Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup

Every time a potential client or investor asked to inspect Theranos’ blood reading machines, Elizabeth Holmes explained that this wasn’t possible. What was her reason, and why did her investors and clients consider this acceptable?

When Walgreens and Safeway realized that their partnerships with Elizabeth’s company were in trouble due to technical problems with Theranos blood-reading machines, they each elected to stay the course. Why did they remain loyal to her in the face of so much uncertainty?

General James Mattis heard from Elizabeth that Lieutenant Colonel David Shoemaker was interfering with their plan to place Theranos machines on the front lines in Afghanistan, and Mattis demanded an explanation from Shoemaker. What did Elizabeth allege that made Mattis angry, and how did Shoemaker escape a career-ending debacle with the general?