The Cult of We: Maureen Farrell

Maureen Farrell’s The Cult of We chronicles the rise and fall of WeWork—the once-transcendent real estate company founded by now-maligned magnate Adam Neumann. But whereas other works have focused almost entirely on Adam’s tragic character, her book takes a broader lens: exploring not just the man but the conditions and constructs that enabled him.

In her talk with Jesse, Maureen expounds on the story she wrote while also reflecting on her own journey as an author—why she chose to devote her first book to this subject, how she managed to complete it during the pandemic with co-author Eliot Brown, and the important role that persistence played in uncovering the riveting stories that make The Cult of We such a compelling and essential study of entrepreneurial audacity and institutional delusion.

(7:31) Establishing the scope of the story

(10:28) Key takeaways for readers

(13:04) Advice for aspiring authors

(15:17) Maureen reads a favorite excerpt from the book

(22:13) Lightning Round: Maureen’s recommended reads & more

Guest Bio

Maureen Farrell reports on business for the New York Times, covering big money and private capital. Prior to the Times she worked at the Wall Street Journal, where she was a recipient of the Newswomen's Club of New York's Nellie Bly Award. Farrell previously worked at Forbes, Debtwire, and Mergermarket, where she covered deals, bankruptcy, and startups. She is a graduate of Duke University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and is based in New York.

Helpful Links

• The Cult of We: WeWork, Adam Neumann, and the Great Startup Delusion
• Latest NYT article: The New Financial Supermarkets
• Q&A with Maureen for Duke Arts
• Maureen on Twitter and LinkedIn