Book "Work Better. Live Smarter. Be Happier." – Hardcover | Gestalten
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Description
GESTALTEN
25 founders. From Accra to Hong Kong to Los Angeles. The book for everyone who’s done waiting for the right moment.
Work Better. Live Smarter. Be Happier. is not a startup manual. It’s a collection of real stories — curated by Courier Magazine, London’s defining media brand for those who want to live and work on their own terms — about 25 founders who simply did it: Joey Lit, who built Free the Youth in Accra into a cultural brand when no one believed it was possible. Frédérique Harrel, who launched RadSwan in London — a beauty brand for naturally curly hair — against every convention. Kyle Hoff, who designed Floyd furniture in Detroit so you don’t have to throw it away every time you move. And Brittany Chavez, who turned Shop Latinx in Los Angeles from a community into an economic force.
The perfect gift for someone who’s almost ready
You know someone who’s been talking about their idea for years. The notebook is full, the plan exists — and yet the right moment never arrives. Give them this book. Work Better. Live Smarter. Be Happier. shows how others did it: Mij Patterson and Liv Maiorana, who founded South by South West Wine in Australia and turned natural wine into a lifestyle. Eugene Kan, who built MAEKAN in Hong Kong — a creative publication platform — when no investor thought it was viable. Cory Wharton-Malcolm, who started as a personal trainer in London and turned it into a movement. These aren’t stories of genius — they’re blueprints.
288 pages of portraits and practical knowledge
Alongside the 25 founder profiles, the book delivers concrete tools: What’s the difference between an idea and a business model? How do you build a community before you have a product? How do you test whether the market is there — without betting everything on it? Courier Magazine — since 2013 the voice of a generation that doesn’t separate work from life — provides knowledge no MBA course offers. The first book by Courier Magazine and gestalten together — and the starting point for The World’s Best Shops (2022). The ideal birthday, going-away, or motivational gift for anyone who still has the leap ahead of them.
Product details
| Publisher | gestalten |
| Editor | Courier Magazine |
| Language | English |
| Binding | Hardcover |
| Format | 22.5 × 29 cm |
| Pages | 288 |
| Published | April 2021 |
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of businesses are featured in the book?
The book profiles 25 founders across a deliberately diverse range of industries and countries: a beauty brand for naturally curly hair (RadSwan, London), a skate and streetwear cultural brand (Free the Youth, Accra), a sustainable furniture company (Floyd, Detroit), a natural wine brand (South by South West Wine, Australia), a community platform for Latin brands (Shop Latinx, Los Angeles), and a creative publication (MAEKAN, Hong Kong). What they share: they didn’t just enter their field — they redefined it.
Is this for classic startups or also for smaller independent businesses?
Both — and that’s its strength. Courier Magazine deliberately did not write this book for venture-capital recipients, but for people who want to build something that fits their life: a small agency, a shop, a digital platform, or a creative studio. The 25 founders represent a wide range of scale, sector, and business model.
What sets this apart from other startup books?
Most startup books follow the same pattern: Silicon Valley mythology, scaling logic, exit strategies. Work Better. Live Smarter. Be Happier. does none of that. It shows real people in real contexts — and how they brought together work, identity, and life design. Courier Magazine — the defining voice for independent entrepreneurship since 2013 — curates with an authority no other business book possesses.
Is this also suitable for someone who is already self-employed?
Absolutely. Work Better. Live Smarter. Be Happier. speaks to both audiences: those who are still dreaming — and those who have already founded and are looking for new perspectives. The profiles offer valuable insights into decisions that come after founding: community-building, positioning, team culture, and navigating growth.
What’s the difference between this and The World’s Best Shops (2022)?
Work Better. Live Smarter. Be Happier. was the first book by Courier Magazine and gestalten together (April 2021) — with a broad focus on entrepreneurship in all forms. The World’s Best Shops (October 2022) is the thematic follow-up with a focus on physical retail and shop concepts. Both volumes complement each other and work as a pair.
Work Better. Live Smarter. Be Happier. — gestalten & Courier Magazine. The book for everyone who’s done waiting.
What kinds of businesses are featured in the book?
The book profiles 25 founders across a deliberately diverse range of industries and countries: a beauty brand for naturally curly hair (RadSwan, London), a skate and streetwear cultural brand (Free the Youth, Accra), a sustainable furniture company (Floyd, Detroit), a natural wine brand (South by South West Wine, Australia), a community platform for Latin brands (Shop Latinx, Los Angeles), and a creative publication (MAEKAN, Hong Kong). What they share: they didn’t just enter their field — they redefined it.
Is this for classic startups or also for smaller independent businesses?
Both — and that’s its strength. Courier Magazine deliberately did not write this book for venture-capital recipients, but for people who want to build something that fits their life: a small agency, a shop, a digital platform, or a creative studio. The 25 founders represent a wide range of scale, sector, and business model.
What sets this apart from other startup books?
Most startup books follow the same pattern: Silicon Valley mythology, scaling logic, exit strategies. Work Better. Live Smarter. Be Happier. does none of that. It shows real people in real contexts — and how they brought together work, identity, and life design. Courier Magazine — the defining voice for independent entrepreneurship since 2013 — curates with an authority no other business book possesses.
Is this also suitable for someone who is already self-employed?
Absolutely. Work Better. Live Smarter. Be Happier. speaks to both audiences: those who are still dreaming — and those who have already founded and are looking for new perspectives. The profiles offer valuable insights into decisions that come after founding: community-building, positioning, team culture, and navigating growth.
What’s the difference between this and The World’s Best Shops (2022)?
Work Better. Live Smarter. Be Happier. was the first book by Courier Magazine and gestalten together (April 2021) — with a broad focus on entrepreneurship in all forms. The World’s Best Shops (October 2022) is the thematic follow-up with a focus on physical retail and shop concepts. Both volumes complement each other and work as a pair.
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