No Red Lights: Reflections on Life, 50 Years in Venture Capital, and Never Driving Alone

The author seems like a genuinely good man, but the book is filled with too much name dropping for me and didn't really explain much new in the world of investing. Name dropped everything from Clintons to Biden to early Apple to AOL to famous artists. That's all great but it got to be Al Gore inventing the internet. I also found his ideas for investing pretty straightforward and already out there - bet on people, develop networks, collaborate, research, be a generalist, work hard, stay fit. The author executed on all these well, but we've heard much of this before. One thing I did find interesting that resonated with me is that his venture funds didn't work in Europe because they don't have the entrepreneur culture. Because of socialism, they enjoy their secure 35-hour work weeks and don't do much beyond that. That's been my experience as well and will likely lead to them not competing economically at a world level.

In the early '70's I was married to one of Alan's sisters. Well, that didn't last as is often times the case with college sweetheart marriages. However, one of the pluses, retrospectively, was that I met Alan.What an amazing investor! What a vision! What a life! My goodness. How many homeruns can one hit in one lifetime!This is a good read, but more so for those who know or knew the author. A little bit tedious for a totally non-financial reader but very relevant to those in the business. Also, lots of life lessons. Those are the gems for the readers who take the time to think about those nuggets. That's what I got from my reading.

An interesting read on a leading venture investors life. He wrote the book and narrates the audiobook himself - a real hands on person.While he name drops, I think this is the reason for his success and what it takes to be a venture investor. One needs to go out and directly meet countless people to find the hidden start-up gems and find partners and investors to fund ventures. If this is not your personality (an extrovert), the VC game may not be for you.Thanks for sharing your life story, thoughts and investing insights. This is a first rate book.

It isn't often that a great investor reveals most if not all of his secrets. Alan Patricof does this inhis new book on venture capital investing, art acquisition, and how to live a most successful life.Early stage v. c. investing where Alan has been a master for 50 years is the most demanding of allforms of v. c. or private equity investing. To be successful you must be both an artist to see the completepicture and a scientific/engineering mind to see the details. Alan knows how to blend both art andscience to create investment masterpieces decade after decade. Read and follow the master to both fun andif your are both good and lucky to profit.Len Batterson

There are so many lessons here – about investing, risk-taking, networking, being hands-on, the importance of relationships and friendships, having a personal life as energetic and interesting as one’s work life, devotion to family, etc. The lesson that towers above all others is about integrity, which Patricof brought to every one of his many endeavors. I think this book, which balances the many stories of his life with smart practical advice, is especially valuable for anyone in the early stages of their business and life journey.As Patricof explains in the book, he aims to live and work until he's 114. I look forward to reading the sequel to No Red Lights.

I love the love in the book for doing stuff. At age 74 as of Dec. 29th 2022 I will use it in whatever time I have left.

Alan Patricof is a legend. As a founder of the venture capital industry (and the firms APAX, Greycroft, and PrimeTime Partners), he's helped countless entrepreneurs realize their visions through capital, connections, and counsel. The companies Alan has backed include household names like Audible, AOL, and Apple - and that's just the "A"s. He's also been instrumental across sectors beyond finance & entrepreneurship, leaving an indelible imprint on politics, media, and philanthropy.The advice and stories contained in "No Red Lights" are invaluable to anyone seeking to also make an impact on those around them. Highly recommend!

Patricof is one of the longest standing VCs in the business and shares his approach to partnerships and deal making in a way that's accessible and actionable. Even as someone who reads lots of VC and startup books, I learned quite a bit.