How to Make a Few Billion Dollars

I’ll admit: I rolled my eyes when I saw the title. *Another* billionaire dropping crumbs? But five minutes into Brad Jacobs’ narration, I was hooked—not by the promise of riches, but by the sheer *audacity* of his deals. Jacobs reads like a guy who’s spent decades in boardrooms and has zero patience for fluff. His delivery is conversational but razor-sharp, with a rhythm that mirrors his deal-making style: methodical buildup, then a sudden, decisive strike. The chapter on his acquisition of XPO Logistics is worth the price alone—he walks through the due diligence process with such granular detail (including a spreadsheet breakdown) that I paused to take notes. That’s rare in an audiobook. Here’s the catch: Jacobs’ brilliance is also his blind spot. He assumes listeners already grasp terms like ‘EBITDA multiples’ or ‘roll-up strategy,’ and the audiobook occasionally feels like eavesdropping on a masterclass you’re *almost* qualified to attend. The pacing also stumbles in the middle, where a deep dive into corporate governance drags—even Jacobs’ energy can’t salvage a 20-minute tangent on board structures. And while his self-narration adds grit, his flat affect during anecdotes about layoffs or failed deals can feel jarring; you’ll wish for a hint of reflection, not just strategy. Still, for anyone serious about M&A or scaling businesses, this is the closest you’ll get to shadowing a titan without signing an NDA. Just bring your A-game—and maybe a calculator.