In the Plex

How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives

By: Steven Levy

Narrated by: L. J. Ganser

Length: 19 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Few companies in history have ever been as successful and as admired as Google, the company that has transformed the Internet and become an indispensable part of our lives. How has Google done it? Veteran technology reporter Steven Levy was granted unprecedented access to the company, and in this revelatory book he takes listeners inside Google headquarters - the Googleplex - to explain how Google works.

While they were still students at Stanford, Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin revolutionized Internet search. They followed this brilliant innovation with another, as two of Google's earliest employees found a way to do what no one else had: make billions of dollars from Internet advertising. With this cash cow (until Google's IPO, nobody other than Google management had any idea how lucrative the company's ad business was), Google was able to expand dramatically and take on other transformative projects: more efficient data centers, open-source cell phones, free Internet video (YouTube), cloud computing, digitizing books, and much more.

The key to Google's success in all these businesses, Levy reveals, is its engineering mind-set and adoption of such Internet values as speed, openness, experimentation, and risk taking. After it's unapologetically elitist approach to hiring, Google pampers its engineers with free food and dry cleaning, on-site doctors and masseuses, and gives them all the resources they need to succeed. Even today, with a workforce of more than 23,000, Larry Page signs off on every hire.

But has Google lost its innovative edge? It stumbled badly in China. And now, with its newest initiative, social networking, Google is chasing a successful competitor for the first time. Some employees are leaving the company for smaller, nimbler start-ups. Can the company that famously decided not to be "evil" still compete?

No other book has turned Google inside out as Levy does with In the Plex.

This edition of In the Plex includes an exclusive interview with Google's Marissa Mayer, one of the company's earliest hires and most visible executives, as well as the youngest woman to ever make Fortune's "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" list. She provides a high-level insider's perspective on the company's life story, its unique hiring practices, its new social networking initiative, and more.

©2011 Steven Levy (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Thoroughly versed in technology reporting, Wired senior writer Levy deliberates at great length about online behemoth Google and creatively documents the company’s genesis from a 'feisty start-up to a market-dominating giant'.... Though the author offers plenty of well-known information, it’s his catbird-seat vantage point that really gets to the good stuff. Outstanding reportage delivered in the upbeat, informative fashion for which Levy is well known." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"The book, a wide-ranging history of the company from start-up to behemoth, sheds light on the biggest threats Google faces today, from the Chinese government to Facebook and privacy critics." ( The New York Times)

“With a commanding voice, L.J. Ganser narrates this history and exploration of Google….Ganser’s stern voice is clear and moves through the text with determination.” ( AudioFile)

Good Insights to the Internet Giant

I come from a technical background and can see how both people that are technically inclined and those not can enjoy it. Good overview of Google's start and lots of looks into the psychology of Google and how projects are shaped.

Overall worth the purchase and worth more than listen especially if you're interested in tech startups.

Great!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, this book is great. It provides tons of content and rationale for things many already know about Google.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Google?

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

All of it.

A misunderstood giant

An entertaining rendition, written in almost a collegiate style their was a little too much of "were the misunderstood good guys".

Google is the third half of the many peoples minds and its efficacy and ease is almost like an opium. It posses the questions of responsibility in the competitive arena but does not paint the picture of the continuing social shift.

All the same very entertaining

Insightful and interesting

Any additional comments?

An insightful and interesting story behind Google. I listened to In the Plex back to back with the Steve Jobs biography, and In the Plex came a distant second. The story is often very dry and lacking in personality, too much of a time-line of events and missing the narrative to hold it all together. Full of facts and figures, and hopefully accurate.

What Google really does will blow your mind

This is a fascinating and surprising story. You get to learn what Google is really all about and how it makes a buck. As a casual user of "search" you just wouldn't have clue what game they're playing in the background to rack up billions in revenue and profit. I took every chance I could to get my head phones on so I could find out what amazing feat was next. I could hardly believe how ambitious this company's founders are. Its really quite remarkable and inspiring to hear their story and it leaves you wondering; where on earth could this company go from here!

Good Listen!

I really enjoyed this audio book. As a Web Designer I am somehow involved with Google every day with search engines, page ranking etc. This book is a good summary of all Google products, where they originated, how they work and the advantages / disadvantages. Really a book I would recommend!

Very interesting read.

An eye-opener into Google. This book will hold your attention and help you know why Google is the way it is.

Similar to Google Story but more up to date. Great

I loved the book called "The Google Story." That was good and so was this. Lots of details on literally how Google thinks, works and shapes our lives :) Great title.

Loved the interview at the end with Marisa Myers. I'm a Google fan boy and this book hit the spot. Thanks, Steven Levy :)

Brilliant narrator

Brilliant narrator good story thoroughly enjoyed the Google journey and learning about their issues growing up - time to do a follow-up Mr Levi?

Fascinating glimpse behind Google

I loved the insider information and background obviously gained from the subjects themselves. I enjoyed the no holds barred attitude of crazy entrepreneurs. Naive and exciting at the same time.