I know too many Lennys!
  
  
• Passionate Entrepreneurship: Live Your Dreams Today!
  By A1K1JW1C5CUSUZ on 2000-08-17
  Mr. Komisar has a simple message: It's the journey . . . not the destination . . . that counts, stupid! What that means is that you should focus on getting the most out of the moment, in creating a synthesis between what you value and what you spend your time on and do. The book opens with a brief story of Mr. Komisar giving a monk a ride on his motorcycle. After a long afternoon of riding, he delivers the monk where he wants to go. A few minutes later, he learns that the monk wants now to return to where they started. Finally, it sinks in. The monk just likes riding on motorcycles. He doesn't really have a destination in mind. Mr. Komisar connects that anecdote to his life as a young lawyer where he was so focused on goals, that he didn't see the conflict between his ambition for the future and the selling out of his values. Through a number of job changes and experiences, he emerges as someone who understands that the journey is all that counts, and takes on the role of virtual CEO for start-ups. This role means that he tries to help management accomplish what it wants, rather than representing the investors as venture capitalists do. It's a shift in direction that makes all the difference. My hat's off to Harvard Business School Press for publishing this heart-warming, inspiring book.

  Most of the book is a fable about a stiff would-be entrepreneur named Lenny who seeks Mr. Komisar's advice. To get some idea of this fable, Lenny starts his pitch by saying that his business concept is to put the fun in funerals. Through the course of the book, Lenny learns (with a lot of prodding from Mr. Komisar and Lenny's co-founder) to connect to his original passion, to provide a place on the Web where geographically-dispersed families can connect to grieve when a loved one dies. They can also get advice on how to handle the grief and the funeral. Mr. Komisar interspaces his own experiences with the fable to provide context for his observations.

  The fable is so far-fetched that it works well, because it allows you to see the differences more easily between serving an empowering vision that excites you, investors, potential employees, and customers and just trying to make a bundle.

  For those who want to know a little more about fund-raising for start-ups, the fable is filled with worthwhile advice. If you want to know more, read Confessions of a Venture Capitalist (which I also reviewed).

  At another level, the book makes the point that the reason to be an entrepreneur is to avoid the stultification of companies without a soul, operating only to meet the numbers. But you will have learned bad habits of forgetting about your soul-felt needs in mainstream corporate America, so you've got to regear as you enter entrepreneurship.

  The book is very well written, and you'll get through it very quickly.

  A good related book is Who Am I? which will give you tools to help you identify what you really want to get out of life.

  You should also use this book as an opportunity to reexamine your beliefs about life and relationships. You may have lots of stalled thinking outside of your working life, as well.

  
  
  

• Monk and the Riddle
  By ADCPIRM7YK63X on 2000-04-13
  A great book about more than just starting a company and the inner workings of Silicon Valley finance. It is about life, of finding the passion to go with the drive, of finding the value in people and discovering your core values. It is about how to live life. It will seen by most as a treatise on forming a business plan and selling it, but to me it is more about finding and fulfilling life's meaning, that each of us must create for ourselves. What is success but rather doing what we think is worthwile and significant. Time is not just change but an opportunity for the best kind of reward, excellance in our achieving our values. The journey has to be the reward for life is too short. I am reminded of a philiosopher years ago named Babarondus who spoke of living in the "frequency" of the moment. Randy explains this phrase as listen, learn, feel, execute, lead, find your excellance. And remember "No time to waste."
  
  
• A must read for would-be entrepreneurs
  By A1J629LQHQZUMB on 2000-04-23
  Komisar has hit an important nerve in his very readable story about his interactions with a hard driving would-be Silicon Valley entrepreneur who wants to put the "fun" back in funerals. At times this book is hilarious, but most importantly it illustrates what may be going wrong in Silicon Valley as the gold rush attracts a generation of "get rich quick" entrepreneurs who leave their souls behind. This is not at all like other Harvard Business School Press books where you get 90% of the value by reading the table of contents. It's a fun and entertaining read with an important point. I recommend it.
  
