What Would Google Do?

By: Jeff Jarvis

Narrated by: Jeff Jarvis

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

A bold and vital book that asks and answers the most urgent question of today: What Would Google Do?

In a book that's one part prophecy, one part thought experiment, one part manifesto, and one part survival manual, Internet impresario and blogging pioneer Jeff Jarvis reverse-engineers Google, the fastest-growing company in history, to discover 40 clear and straightforward rules to manage and live by.

At the same time, he illuminates the new worldview of the internet generation: how it challenges and destroys, but also opens up vast new opportunities. His findings are counterintuitive, imaginative, practical, and above all, visionary, giving readers a glimpse of how everyone and everything, from corporations to governments, nations to individuals, must evolve in the Google era.

Along the way, he looks under the hood of a car designed by its drivers, ponders a worldwide university where the students design their curriculum, envisions an airline fueled by a social network, imagines the open-source restaurant, and examines a series of industries and institutions that will soon benefit from this book's central question.

The result is an astonishing, mind-opening book that, in the end, is not about Google. It's about you.

©2009 Jeff Jarvis (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

Favorite Business Book Since Blue Ocean Strategy

The world is changing and those who recognize it will prosper. This book goes into how knowing your core business very well and opening the rest up to the world can help you succeed in today's environment. The author takes a hard look at what Google has done to traditional businesses such as the newspaper industry. However, Jarvis does not stop there. He takes the next step to propose fixes to several industries. While many of his fixes are not feasible, they are all doable. And much to the disappointment of the current industry leaders, someone is going to catch on and take the lead.

I would also recommend his blog as a nice refresher of the books content to keep you thinking.

THE road map to business in the internet age.

This book isn't about Google, it's about innovative business models. Jarvis uses Google as the straight-A student of the digital generation. He tells the story of sticking it to Dell after a customer-service nightmare; and explains what Dell did about it. In the last section of the book, he takes a tour of different industries and shows us how they might be run in a Google world. The book couldn't be more interesting for anyone who wants to understand how to revolutionize their business in the image of Google.

An Enlightening Guidebook

Great book! Great stories of personal application and success!
Jarvis does an amazing job of enlightening the listener on how to answer the question "what would google do" in your personal life/business

A must read for every business

This is a fabulous book that will help you understand how the Internet is changing everything --- and will increasingly change every segment of our economy. The individual chapters about each key industry were particularly helpful.

Excellent

Outstanding, Thought Provoking Book.... the ideas in this book can make you millions!

WWGD: Wow What a Great Doing!

This book provides a comprehensive review of the changes undergoing media communication its ongoing impact on everyday life and in business strategy and operations.

The author does a superb narration: his knowledge and enthusiasm come vividly across.

Jeff Jarvis Rocks

A simple straight forward book that is a must read for everyone who wants to build their brand, be cutting edge, and connect with their customers in a new and inspiring way. It's a must read!

Open your eyes

Jeff Jarvis provides an educated and enlightening depiction of modern economics. A shift in business thought where Google has become a leading players. It will be interesting to review the book in 5 years time and see whether some his ideas have gained traction.

Excellent and relevant

Times are changing and I found the content and concepts presented to be extremely relevant for today and the future.

Highly Recommended

This is a wonderful book, with great narration. You can almost picture Jeff Jarvis sitting across you, trying to convince you.

If you aren't reading this book, what ARE you reading? Seriously, a must read for everyone in this day & age.