Summary
"Hatching Twitter: A True Story of Money, Power, Friendship, and Betrayal" by Nick Bilton chronicles the tumultuous early years of Twitter, from its accidental beginnings as a side project within a struggling podcasting startup to its rise as a global communication phenomenon. The book delves into the complex relationships among the four co-founders—Evan Williams, Biz Stone, Jack Dorsey, and Noah Glass—revealing a narrative rife with creative brilliance, personal conflicts, and ruthless power struggles.
The story begins with each founder's unique background: Ev Williams, the introspective Nebraska farm boy turned blogging visionary; Noah Glass, the hyperactive, artistically inclined neighbor; Jack Dorsey, the quiet, routine-driven coder with a passion for dispatch systems; and Biz Stone, the Boston-bred goofball whose humor masked a deep-seated desire for ethical creation. As they coalesce around the idea of a status-updating service initially dubbed "Twttr," their contrasting personalities and ambitions set the stage for inevitable clashes.
The narrative traces the evolution of Twitter through numerous challenges, including internal disputes, technical growing pains, and the ever-present threat of competition from tech giants like Apple and Facebook. It details the power struggles that led to Noah Glass's ousting, followed by Jack Dorsey's removal as CEO, and the subsequent rise of Ev Williams to the top spot. The book exposes the personal toll these conflicts took on the founders, as friendships frayed and the pursuit of success overshadowed their initial idealism.
"Hatching Twitter" also explores the accidental yet profound impact of the platform on global events. From the Iranian Revolution to the Arab Spring, Twitter emerged as a tool for activism, information dissemination, and social change, forever altering the landscape of media and communication. However, the book doesn't shy away from the ethical dilemmas and internal tensions that arose as Twitter grappled with its newfound influence and the responsibility that came with it.
Ultimately, "Hatching Twitter" is a cautionary tale about the corrosive effects of power, money, and ego on creative collaboration. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at the messy reality behind the polished façade of Silicon Valley success, revealing the human drama that unfolded as a simple idea transformed into a global phenomenon.