SOCIAL SCIENCES

A Truck Full of Money

by Tracy Kidder
Random. Sept. 2016. 288p. bibliog. ISBN 9780812995244. $28; ebk. ISBN 9780812995251. BUS
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Pulitzer Prize-winning author Kidder's (Mountains Beyond Mountains; The Soul of a New Machine) biography of Paul English, entrepreneur and founder of Kayak.com, starts with the sale of Kayak to Priceline in 2013. The narrative then moves back and forth in time to show how English was influenced by his childhood, education, and work experiences that led him to that point. Woven throughout are his attempts to "recover" from success by giving his wealth away, as well as struggles in his personal life. The book is divided into five parts and covers English's years as a programmer and manager, the founding and sale of Kayak.com, the experiment of the business incubator Blade, and his latest endeavor Lola, a travel service.
VERDICT Kidder has an authentic approach that is inspiring yet doesn't pull any punches. This volume will appeal to fans of biography, technology, and business, as well as lovers of exceptional storytelling. [See Prepub Alert, 3/28/16.]
Reviewed by Elizabeth Nelson, McHenry Cty. Coll. Lib., Crystal Lake, IL , Oct 01, 2016
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