  
• a little too simple
  By A1RXW7T97QHM2Y on 2000-12-30
  An interesting book that wants to be the zen-like parable of the internet age with Komisar as the zen master proferring advice from the tables at the Konditorei coffee shop in Silicon Valley. And Komisar does do a nice job of articulating what he thinks is important for a business start-up to succeed. A lot of it has to do with recognizing the difference between passion and drive. Passion for a business is far more valuable an indicator of potential success to Komisar's mind and we spend the pages of this short book hearing his advice to his grasshopper...er, student entrepreneur. While the book is a good, easy read, I couldn't help but feel that the author comes off as a bit of a smug know-it-all who finally gets the sadsack of a mentee over to his way of thinking, the right true way, of course. All this is easy enough when you're telling the story and protecting the identities of the ones who need to be coached into coming around. Not sure if there's much here to help those who want a real-world view of what it's really like to make their way as a startup in search of capital, especially as the markets for capital get tighter. Still, business readers seem to love parables and pearls and there are plenty of those tossed in here.
  
  
• For more than just Silicon Valley
  By A1T9OPYRSOYDGF on 2000-06-27
  This book worked for me on several levels, and I would encourage anyone to read this, even if you aren't planning to start your own company.

  First, the book is what I classify as a business adventure - my favorite kind. The overarching framework is a fictional thread about a guy trying to start an Internet business, Funerals.com, with his primary goal of getting rich in 2-3 years. Randy Komisar, the author, uses this storyline to illustrate what he as a virtual CEO/angel investor looks for from people wanting cash for a new business.

  But to illustrate how he came to his views (what is important and why), Komisar gives us glimpses into his life, including important roles at successes such as WebTV and failures like GO (see the book "Startup" for more details on this story).

  Interestingly, he takes great pride in his adventures at GO, a company that lost tens of millions of dollars and died. This probably illustrates his primary theme, life is about the journey. Don't measure success by dollars in the bank.

  The book also works as a great "lessons learned" for life. Komisar, in the fictional part of the story about Lenny and his funerals.com, asks Lenny, "Would you be willing to do this for the rest of your life?" Once again, from Komisar's point of view, life (not just business) is about the journey. But Komisar's question is also very important for making his decision whether a person should receive his funding, recommendation, or help (you will have to read why).

  Lastly, the book is very short, and most people will be able to read it in a day or two at most. It works well on a business trip or just as a break between larger books.

  A short book with an engaging fictional story, interesting glimpses into the real world of angels, VCs and startups, and some good sage advice about business and life. Not a bad deal.
  
  

• Excellent for Young Entrepreneurs & New Angels
  By A15XCECYN7O76D on 2000-10-20
  This is an excellent book for two groups of people: Young Entrepreneur seeking seed or early round financing for an idea or business; and young financiers entering the field of Angel Investing.

  It is not a book for "get rich quick" entrepreneurs looking to create yet another burger.... not that you could in this corrected and more realistic market environment. It speaks to the heart and soul of the entrepreneur looking to build a solid company based on a passion for what they do, and to the Angel who wants to help others realize their passion.

  Young entrepreneurs will find Randy Komisar's business philosophy and words of wisdom useful in structuring and focus the thinking around the business plan. And it will help organize the presentation to capital sources. It offers the insight of an experienced manager and operator who has been through the ups and downs of various new ventures and may just help you avoid some of the dumb mistakes.

  Young Angels will find it offers a lot of helpful guidance for thinking about the plans your looking at. Even if you have management and operating experience you'll find this a useful articulation of many key points.
  
  

