Two free illustrated books
I’m Dan Brooking. Building the original Circle app took nearly three years and close to half a million dollars, by my account. Then I discovered how much could stand between a useful idea and the people it could help. These books tell the story of finding a way through.
Book 1 · My personal account
The app was ready. The finish line kept moving. Follow the work, the mounting costs, and the decision that brought me back to the people I wanted to help.
A story about making something you believe in, discovering what it asks of you, and finding a reason to keep building.
From the book “The finish line had moved.”
Book 2 · A different way forward
A product at someone’s doorstep faced a simple test: did it help? After years of building Circle, I wanted that question back.
What can we keep from the old way of earning trust, while making the most of what technology gives us now? This is how I worked toward an answer.
From the book “Doing everything was no longer a plan.”
A note from Dan
I started with information that kept getting lost during real-estate deals. I wanted to give the people doing the work a dependable way to keep it together. Building that app taught me far more than I expected.
Today, Circle’s apps help with conversations, writing, memories, and everyday plans. The books explain why I kept going, and why I want the next person who opens an app to feel that someone thought about them.
Meet the apps I’m building