Burn Rate

Why I recommend it

I appreciated the honesty of this memoir. Dunn writes about building Bonobos and living with bipolar disorder with an openness that I wish we saw more often in stories about founders. As someone who’s struggled emotionally and experienced burnout, I found a lot to relate to.

What stayed with me

You can be building something that looks successful from the outside and still be struggling. The personal side of being a founder is easy to leave out of the company story, but it’s there whether we talk about it or not. I’m glad Dunn chose to talk about it.

Who it’s useful for

Founders, leaders, and anyone curious about the person behind a business. I think it’s also worth reading for people who work closely with founders and want to better understand what they might be carrying.

A tension or limitation

I related to parts of Dunn’s experience, but his story is his own. Burnout and bipolar disorder aren’t the same thing. For me, the value is in his willingness to share something difficult and personal, and the room that creates for more honest conversations.