How Google Works

By: Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg

Narrated by: Holter Graham, Jonathan Rosenberg

Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

Both Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg came to Google as seasoned Silicon Valley business executives, but over the course of a decade they came to see the wisdom in Coach John Wooden's observation that 'it's what you learn after you know it all that counts'.

As they helped grow Google from a young start-up to a global icon, they relearned everything they knew about management. How Google Works is the sum of those experiences distilled into a fun, easy-to-read primer on corporate culture, strategy, talent, decision-making, communication, innovation, and dealing with disruption.

The authors explain how the confluence of three seismic changes - the internet, mobile, and cloud computing - has shifted the balance of power from companies to consumers. The companies that will thrive in this ever-changing landscape will be the ones that create superior products and attract a new breed of multifaceted employees whom the authors dub 'smart creatives'. The management maxims ('Consensus requires dissension', 'Exile knaves but fight for divas', 'Think 10X, not 10%') are illustrated with previously unreported anecdotes from Google's corporate history.

'Back in 2010, Eric and I created an internal class for Google managers,' says Rosenberg. 'The class slides all read 'Google confidential' until an employee suggested we uphold the spirit of openness and share them with the world. This book codifies the recipe for our secret sauce: how Google innovates and how it empowers employees to succeed.'

Read by award-winning narrator Holter Graham, with the foreword and introduction read by Jonathan Rosenberg.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2014 Eric,Jonathan Schmidt,Rosenberg (P)2014 Hachette Audio

Great insight into Google

The great insight into the culture and business model of Google and Silicon Valley. A must listen.

Detail oriented

The book is detailed, coupled with real life examples from the company that so many of us admire. The narrator has done a good job of narrating it with voice modulations wherever required to enhance the impact.

Good book but terrible narration

It's an ok book but No where near the likes of "The everything store" by Brad Stone about Amazon. That's probably because this is a book by an insider. Nevertheless there are nuggets of information that's valuable to learn: how to hire, how to think about product development, what products to prioritize etc.

Beautiful paradigm to share

Many learnings I'd like to instill in our company as a platform business dependent on smart creatives

Great insights into one of the best companies

There is something special about this company Google. What is that and why..? This is neatly and funnily explained by the guys who've seen it very closely. Worth listening for any entrepreneur; must for any youngster.

Every listen thought provoking

Probably the best business/management book I listened to in the last year.

Every listen left me with interesting concepts to ponder and new things to take back and implement in my business.

Highly recommend

Wonderful reading, covers all aspects.

The book covers all the aspects which any business may come across its entire life cycle.
In fact this can be a modern business reference book.

very informative and insightful

a good listen and great to hear how one of the biggest companies of our era came to be and still strives for more

gspuri

very up inspiring & well made. truly provides 10X thought & ideas.. . .

Absolutely inspiring

What an amazing journey this book was! The practicality of this book is great and the humourjust ties it together. This is truly an amazing company!

Good read

Where does How Google Works rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Provides a good understanding of how Google works and the management approach. Interesting to see how they can be adapted for use in smaller software houses.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Very informative

Really enjoyed listening to this book, it is very informative and offers advice that can be used in any business discipline,

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Very interesting book

Time well spend. The book give interesting insights into Google culture and operations. Recommended for anyone who would like to make their business more like Google.

Not that good

Underqhelming. If you want to learn about how google works, I recommend Work Rules instead.

Boring!

Very boring story, could have been a lot lot better. And the narration was awful!

How Google Works...how everything else should

Loved every second of this book, so many anecdotes and comparisons ca be made to apply this in the workplace or life.

Inspirational and could be life changing if bold enough to follow its lead

Starts off strong then gets repetitive and boring

The start is interesting but when you get to the 4hr mark it turns into a self help book. It looses it's way and starts giving you advice on how to be a better communicator and run a a better company. All I wanted was the Google story now some guy lecturing me. Disappointed.

Great insights that can be taken into any company

Very enjoyable. An easy listen. Regularly took the longer route to work! Thoroughly recommend for leaders in technology and product.

Marred By Thinly Veiled, Rose Tinted PR

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Whilst this book is not entirely devoid of useful ideas, perspectives and anecdotes describing how Google came to be the powerhouse it is today, far too much of it is presented with waffle. The Googlers are repeatedly ascribed as a perfect Brady Bunch happy family, that only make some vaguely alluded to mistake in order to set up a moral that is subsequently shoved disingenuously down the listener's throat (in the same heavy handed way Saved By The Bell taught us morals growing up).

It's a shame because there is potential here, but unlike Chaos Monkeys and The Everything Store, the fascinating insight is riddled by smugness or bias. A lot of the time you'll find yourself rolling your eyes listening to this book, as the patronising tone grates on you for the 9 hours diluting the value of the good material within.

Must read for any business professional

Many have witnessed the growth of the large digital companies but few have been able to witness from the inside how that growth has been made. this book is a peak at some of what has made google. There are a large number of take always (how to recruit, interview, deal with large numbers of Too emails...) and far more inspirational elements .