Flush with cash from his sale of Zappos to Amazon, Tony Hsieh is writing big checks. He has some 350 million dollars to invest — and just a year into this bold experiment in social engineering, his efforts to transform downtown Vegas into the happiest place on earth seem to be well underway. Did his vision for a tech utopia really work wonders on this city?
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The Company Town | Chapter 3

Billionaire Zappos founder and tech CEO Tony Hsieh was obsessed with happiness and helping people achieve it. After running “the world’s happiest company” for two decades, Hsieh created his experimental community — The Downtown Project — dedicated to pursuing happiness. But what do Tony's life and death reveal about Silicon Valley’s obsession with re-imagining how society functions?

"A gripping tale" - The Guardian

The Cost Of Happiness is reported and hosted by Nastaran Tavakoli-Far. It is produced by Charlie Towler. Cover art and design by Jeana Sullivan. The story editor is Meara Sharma, and Thomas Curry is the managing producer. Scoring and sound-design by Charlie Brandon-King. For Imperative Entertainment, the executive producer is Jason Hoch, and for Vespucci, the executive producers are Daniel Turcan, Johnny Galvin, and Matt Willis.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Technology

Tech News

Podcasting

Gadgets

Software How-To

Documentary

Nastaran chats with Dan Lyons, best-selling author and screenwriter for HBO's Silicon Valley, about the Tony Hsieh story and the highs and lows of tech company culture.
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BONUS — Q&A with Dan Lyons

What remains of Tony’s utopian, llama-shaped vision for a neighbourhood? 
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No Dogs in the Dog Park | Chapter 7

Once again, Tony finds himself at the center of a toxic culture characterized by suspicion and silence. Except this time, there’s no escape.
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Alone In Utah | Chapter 6

The feverish excitement around The Downtown Project begins to give way to frustration, confusion, and disappointment. Tony's utopian vision is concealing something toxic. And it isn’t just businesses and investors at stake. All of a sudden, so are people’s lives.
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Business Is Business | Chapter 5

When you talk about investing millions in a neglected city, buying up old buildings, funding small businesses and startups, and creating the happiest community on earth, people listen. So it’s no surprise that word quickly spreads about Tony Hsieh’s grand plans and the pilgrimages to Vegas begin. But will Tony’s utopia prevail? Or will the qualities that once made him beloved come back to bite him?
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The Company Town | Chapter 3

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