
The Third Door: The Wild Quest to Uncover How the World's Most Successful People Launched Their Careers

With 572 ratings
By: Alex Banayan and Random House Audio
Purchased At: $27.00
Forbes #1 Career Book to Read in 2018
The National Best Seller
The larger-than-life journey of an 18-year-old college freshman who set out from his dorm room to track down Bill Gates, Lady Gaga, and dozens more of the world’s most successful people to uncover how they broke through and launched their careers.
The Third Door takes listeners on an unprecedented adventure - from hacking Warren Buffett’s shareholders meeting to chasing Larry King through a grocery store to celebrating in a nightclub with Lady Gaga - as Alex Banayan travels from icon to icon, decoding their success. After remarkable one-on-one interviews with Bill Gates, Maya Angelou, Steve Wozniak, Jane Goodall, Larry King, Jessica Alba, Pitbull, Tim Ferriss, Quincy Jones, and many more, Alex discovered the one key they have in common: they all took the Third Door.
Life, business, success...it’s just like a nightclub. There are always three ways in. There’s the First Door: the main entrance, where 99 percent of people wait in line, hoping to get in. The Second Door: the VIP entrance, where the billionaires and celebrities slip through. But what no one tells you is that there is always, always… the Third Door. It’s the entrance where you have to jump out of line, run down the alley, bang on the door 100 times, climb over the dumpster, crack open the window, sneak through the kitchen - there’s always a way in. Whether it’s how Bill Gates sold his first piece of software or how Steven Spielberg became the youngest studio director in Hollywood history, they all took the Third Door.
Case in point: How do you separate yourself from thousands of other candidates applying online for a job? How do you gain mentors and find allies in business? How do you develop a network when you are just starting off and do not know anyone? How does one approach someone (either in person or online) and appear ambitious as opposed to simply unprofessional? How do you write a proper email? Is there a such thing as being over-persistent? If so, what is the line? How do you bounce back from rejection? Or create momentum for a project you are passionate about? What is the difference between a linear life and an exponential life? How can you create the latter? How do you "find your passion" or "follow your bliss?" Infiltrate echelons of business where you may be able to make an impact?
If the internet has produced a new wave of teachers, authors, and influencers, then Alex is the guru for us all - not just millennials, but ALL people seeking to achieve their dreams. The reason? What the Third Door provides more than anything is INFORMATION & ACCESS. Access to the personal anecdotes of some of the greatest leaders and innovators of our time, and sheer information - details about their path, past failures, practical (seriously practical) pieces of advice that anyone may apply in their own journey respective. These skills are transferrable no matter what you seek to do and will help you work smarter, not harder- giving you tools to achieve your wildest dream in a shorter span of time. In fact, it is a book you will need to read many times over to fully absorb its wisdom and one which I am so grateful to have found as early as I did. Thank you Alex for undertaking this journey to help us all succeed in greater and more meaningful ways. Your persistent emailing, crouching in bathrooms, chasing after some of the most brilliant people of our time is to have been well worth it.
Showcasing The Price is Right as a vehicle to success.
Adding in amazing adventures across the globe.
In Alex Banahan’s first book, The Third Door, he attempts to find out how successful people got their start. He calls it the “third door,” through which these successful folks became successful. He says there is always a first door, where most people wait to get in. Then, there is the second door — the VIP door — where celebrities get in. Finally, there is the third door, be it through an alley, window, or some other unique way, where other people can gain access to an event.
The story reads almost like a novel and is hard to put down. Cameos are made by Tim Ferriss, Cal Fussman, and Larry King. They are all a part of his mission to discover the secrets to getting started. As you piece things together, you see his friend Kevin throughout the book. Kevin, of course, is Kevin The Manager on Cal Fussman’s podcast. Knowing some of the backstory helps with the real story that Banayan tells.
One thing he learned from the person who became his mentor, Elliott Bisnow, is that you should never take your phone out in a meeting. Bisnow became Banayan’s mentor and ends up featured prominently in the book. Bisnow is an entrepreneur who also started the Summit Leadership Conferences, which are held at various places at various times but feature prominent leaders and entrepreneurs. Banayan gets an offer from Bisnow that could change his life … and leads to a moment of choice.
Bill Gates, founder of Windows, is Banayan’s white whale for much of the story. During his conversation with Gates, Banayan figures out some things, but not necessarily from the context of what Gates shares. It’s a great interview and an eye-opening experience for Banayan on his mission.
As it goes on, you find that the pursuit is about much more than the pursuit of money. This is the passionate pursuit to find the meaning of why people become successful. This is the story of a seven-year process, one that was supposed to last a few months. If you like your nonfiction to read like fiction, Banayan’s story is worth your time. It’s a page turner and one that is tough to put down. You’ll learn about passion, pursuit, and personality as you read this book. You also gain some tidbits throughout that can help you with your passion project, as well.
And remember, there is always -- ALWAYS -- a Third Door.
One element of the book I found particularly annoying. When Banayan does eventually manage to meet some interesting people, he is completely incapable of interviewing them in a way which elicits anything of interest. He proves this repeatedly. Talking to Tim Ferriss, he completely missed the point that Ferriss was trying to save him from himself by telling him not to be so annoying. Talking to Bill Gates, he asks terrible questions which don't really elicit the interesting insights he was hoping for. Asking Warren Buffett questions at a shareholder meeting, he gets them completely wrong to the point that people are actually laughing at him.
This, in reality, is the story of some bro who has no idea what he is doing, and is being carried along on a wave of self-confidence, nothing more. He's an idiot. Indeed about 75% of this book is tales of someone who doesn't know how to secure an interview, trying to secure an interview. The other 25% is someone who doesn't know how to conduct an interview, conducting an interview.
I preordered the book and offered to capture the book as a one page summary to which Alex agreed. The book is simply sensational. For such an honest and courage account of going search of the secrets to being successful, Alex’s journey is inspirational, moving and full of lessons. I’ve bought the book for many people since I read it. I call Alex my friend now and I couldn’t be prouder and a bigger supporter.
You won’t be able to put it down once you start reading!
I loved this so much I genuinely went out & bought a hardcover version the very next day (I’m one of those weirdo’s who prefers physical books to digital/audio!) For anyone who has an interest in getting ahead or making something of themselves in life I’d say this is a great book to start with, or even like me if you’re already on the right path or want extra pointers. It was genuinely a great book & although I'm a little envious ;) i’m already making up for lost time! Love the ingenuity & I can’t wait to see what Alex does next...
Some really valuable and insightful life lessons along the way, I teared up at the end.
Would recommend this book to anyone, from any walk of life and in any career.