Alibaba's World

How a Remarkable Chinese Company Is Changing the Face of Global Business

By: Porter Erisman

Narrated by: George Newbern

In September 2014, a Chinese company that most Americans had never heard of held the largest IPO in history - bigger than Google, Facebook, and Twitter combined. Alibaba, now the world's largest ecommerce company, mostly escaped Western notice for over 10 years, while building a customer base larger than Amazon's and handling the bulk of ecommerce transactions in China. How did it happen? And what was it like to be along for such a revolutionary ride?

In Alibaba's World, author Porter Erisman, one of Alibaba's first Western employees and its head of international marketing from 2000 to 2008, shows how Jack Ma, a Chinese schoolteacher who twice failed his college entrance exams, rose from obscurity to found Alibaba and lead it from struggling startup to the world's most dominant ecommerce player. He shares stories of weathering the dotcom crash, facing down eBay and Google, negotiating with the unpredictable Chinese government, and enduring the misguided advice of foreign experts, all to build the behemoth that's poised to sweep the ecommerce world today. And he analyzes Alibaba's role as a harbinger of the new global business landscape - with its focus on the East rather than the West, emerging markets over developed ones, and the nimble entrepreneur over the industry titan. As we face this near future, the story of Alibaba - and its inevitable descendants - is both essential and instructive.

©2015 Porter Erisman (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Insightful journey into the world of Alibaba!

A very interesting story of the start, struggle and growth of Alibaba. Captivating insight of the thought process and culture nurtured by the founder, Jack Ma.

Fun and engaging

I really enjoyed the story of this book, while light on details it does a great job of engaging your attention and helping you enter that time of fast paced decision making.

i was hoping for more but....

The first 75% of the book seemed like nothing I could not have learned from just reviewing press releases about the company. I guess it is not surprising that a loyal ex-pr guy would not provide any juicy details. I also wanted to learn about Alibaba and I didn't feel like I got good context for what the company does until the end of the book. I didn't hate it but don't expect to be wow'd.

I really enjoyed it

I really liked this book. Good story with good narration. If you want to see how a grade school teacher with no formal business or technology training builds the largest e-commerce platform in the world, read this.

Jack Ma is interesting.

This is more about the journey of Jack Ma and the author then the business itself. That said, it is a good book and in the end the author gives a good description of the company.
Overall it's worth reading.

Eye opening, compelling story

Highly recommended for any entrepreneur to be, or anyone fascinated by china's business culture and Internet revolution

Great final 2 chapters

Solid listen thanks in large part to the final 2 chapters. The rest, his personal story, is fairly vague and there is a lot of "gulping." It's not all bad, and he made his story relatable, but the real money comes in the last 2.

great inspiration

it inspired me to be a Millionaire by the time I turn 22 I am 21 now

A fascinating business story

This is a story about Alibaba, and its relationship with EBay, Yahoo and Google and the Chinese bureaucracy. Erisman provides an insider view and information about the world’s largest e-commerce site. From its start in Hong Kong to its present day dominance of the online China trade. Erisman went to work for Alibaba in its early days. Erisman was a Chinese speaking American public relation expert. Erisman tells the story of Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba and how he built the company into the giant it is today.

The book is well written and is written in an engaging style making it easy to read. The book is well researched and will probably find its way onto the book shelf of the average college business student. George Newbern did a good job narrating the book.

Interesting world

There is so much inspiration brought by the story. That even shrimps can overcome whales in business. I highly recommend this book to those starting up business.