Founder's Syndrome

From Elizabeth Holmes (Theranos) to Adam Neumann (WeWork) and Sam Bankman-Fried, the business world is littered with charismatic leaders who built empires on lies. Business journalist Michael Graves asks the uncomfortable question in "Founder's Syndrome": Why do we keep falling for it? Graves argues that modern startup culture has morphed into a secular religion. The "Visionary Founder" is the new Messiah, promising not just a product, but salvation (changing the world). The book analyzes the "Reality Distortion Field"-a mix of narcissism, charm, and audacity that blinds investors and employees to basic math. Drawing on cult psychology, Graves shows how these leaders use isolation, mission-driven language, and "us vs. them" narratives to suppress dissent. It is a warning to employees and investors to stop looking for prophets in boardrooms and start looking at the balance sheets.