• Interesting, but not Groundbreaking
  By A8Y1VDW8E241 on 2005-06-15
  Overall, I found this episode in the life and adventures of Randy Komisar to be interesting, but not groundbreaking. Though certainly filled with some valuable insights, there was something more to be desired. There was still a lot to learn, however, the most important being the general observations from a real-life perspective on what it takes to enjoy life in the entrepreneurial world.
  The work itself was often scattered and forced. There was no real continuity between the flashbacks, often sounding as if Mr. Komisar decided to insert various triumphs in his life whenever he felt like it. Furthermore, I found the characters of Lenny and Allison to be more symbolic than human. They were not actual individuals, but prompts put in by Komisar to respond to the questions he wanted answered. In his interactions with them, Komisar walked an unhealthy line between humility and arrogance, presenting himself as a sort of low-key person who thinks outside the box, yet is always right on everything and draws reverence from those around him. At times, I wondered whether this book was more of a teaching tool or a testament to his own greatness.
  I found his main message to be useful, but somewhat hypocritical. His criticism of the "work first and then retire" philosophy struck especially close to home, as that is one I have often embraced. I paid close attention to his words and was partially persuaded. I think he is downright contradictory, however, when he tries to use his own life as an example of how a business does better when fueled by complete passion and the expectation of it being one's life's work. There were many times when I felt like screaming out, "Mr. Komisar, practice what you preach!" Furthermore, I can think of so many ways that his theory is wrong. Sometimes, the best businessman is one who has passion for what he/she is doing, but also has the ability to be objective and analyze the situation with an objective business savvy. When he and his mentor Campbell (of Columbia fame!) ran GO to the ground, sticking with it through its crash landing, he writes as if that is a good thing. That is fine when you have enough money to absorb that kind of failure, but most beginning entrepreneurs do not. Komisar got where he is because of the strategy he condemns.
  The other major problem with the book is the premise of funerals.com. I found it to be a very poor example, as it unjustly generalized the funeral market. While I am sure there are funeral homes who take advantage of people in their vulnerable, grieving states, I cannot think of anything less comforting than making arrangements over a computer instead of with people. The character of Allison in representing the opposite extreme really represented absurdity. If she were so feeling and caring, why not establish a not-for-profit website for grieving families? I was never convinced that they were after anything but money, and the only evidence that their purpose was primarily moral was Komisar merely claiming it. If this had been some kind of technological advancement in medicine, for instance, then I could have understood the enduring desire to save lives while also profiting. The funeral example, however, is weak at best, and so is the pathetic Celestine Prophecy/Richest Man in Babylon rip-off with the riddle.
  The strength of the book is in Komisar's thoughts about achieving happiness in life rather than about success in business. Unlike the other characters, I was able to connect with Komisar as a human being, experimenting with different companies and developing his own tastes. I gained a lot from reading his experiences, even if they were disjointed, and while I may have disagreed with him on some points, I learned from them. I am glad I read the book, found it useful, but would hardly call it a masterpiece.
  
  
  
• Stating the Obvious
  By A31PLH4R7OY2OU on 2002-10-12
  Congratulations to Randy Komisar on his ability to weave old truths with superficiality and egotism into a "critically acclaimed bestseller". I commend him for his salesmanship.

  A huge whollop of modesty and less patting himself on his own back would have made this book more palatable. I suggest he donate all profits from "The Monk and the Riddle" to a Buddhist monastery in Asia. Lou Schuler (the person who wrote first review on this list) may want to look up the words 'sage' and 'master storyteller'. Komisar is neither sage nor master storyteller. Kent Lineback deserves credit for translating Komisar's self-aggrandizing and self-admiring navel-gazing ramblings into words in print. Entrepreneurs, contrary to Komisar's generalizations, are a highly DIVERSE group of motivated, passionate and energetic dreamers and doers.

  Hopefully Komisar has not shelved generous charitable donations under the maligned "Deferred Life Plan" but instead has made these an important component of his lauded "Whole Life Plan".

  The recommendations on the back cover of the paperback are unimpressive. The butchered quote from the San Francisco Examiner "belongs in a category by itself....The best thing I've read all year" leads one to believe that this, perhaps, was the only book the reviewer read this year?

  If the reviewer would care to read another book this year, I greatly recommend "Life is So Good". The brag on the back cover of the "The Monk and the Riddle" that states that the book offers timeless advice would be more justified if it were on the back cover of "Life is So Good". "The Monk and the Riddle" offers nothing original in the category of timeless advice.
  
  

• Badly written, Boring & Little (or no) value
  By AH1GN6T7Z4RIJ on 2004-06-03
  Randy tries to present an old concept in an old way. There are tons of books that tell you to do what you feel passionate about, how to succeed in investing and how to love life.

  Randy fails miserably in delivering his story that is a mix of all of the above.

  With less than 200 pages and big font, there's not much space to say in the book.

  Randy, get a lesson on collecting thoughts before you write a book.
  
  

• Profound yet practical
  By A1CYRTQ04LYI55 on 2002-09-09
  Randy Komisar imparts a couple profound lessons in this business fable. If you were able to learn the Theory of Constraints by ready the Goal, this a book that can imply some grander lessons about approaching life and business.

  On the surface, the story is a fable about Komisar providing business advice to an internet funeral planning startup. The lessons are deeper than "What's a VC looking for?" I picked up two major concepts:
  1 - If you're not passionate about something, it's not worth doing, and you won't be able to convince others to join you.
  2 - It's not good to defer enjoyment of life - the journey has to be of value in addition to the destination.

