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The Unicorn Project

A Novel About Developers, Digital Disruption, and Thriving in the Age of Data

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The Unicorn Project

Written by: Gene Kim
Narrated by: Frankie Corzo
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About this listen

The Phoenix Project wowed over a half-million readers. Now comes The Unicorn Project!

“The Unicorn Project is amazing, and I loved it 100 times more than The Phoenix Project…” (Fernando Cornago, senior director platform engineering, Adidas)

“Gene Kim does a masterful job of showing how … the efforts of many create lasting business advantages for all.” (Dr. Steven Spear, author of The High-Velocity Edge, sr. lecturer at MIT, and principal of HVE LLC)

“The Unicorn Project is so clever, so good, so crazy enlightening!” (Cornelia Davis, vice president of technology at Pivotal Software, Inc., author of Cloud Native Patterns)

This highly anticipated follow-up to the best-selling title The Phoenix Project takes another look at Parts Unlimited, this time from the perspective of software development.

In The Unicorn Project, we follow Maxine, a senior lead developer and architect, as she is exiled to the Phoenix Project, to the horror of her friends and colleagues, as punishment for contributing to a payroll outage. She tries to survive in what feels like a heartless and uncaring bureaucracy and to work within a system where no one can get anything done without endless committees, paperwork, and approvals.

One day, she is approached by a ragtag bunch of misfits who say they want to overthrow the existing order, to liberate developers, to bring joy back to technology work, and to enable the business to win in a time of digital disruption. To her surprise, she finds herself drawn ever further into this movement, eventually becoming one of the leaders of the Rebellion, which puts her in the crosshairs of some familiar and very dangerous enemies.

The Age of Software is here, and another mass extinction event looms - this is a story about rebel developers and business leaders working together, racing against time to innovate, survive, and thrive in a time of unprecedented uncertainty...and opportunity.

©2019 Gene Kim (P)2019 Gene Kim
Leadership Management Software Architecture

What listeners say about The Unicorn Project

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A story startup company employees can relate to

Story is woven beautifully. Instead of going technical which was surprisingly Eric's part in the book, the book serves a mirror to why some software engineers life is miserable under some companies.

Narration is great. Loved it.

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Must have for any organization

I believe both this The Phoenix Project novels are must have for any one who contribute to corporate life.

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An informative read for those just getting started

A very easy to finish book that was highly informative and inspirational. Great for anyone just getting started in the tech world.

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Absolutely gripping storytelljng!

Loved going back to the development days & the associated challenges. I enjoyed it end to end.

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A Review of 'The Unicorn Project'

The Unicorn Project" by Gene Kim is a compelling narrative that dives into the world of software development and digital transformation. The novel follows Maxine, a senior lead developer, as she navigates the complexities and challenges of modern IT environments. The book brilliantly highlights the struggles developers face, such as outdated processes, technical debt, and organizational silos, while providing a roadmap for overcoming these obstacles.

Kim's storytelling makes technical concepts accessible and engaging, turning abstract ideas into tangible experiences. The book emphasizes the importance of DevOps, Agile practices, and a culture of continuous improvement in driving digital disruption and achieving business success.

"The Unicorn Project" is a must-read for developers, IT professionals, and anyone interested in understanding the critical role of technology in modern business. Its insights are not only practical but also inspiring, making it a valuable addition to the field of software development literature.

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Mindset

Good productivity book which gives a good insight on how things can be done better rather than complaining.

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Boring

I had earlier purchased The Phoenix Project - and loved it. It was the closest to The Goal by Goldratt, an exemplary business novel if there was one. Goldratt, in my opinion, invented the genre of the "Business Novel", just as Irving Stone invented the genre of the historical novel. He can't be beat.

So, when I purchased The Unicorn Project that supposedly was a sequel, I was all anticipation. I can't say how disappointed I am after reading 10-odd chapters. This book is an unending, monotonous, description of the IT landscape inside a company that is...BORING. Jargon, lingo, connections upon connections overwhelms the reader or listener. One loses a sense of place.

A novel needs a cast of characters, a plot, interplay of dynamics, intrigue, perhaps a doublecross, an inside informant, and...a denouement. When all these are missing and one hears only a lengthy, interminable, monologue it is a great disappointment. I suspect the writer of this book is not the one who wrote the Phoenix Project - I haven't checked. This book is a pain to read (or, as in my case, hear).

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