Bad Blood By John Carreyrou

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup

Author: John Carreyrou

Bad Blood is a riveting investigative account by journalist John Carreyrou that tells the true story of Theranos, a Silicon Valley startup once valued at nearly $10 billion. The book uncovers the shocking rise and eventual fall of the company and its founder, Elizabeth Holmes. Theranos promised to revolutionize the medical industry with a device that could perform hundreds of blood tests using just a few drops of blood, but as Carreyrou reveals, it was all a lie.

Through meticulous research and interviews with whistleblowers and insiders, Carreyrou exposes the deceit, manipulation, and corporate culture that allowed Theranos to operate for years without being caught. The book highlights the dangers of overhyping a product, the ethical lapses of powerful individuals, and the consequences of blind ambition.

Why Bad Blood is a Must-Read

✅ A Gripping True Crime Story – The book reads like a thriller, with twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
✅ Insight into Silicon Valley – Bad Blood offers a behind-the-scenes look at Silicon Valley's culture of secrecy, ambition, and its obsession with disruption.
✅ Lessons on Ethics and Accountability – The book provides valuable lessons on the importance of integrity, transparency, and accountability in business.
✅ Real-World Impact – The Theranos scandal impacted thousands of patients who trusted the company’s faulty tests, making this book not only an interesting read but a crucial one for understanding corporate responsibility.

Key Takeaways from Bad Blood

1️⃣ The Dangers of Blind Faith in Disruptive Ideas – Theranos was praised for its bold promises, but its inability to deliver led to catastrophic consequences.
2️⃣ The Role of Whistleblowers – The book highlights the importance of whistleblowers in exposing wrongdoing and holding corporations accountable.
3️⃣ The Dark Side of Silicon Valley – Carreyrou paints a portrait of a competitive, high-pressure environment where even serious ethical concerns can be overlooked in the pursuit of success.
4️⃣ The Cost of Deception – The deception at Theranos didn’t just hurt investors, but also real patients who were given inaccurate medical results.

Memorable Quotes from Bad Blood

"Theranos had become a company built on smoke and mirrors, and no one knew it better than Elizabeth Holmes."

Sinhala Translation: "Theranos යනු මැසිණි හා mirrors මත සදහන්වූ සමාගමක් බව වූ අතර එය ලිස්බෙත් හෝල්මස්ට වඩා හොඳින් කිසිවෙකු නොදන්නා ය."

Tamil Translation: "தேரோனோஸ் என்பது புகையும் கண்ணாடியிலும் கட்டப்பட்ட ஒரு நிறுவனம் ஆகி விட்டது, எலிசபெத் ஹோல்ம்ஸ் தவிர அதை அறிந்த ஒருவரே இல்லை."

"The story of Theranos is a story of ambition run amok, a story of Silicon Valley gone wrong."

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Book Details

• Title: Bad Blood
• Author: John Carreyrou
• ISBN: 978-1524731656
• Publisher: Knopf
• Published Year: 2018
• Number of Pages: 368
• Binding: Hardcover