  These issues are brought up with two questions:
  1 - What would you be willing to do for the rest of your life? Is the idea or change you're pursuing something that you'd be willing to do forever? If so, it's worth doing. If not, it's just another get rich quick scheme.
  2 - If you drop an egg 3 feet, how do you keep it from breaking? This is the riddle in the title - I won't spoil the answer here, but it's different than what I thought (Boil it first!) and the key to concept 2 above.

  Komisar's credentials to speak on this subject come from his varied background: He was a lawyer & CFO (hard numbers quant guy), a Virtual CEO and investor in high tech companies. He lived what he speaks, and comes from a "hard skills" background. This adds credibility to his discussion of softer subjects.

  This is a great book for anyone wondering, "Why am I doing this?" or "Should I be doing something new?" It delves into "Why do we get into a business?" I highly recommend this profound, but practical read.
  
  

• Much Ado About the Obvious
  By A9CWXL5G917UP on 2000-04-14
  I found this book rather patronizing and shallow.Is it not obvious that if you follow your passions, your work will be more fulfilling and probably more successful? I don't find that a revelation that requires a riddle. Is his attack on the materialism of the get-rich entrepreneurs justified? Absolutely. Is the book worth the time to plow through his Socratic discussions with a character named Lenny? I don't think so. Randy Komisar should keep his day job, one I trust he does with passion.
  
  
• Get Into the Valley...
  By A3RXEJOAP53Z8W on 2000-04-09
  Randy Komisar's book is a great read...a sort of parable about life in Silicon Valley. It's a combination memoir about his experiences in a number of roles and a number of startups -- woven through a fascinating dissection of one particular business plan and (more importantly) the motivations of the two entrepreneurs behind it. Komisar's advice to these two entrepreneurs focuses on passion -- what do they really want to do with the rest of their life and is this startup really it? Komisar challenges them: if the journey (and not the money!) really is the reward, is this the right journey for you?
  
  
• A deep look into the mirror...
  By A1NEUO22PS15AE on 2000-06-05
  I rarely finish reading a book from start to end - usually I end up somewhere in the middle only to find that the basic concept is tackled from yet another perspective.

  "The Monk & the Riddle" clearly was an exception: it clearly shows that it's quality, not quantity that counts (in more than one meaning). After it had been recommended to me twice within a week, I bought it on a Friday afternoon in an Amsterdam bookshop (couldn't wait for Amazon to deliver it at half the cost as I found out just now) and started reading it on a terrass, I guess something similar to the konditorei. Earlier that day I had just given a presentation for my internet start-up to a potential partner, who was the second person to recommend me this book.

  The experience I went through that first hour or so reading the first two chapters was one of a deep look into the mirror. Although my start-up is nowhere near Funerals.com, and my idea focuses on the establishment of a "brave new world" rather than a "bigger, faster, cheaper" alternative, many parallels could be drawn in sensing how your presentation might come across to the party sitting at the other end of the table.

  When I came home later that day, I never put the book down until I finished by 1:00 AM. I really enjoyed Komisar's insights (especially the deferred life plan; drive vs. passion) as well as his involvement with companies such as WebTV and TiVo. The narrative used is great - as with real e-mail, you nearly can't wait for the next message of Lenny to arrive...

  Altogether, a must-read for those that aspire to change the world ("brave new world" initiatives) and warning to those that want to become rich quick ("bigger, faster, cheaper"). It will be required reading for all of my fellow team members.

  To add one more quote which sums up what Komisar says: Life's a journey, not a destination.

  richard@dutchboy.nl
  
  

• I just don't see the lessons...
  By A16CFGG2IP18UO on 2000-08-26
  ...that were supposed to be set forth in this book. The author talks about not puruing the money, yet at every turn the detail lies in his material possesions and his ability to travel to exotic places. Are we really to believe that Lenny changed his heart in a week? No, he just figured out a better way to get his capital.

  This book was not inspiring in the least, as they say, actions speak louder than words.
  
  

• A must for any prospective entrepreneur
  By A1MCN7YA9HBBS6 on 2001-01-03
  I left my comfortable job a little over a year ago and started my own company with a dream and a strong vision for a company that I wanted to build.

