The Lean Startup
The book that introduced lean startup thinking
- Researched profile
- Starting price
- Hardcover $32.00 (list price)
- Free option
- None listed
- Pricing
- Published pricing
- Format
- Book
The lean-stack take
It defines a startup as an organization creating something new under extreme uncertainty. Inspired by lean manufacturing, it relies on validated learning and rapid scientific experimentation.
Best for
Founders, product managers and innovation teams who want to test ideas before building too much.
Watch out for
It explains the method; you will still need tools and practice to run experiments well.
About
About The Lean Startup
The Lean Startup is a book by Eric Ries, published by Crown Currency on September 13, 2011. Ries cofounded IMVU and served as its CTO.
Written by lean-stack from the publisher's description. This is a summary, not a full review.
Contents
What The Lean Startup covers
Validated learning
Measure progress by what the team learns from real customers.
Rapid experimentation
Test ideas with scientific experiments instead of long plans.
Shorter development cycles
Practices that shorten product development cycles.
Actionable progress measures
Measure actual progress without resorting to vanity metrics.
Changing direction
Shift direction with agility as evidence comes in.
Startups of every size
Applies to a founder in a garage and to teams in large companies.
Lean techniques supported
The lean practices The Lean Startup is built to support.
Price
Where to buy The Lean Startup
Checked October 3, 2026
Starting price
Hardcover $32.00 (list price)
- Pricing
- Published pricing
- Free option
- None listed
How pricing works
Hardcover list price $32.00; also available as eBook and audiobook.
336 pages. The audiobook runs 8 hours 39 minutes.
See current prices on penguinrandomhouse.comThe Lean Startup doesn't publish a full plan list, so we show what it does publish. Confirm prices with the vendor.
Strengths and limitations
What stands out, and what to watch
Strengths
- Defines the core lean startup concepts
- Applies to startups and established companies
- Available in print, eBook and audio
- Written by a founder with startup experience
Limitations
- Published in 2011, so tool examples have aged
- Concepts need practice to apply well
- Focuses on method rather than templates
Based on the publisher's own description, not a full review.
Fit
Is The Lean Startup right for your team?
A good fit if…
- You are starting a new venture
- You lead innovation inside a larger company
- You want to test ideas before building too much
- Your team needs a shared language for experiments
Look elsewhere if…
- You need a Lean Canvas tool
- You want a manufacturing lean book
- You need step-by-step templates
Reviews
What The Lean Startup readers say
We haven't found published reviews of The Lean Startup on G2 or Capterra yet. Smaller lean tools often have none, so judge it on the facts above and a trial.
Similar books
Books like The Lean Startup
Learning to See
Published pricing
Workbook from the Lean Enterprise Institute that teaches value stream mapping through a worked example, from drawing a current state to designing a future state.
The Toyota Way
Price on request
Describes 14 management principles behind the Toyota Production System, covering long-term philosophy, process flow, people development and problem solving; the second edition was updated.
| Book | Pricing | Price | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Lean Startup | Published pricing | Hardcover $32.00 (list price) | Book |
| Learning to See | Published pricing | $60 (LEI store) | Book |
| The Toyota Way | Price on request | See publisher and retailers | Book |
From each vendor's published pricing. Check current prices on their sites.
FAQ
The Lean Startup: common questions
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Where this comes from
Sources for this page
Facts on this page come from the publisher and the sources listed here. Prices change, so check the retailer before you buy.