The Google Story

Inside the Hottest Business, Media, and Technology Success of Our Time

By: David A. Vise, Mark Malseed

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

Here is the story behind one of the most remarkable Internet successes of our time. Based on scrupulous research and extraordinary access to Google, the book takes you inside the creation and growth of a company whose name is a favorite brand and a standard verb recognized around the world. Its stock is worth more than General Motors’ and Ford’s combined, its staff eats for free in a dining room that used to be run by the Grateful Dead’s former chef, and its employees traverse the firm’s colorful Silicon Valley campus on scooters and inline skates.

The Google Story is the definitive account of the populist media company powered by the world’s most advanced technology that in a few short years has revolutionized access to information about everything for everybody everywhere.

In 1998, Moscow-born Sergey Brin and Midwest-born Larry Page dropped out of graduate school at Stanford University to, in their own words, “change the world” through a search engine that would organize every bit of information on the Web for free.

While the company has done exactly that in more than 100 languages, Google’s quest continues as it seeks to add millions of library books, television broadcasts, and more to its searchable database. Listeners will learn about the amazing business acumen and computer wizardry that started the company on its astonishing course; the secret network of computers delivering lightning-fast search results; the unorthodox approach that has enabled it to challenge Microsoft’s dominance and shake up Wall Street.

Even as it rides high, Google wrestles with difficult choices that will enable it to continue expanding while sustaining the guiding vision of its founders’ mantra: DO NO EVIL.

©2005 David A. Vise (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.

Excellent Recent History

If you're at all interested in Google's history and future direction, this is a great audio book. It's interesting through-out and well paced. I also really enjoy the narrator - he's got an "easy to listen to" voice.

nice story

Starts out great then as the company grows, the author reduces information and stories, but it is as expected. Okay if you like computers as I do, or want to hear of a riches to greater riches stories.

Riveting

Admittedly I'm in the business of e-business so a deep look at Google was naturally going to be of interest. What surprised me most where/are the sheer metrics of this enterprise. Learns lots enough I know lots about it. The 10+ hours flew by.

Stimulating

This is one of the greatest success stories of recent times. With the dawn of the new century, Google came from nowhere and lead by Brin and Page became a great technology company rivaling Mircosoft. The book is very well written and each aspect of the lives of Brin and Page related to Google is well documented. It is great to see how these twenty year olds with their unorthodox thinking created one of the most admirable companies in the world. Must read for all audible listens.

A good source of informaiton on Google

The authors did a competent job of presenting how Google rose to be the company it is today and where it is heading. However, there seems to be a strong bias in the way the story was told. The authors put the Google founders on a pedestal, interpreting events in such a way as to paint them as extraordinarily brillant forces of good, changing the rules of business, pervailing against vulture capitalists, greedy investment bankers and the evil Microsoft, and generally making the world a better place for mankind. Nevertheless, a good source of information for those interested in Google.

Google - icious

I love technology... and I loved this book. I use Google daily, but didn't know about their other software products till I read the book. I was never really sure how they made money (and why so much). A great listen for the business and technology minded individual.

Very interesting! Not necessarily all agreeable

I've an immense bias towards Google and these days its parent Alphabet. I've listened to this story since around 2006, many, many times over the years. And I still love it!! Despite some minor disagreement about some claims.

Amazing Story!

Really amazing story about a technology company that is so much more than just a search engine.

Nice Intro But Light on Business

A good introduction to Google, which tends to be hard to get information about. Most of the book focuses on the two founders, Brin and Page. The business info is not really deep and overall, the authors praise the Google founders to no end. I guess there is just not enough time to get perspective on the company nor to see the social/market context, but hay, it is an up-to-date kind of thing.

Google

Pretty good story. No eye dropping surprises here and guess what. The founders of google were exactly that. Brilliant programming nerds.

All and all a good story. Worth the listen

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