  Along the way, there have been many hurdles that tempted me to put my dream on hold or "water down" my dream. Somewhere during the lowest point of those temptations, I picked up Randy's book. This book gave me and will give any entrepreneur the resolve to "stay the course," smell the roses along the way, and avoid living the "deferred life plan" that often becomes life for the entrepreneur. It's also a book the is probably a lot more about life in general than a startup or the technology business.

  My business is going well now but success is not in the bag yet(and it may never be)! The road is still tough and the peril is high, but Randy's book gave me courage, inspiration, and it helped me reinforce my "passion" for what I'm doing!

  An excellent read for the entrepreneur, an investor in a high tech business, or an employee of a startup.
  
  

• Great book
  By A3LLX4RMVRPAJC on 2001-10-30
  Great book for anyone who loves business stories. An inspiration to college graduates who might not be sure what road to travel. This tone of this story gives it the feel of a real life inspiration tale with all the right moves you find in a fiction. Best book I've read in 2 years!
  
  
• Insightful ... but incomplete.
  By A3N1I6KC9V0LKE on 2002-06-17
  The insights offered in this book go beyond merely "educating" a silicon valley entrepreneur as suggested by the hardcover title. I like the paperback title better - "The Art of Creating a Life While Making a Living".

  The book explains the difference between oft-confused words: passion & drive, management & leadership, risk & uncertainty, comfort & fulfillment, the deferred life plan & the whole life plan. These differences are explained with the example of a business plan that is progessively improved from the initial "Better-Faster-Cheaper" look to a "Brave New World" look.

  The book is well-written and easy to read. Those who have read "The Goal" will find a similar organization of ideas in this book. After flipping through the last page, I found myself thinking about the best answers to many questions looming in my mind. These are all good signs about the book!

  However, in continuously driving the idea of getting out of complacency and into a 'brave new world', the book did not provide insights on how one may balance the two. Komisar speaks from personal experience in the book and recalls the turning point of his life when he decided that he wouldn't be a lawyer by profession any more. He says that a lot of what he did upto that point was living "The Deferred Life Plan" (do what you have to do now, do what you want to do later). The reader is left with the impression that Komisar even viewed his Harvard education in this light. But would he have been where he is today if he hadn't got an education from Harvard? The progression of events in our life is a related one. Your past actions definitely impact the future. His Harvard education led him to a good job at a law firm where he added to his network of contacts.

  In this context, Komisar failed to address the issue that we all *have* to do certain things in our lives. Not everything can be what we *want* to do - e.g., is it wise to pursue a 'brave new world' idea when you're 13 years old? Or if you're old enough, but do not have enough savings to sustain yourself through failure? Maybe, maybe not. There is always a goal we have to accomplish (pay off our debts, take care of our obligations) before we can do what we *want* to do. It is upto each person to realize for themselves that they're living "The Deferred Life Plan" when they truly don't *have* to, anymore. Only then will it make sense (and be more fulfilling) to switch to "The Whole Life Plan". The book would have been complete if Komisar had provided his insights about how one might attempt to balance the two points of view.

  That's the only reason I cut out 1 star from my rating.

  Bottom line: Get it!
  
  

• "how to feel like working when you don't need to"
  By on 2003-04-27
  A brilliant guide to doing what you feel passionate about instead of what you need to do to pay the rent (mortgage) for those few who have enough money that they don't really need to work (ie, failure is acceptable and won't jeapardize them). This may have seemed a reasonable approach during the boom, but it's ridiculous during the bust, when being part of a sinking ship typically means being without a job for more than a year. Another relic of the era (80s & 90s boom).
  
  
• Borring
  By on 2003-05-30
  Maybe I just missed the point because I am not a business person, but my overall impression of this book is that it [is bad]. The first chapter starts off with a nice story of a monk and the author riding across Myanmar...but then all of a sudden we find ourself in CA where someone is pitching an idea about opening an online funeral supply store and the author giving him his 2 cents. Fine so this Komisar guy is a business success, well and good but that does not make him a Hemmingway.

  I would rather spend my money on something a little more meaningful than a book about the dot com's.
  
  

• Took a while to get into, but captured me afterwards
  By A1IANEBSMVGHS9 on 2004-03-19
  This book by Silicon Valley legend Randy Komisar, beginning with its title, took me a while to get into, I have to admit. I was way into it (page 60+ or so) and still wondering what the big deal about it was. This is the reason why I give it four stars: it takes a while to hook you. But if you stick to it, Komisar has a wealth of experience to share with you, from his first days in the East Coast, litigating, all through his experiences with tech giants such as WebTV, Tivo and Apple.

