SKU: 49988678644

Totaled: The Billion-Dollar Crash of the Startup That Took on Big Auto, Big Oil and the World

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Totaled: The Billion-Dollar Crash of the Startup That Took on Big Auto, Big Oil and the WorldWhen a billion dollar electric car startup crashed and burned, global investors and average car buyers alike asked: What happened? Business and technology journalist Brian Blum reveals the answer in his new book TOTALED: The Billion Dollar Crash of the Startup that Took on Big Auto, Big Oil, and the World. The Tesla 3 has grabbed the spotlight as the first "affordable" all electric vehicle, but Israel's Better Place came first. The plan was to use

When a billion-dollar electric car startup crashed and burned, global investors and average car buyers alike asked: What happened? Business and technology journalist Brian Blum reveals the answer in his new book TOTALED: The Billion-Dollar Crash of the Startup that Took on Big Auto, Big Oil, and the World.

The Tesla 3 has grabbed the spotlight as the first "affordable" all-electric vehicle, but Israel's Better Place came first. The plan was to use Israel --- a country the size of New Jersey and dubbed "the Startup Nation" --- to prove electric cars could work everywhere. Instead of fast charge, Better Place addressed range anxiety by building a network of battery-swap stations --- operated by robots.

Better Place's charismatic CEO Shai Agassi believed his company's innovative technology could help stop climate change and free nations from the yoke of oil dependence. His magnetic television appearances, viral TED Talk and compelling boardroom presence had investors and business leaders worldwide jumping in to ride shotgun. Countries from Japan to Denmark to Australia signed on and the privately-held Better Place raised nearly a billion dollars.

Yet in a few years, it was all over --- the company, buffeted by internal strife, an international corporate spy scandal, the Great Recession and technology disruptions, went bankrupt.

The story of the "electric car unicorn that collapsed" is a cautionary tale; a timely case study filled with valuable lessons for entrepreneurs, investors and executives in businesses of all sizes --- as well as everyone chasing the electric car Holy Grail.

TOTALED lays out the story of what happens when change hits a company on multiple fronts, sometimes all at once. Do you double down and stay the course or pivot like your company's life depends on it?

TOTALED plunges deep into the riveting rise and fall of a company that sincerely wanted to change the world but couldn't quite get to the finish line. TOTALED will captivate you, whether you're interested in electric cars and mobility, green energy and the environment; or you simply enjoy reading business biographies.

TOTALED has received rave advance reviews from people like David Pogue, the former New York Times tech writer, who says that "Brian Blum's deeply researched account is like playing a car-wreck video in slow motion: You can watch every stroke of bad luck, bad timing, and bad blood reduce a once-thrilling idea to dust."

Gina Smith, author of iWoz, the New York Times best-selling biography of Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, writes that TOTALED grants access to "a side of the startup world that few ever get to see --- much less survive."

Ron Adner, author of The Wide Lens: What Successful Innovators See that Others Miss, describes TOTALED as "required reading for ambitious innovators."

And Foreword Reviews writes that Better Place CEO Shai Agassi is "as compelling an antihero as found in any technology thriller. The book's as-it-happens narrative makes for riveting reading."

More information at www.brianblum.com



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Blue Pepper Press
Published: 08/22/2017
ISBN: 9780983042815
Pages: 358
Weight: 1.16lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.80d

Review Citations: Foreword 08/26/2017
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SKU: 49988678644

