Scott Ross's 'Upstart' isn't just a book—it's a backstage pass to Hollywood's digital revolution. From ILM's gritty analog days to Digital Domain's Oscar-winning triumphs, Ross delivers a masterclass in maverick leadership with the pacing of a thriller. I found myself reading past midnight, gripped by his battles with James Cameron and IBM.

The book shines when Ross exposes VFX's dirty secrets—like how studios' fixed-bid contracts strangle creativity. As someone who's worked in animation, his passages about artists inventing Titanic's sinking effects on-the-fly gave me chills. That 'after-hours equipment access' policy? Pure genius—it explains why 90s DD artists still speak of that era like it was Woodstock.

What surprised me most were the raw personal confessions. Ross doesn't glamorize sacrificing family for work—his estrangement from his kids lands like a punch. Yet when describing True Lies' helicopter stunt or Nuke software's birth, you feel his childlike wonder. The Barbie game anecdote (outselling Quake!) perfectly captures his knack for spotting gold in unlikely places.

For film buffs: it demystifies how pixels replaced puppets. For entrepreneurs: it's a cautionary tale about protecting creative cultures from corporate vampires. My only gripe? I wish there were more technical breakdowns of actual VFX shots—though his stories about Benjamin Button's aging effects almost compensate.

Essential reading for anyone who's ever stayed through movie credits wondering 'How did they DO that?' Ross makes you feel the heat of rendering farms and boardroom wars alike. Five stars—would binge-read again.