  The main idea presented by Komisar is that you don't need to postpone your life's dream for later, by playing it safe and engaging in what he calls the Deferred Life Plan. To convey this idea, he presents the reader with the process through which he takes Lenny (an entrepreneur at heart, driven by money, who comes to him for advice) in his pursuit to push his Business Plan for Funerals.com into the attention span of some Silicon Valley VC that Komisar knows. Initially a great idea conceived as a community-building scheme, leveraging the Web to assist those in grief due to the loss of a loved one, Funerals.com had evolved into a very basic money-making scheme that didn't have much of a spark to it, tied to the sale of cheaper caskets by leveraging the efficiencies that the Web can bring about.

  In the end, if you take away the Silicon Valley specifics, Komisar's point remains not just valid, but a healthy proposition to lead life driven from within, by passion for what you do and pride rooted in leaving a legacy behind you, instead of ambition and short-term gratification. Highly recommended reading for those who are searching for their mission in life, as well as those who are considering pursuing the entrepreneurial path in their lives.
  
  

• Insightful and entertaining
  By A1OM7GQ90CZTWZ on 2000-04-09
  Randy manages to deliver most of the key messages necessary for anyone thinking about doing a Silicon Valley (or regional equivalent) start-up, as well as some unexpected insights into the business of living. Having worked with Randy at GO, I can attest to his personal intensity and his sterling reputation. His journey is the same journey every entrepreneur must take -- different places, different people, but always same lesson learned. Enjoy the ride!
  
  
• "Easy Rider" Meets "My Dinner with Andre" in Silicon Valley
  By AEAT86SYENMEL on 2000-04-27
  Take the personal intimacy of "My Dinner with Andre", a touch of well worn "Easy Rider" leather, the wisdom and wiles of Robert Duvall's consigliore from "The Godfather", an ample measure of Jack Kornfield's compassion from "A Path with Heart", and a little Dr Doolittle on the side - and you will have some idea of what Randy Komisar and his book, "The Monk and the Riddle," are all about.

  Having had the privilege of a few chai tea lattes with Randy at the Konditorei in Portola Valley, I can attest that he will challenge your thinking about the way in which creativity can thrive in the process of earning a living, how integrity versus expediency can be a watchword, and the difference between passion and desire.

  Sympathetic to the plight of true believers trying to build a business on the constantly shifting sands of the Valley, Komisar acknowledges that "the journey is the reward." While it is not an easy road, it is possible to traverse as long as the individual embraces a willingness to be constantly aware of what is important to them, and is comfortable with constantly asking the question: "What could you do for the rest of your life?"

  In looking at the "passionate poets" and the "deferred lifers" of Silicon Valley, I'll place my bets on Komisar and those who embrace passion.
  
  

• Should have been a magazine article instead
  By on 2000-04-17
  Large type, small pages, and only 170 of them, yet it was still a stretch for this book. Better to have been an article in Fast Company. Poorly written, blindingly obvious insights (hint: if this book is interesting or new to you, you probably aren't the best person to do a startup). I'm amazed that HBS Press published this. Don't waste your time on this one...suggest Dee Hock's "Birth of the Chaordic Age" as a shining example of this sort of book done right.
  
  
• HA HA HA! This is bang on target
  By A34NFZVJ7FLEVF on 2000-04-05
  With the net mania, almost every kid from an MBA school thinks he is a genuis and can become rich by starting a dotcom and then sell it someone for an insane amount of money. WELL, THINK AGAIN! Not the case. The books puts out a compelling case that there is no short cut. If you are in it for the money, forget it.
  
  
• Easy stance to take once you have made the money...
  By on 2000-06-02
  Wow, all of Randy's words sound so good, thoughtful, and altruistic. Sure, what he says makes sense, AFTER you have already made it. Yes, it's EASY for him to say these things AFTER he has ALREADY made his KILLING doing it the OTHER way! I feel his pain, but hey, if he so believed in the message that he presents, he would have given away all that money that he made doing it the OTHER way. So are the words in this book sincere, or just a way to make more money? Not hard to figure out if you think about it. Get this book if you want to feel good about losing or need an excuse to run at 50% instead of 100% of your ability.
  
  

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