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4.2 ★★★★★
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Chey3995
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Interesting Monster Academy
Format: Kindle
Alexandra is tired of being alone, using writing to escape from her reality. But when her monster protectors in her writing come to life, her life is going to become a little more exciting than she ever anticipated. This was a fun take on an academy romance. We have two different realities, one for the real world and one for the supernatural world. I loved the Dark Imaginarium Academy and the intrigue it held throughout the story. The plot was fun and the characters were written beautifully. Alexandra, Elwin, Kylo and Lucien were great characters and have the best out of every relationship dynamic. My heart does belong to Lucien, because who doesn't love a murderous psycho willing to kill anyone who hurts you? I wish there was a little more intrigue to the plot itself. The story was fun to read and well written, but it's still a straightforward Academy romance. I would've liked to see something that made the story really stand out more.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2022
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Andraya
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 4
Great
Format: Kindle
What a great book. I loved the ending of the book. At first I wasnt too sure about it but now I want to keep reading it.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2025
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Paige Bruzdowski
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Intriguing
Format: Kindle
Very interesting world set up! I'm liking the characters more and more as we get to know them as well. At first I found it difficult to remember what powers each of the 3 monsters have, but the author does a great job of working it into the story to help the reader remember and eventually tell who is who much easier. Seems like a great start to a series. I can't wait to see where everything is heading.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2024
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N Niem
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
In Love With These Interconnected Series
Format: Kindle
I am in love with these interconnected series!!!! I love getting sneak peeks at the girls we haven’t met yet and seeing the girls we know and love interact with each other. I also really enjoy the concept of how all of the sectors are set up and the way that the academy is run. Alexandra’s situation is especially unique as she has lived her whole life thinking that she is human while wishing that she wasn’t. She has created her own monsters to protect her from the monsters in her real life, but all of the sudden her monsters are real!!! I love how different this is from other stories that I have read, not a lot of characters will living beings with their own memories and thoughts into existence. I am also super excited to see how the ending translates into the next book and if there will be any ties to Greek mythology included.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2022
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evelynn kate
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
AMAZING debut novel!!!
Format: Kindle
Plot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice 🌶️🌶️.5 Romance 💘💘💘 Vibes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dual 1st person POV - Ara (26) & Rogue (39 - but looks mid-20s: they can live hundreds of years so this isn't that large of a gap as it could've been which I heavily appreciate lol) Tropes: enemies to lovers, fae/human wars (deep hatred for each other), shifters (dragons- MMC can only partial shift with wings), one horse, one bed, touch her and d!e, found family, abduction turned to freedom The Last Storm is the debut novel from JD Linton and let me tell you, you guys NEED to read this. The plot was engaging and the editing was was amazing (especially for a debut novel). Our FMC, Ara, is stuck in her gilded cage longing for a life outside of her small town. She uses her books to escape and live vicariously through the pages (honestly, relatable). After her father announces her betrothal to her childhood friend (to whom she has no romantic feelings for), Ara tumbles unknowingly into a desperate plot trying to stop the humans from slaughtering the Fae. As one can expect from an enemies to lovers / kidnapper/captive romance, Ara fights her attraction and lust towards our MMC, Rogue (the King of the Fae), for as long as she can. Upon seeing Ara for the first time, Rogue is instantly aware that she is his fated mate (not a spoiler). Since she is the General's only daughter, he plans to abduct her and use her as leverage to stop the brutality. During Ara's time in Rogue's captivity, their banter and chemistry continue to rise until they finally boil over and come together (quite literally, and many times I may add 😉). Here's what I LOVED: - Rogue continuously seeks advice from his elders and deeply respects their opinions and life experience and tries to implement their recommendations - Rogue makes many mistakes in the beginning but we see him actively work on not repeating them as the book progresses. The level of self-awareness and his ability to change his behavior was impressive - The magic system is intricate and we have only scraped the surface. As the series continues and Ara progresses in her powers, I'm sure we'll get to see more of this. I absolutely LOVE the messaging system that is used in this book. - Ara's struggles are so human and so raw. She is experiencing so much guilt and pain and hurt and getting to see her work through each of these emotions is inspiring. Especially as her and Rogue get closer and she learns she can lean on him as well, that she is not alone. - While this is the start of a series, there is NO cliffhanger! There's a bit of a teaser of something major that is going to happen at the start of the next book, but it's not a cliffhanger in the sense that we aren't sure if someone is going to live or d!e or if they'll be separated. For that, I am very thankful! This book was so much fun that I will definitely be returning to book 2, even if it takes several months (or longer since this is an debut author) to publish! - Lastly, the cover is GORGEOUS! And I love the title! I'll copy a few of my favorite quotes below so you can have a little taste of the author's writing and the world she's cultivated. 😊 Top Highlights from The Last Storm On days like this, when my heart was heavy and my mind clouded, I resorted to books— to escape, to forget, to find freedom where I had none. If I were to marry him, my face would always be turned to the window, searching for more, and if not that, I would be a shell of the person I am now. I stepped back to admire her, thr0bbing at the sight. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. To ever exist. Nothing, no one, had ever deserved to be worshiped more. All men should be made to kneel before her. But she would have to settle for me. The taste of her met my t0ngue as my scent merged with hers, forever branding her. Mine. I l!cked the wound. Hers. Completely and utterly hers. I didn’t claim her in ownership. I claimed her as my one. Devoted myself to one. With that mark, my body and soul were bound to her. I would never be with anyone else, emotionally or physically. It would be her or no one, until my last breath. “Scream my name. Let everyone know who I belong to.” I had never really cared about the weather before, but now, clear skies meant everything to me, and I was grateful to see another calm morning. “There will never be another woman for me.” He paused. “Ever.” I stilled at his words. “What… Why?” “This”— his thumb slid down across the mark—“ is a symbol of… surrender. I know you believe that it was my claim upon you, but it wasn’t. It never was. I bound my body and soul to you, little storm.” “I also know that it is more than this tiny, insignificant mark on your skin that binds me to you. It’s you. All of you. Your strength and resilience. Your determination to endure no matter what fate throws at you. Your love for love and stories and hope. You are entirely the opposite of everything that I am and I would gladly wear your shackles if it meant I could have you.” My mate. Mine. And then everything shifted and I understood. I understood everything. The surrender. The deep, soul-craving longing. Bound. I was bound to him. Body and soul. Entirely his. “I would’ve waited forever,” he whispered back, understanding. Seriously, everyone.. add this to your TBR!!
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Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2022

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