The Hard Thing About Hard Things

The Hard Thing About Hard Things

Ben Horowitz

Starting a business is exciting. Running one is hard.
And no one explains that better than Ben Horowitz.

In The Hard Thing About Hard Things, Horowitz—cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz and one of Silicon Valley’s most respected entrepreneurs—speaks candidly about the realities of building and leading a company. This is not a feel-good startup story. It’s a practical guide to dealing with the problems most business books and schools avoid.

Drawing from his own experience founding, scaling, selling, and investing in technology companies, Horowitz shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, decision-making, and survival when things are going wrong. He tackles uncomfortable but essential topics like firing friends, managing fear, making unpopular decisions, and maintaining a strong CEO mindset under pressure.

Blending sharp insight with humor, personal stories, and even hip-hop lyrics, this book offers real guidance for entrepreneurs, founders, and leaders facing the toughest moments of business.

If you want the truth about what it really takes to run a company—not just start one—this book delivers it straight.