Social Blunderer

Oh boy! The Cult of We tells a mind-boggling story. There is a sharp, almost sarcastic edge to some of the writing that reminded me of the cutting interludes in The Big Short but Brown and Farrell, for the most part, treat all the characters involved in the WeWork debacle with compassion. They genuinely want to understand why Adam Neumann did what he did and how so many people fell under his spell.
Adam comes across as mercurial. Almost absurdly charismatic and incredibly driven with unequalled skills as a salesperson and dealmaker. Brown and Farrell make clear a key aspect of his personality was his pathological need to push for more. It is a double-edged sword that drives him to great success and blinds him to the risks that he is exposing himself and those around him with his actions. There should have been adults in the room to tell him no. This is not an entirely sympathetic portrayal. Adam’s greed, cruelty and inability to take ownership for his mistakes speak for themselves.

It is fascinating to read how SO many people in the fields of finance, property, and technology fell under WeWork’s spell. Brown and Farrell smartly contrast the almost willful blindness of bankers, investors, celebrities, and employees to that of Regus owner’s clear-sighted understanding of WeWork’s business model.

Taking place over so many years and with many people making important decisions, this might have been incomprehensible and difficult to follow. This, however, is quality writing that cuts through a complicated maze of personalities and complex financial products, presenting the story of what happened in a way even a dolt like me could understand. This is a book filled with moments that I found astounding. The sums of money involved are almost unbelievable. This is a book about delusions both on a small and grand scale. It works both as a character study and as a warning that WE are all vulnerable to the defects of people like Neumann and Elizabeth Holmes because greedy humans believe the lies they want to hear.

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Matthew Green is a magnificent storyteller. He writes with curiosity, compassion, and, cleverness. 

Green’s exploration of how fragile even the largest of our cities can be to either environmental change or human frailty is engrossing. Settlements die when humans leave them, and whether this is due to flooding or war, they leave their mark on the land and in the memories of those that once lived there.

Green’s tales evoke feelings of melancholy, rage, and helplessness. For me, this was especially true in the chapters about Dunwich and Capel Celyn (both of which were drowned). He has a great knack for putting into historical perspective the lives of the people that lived in these doomed places; explaining how these settlements played a role in a grander geopolitical context or even in the evolution of human societies.

This is a fascinating look at periods of British history that is engrossing and beautifully written. Like many of the best non-fiction books, it ignited my imagination and not only stimulated my intellectual interest but also captivated me emotionally.  

Very highly recommended. 

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. If you buy the book with this link I get kicked a little money.