This is a story with all the ingredients of a modern legend, representing nothing less than the proverbial American Dream—writ extra-large. It is a story of hard work, brilliance, and extraordinary commitment, featuring the story’s original cast members, who could not possibly have foreseen the unprecedented success that awaited them: the forging of a technology empire that would change the world forever.

What began as a modest start-up partnership only twenty-five years ago has already surpassed all the giants of contemporary capitalism. How did Microsoft achieve all of this in so short a time? Cheryl Tsang steps inside the famous culture of loyalty, the storied “maniacal work ethic,” and the hardcore world of reckless risk-taking to reveal, once and for all, exactly what makes Microsoft tick.