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Planet Google: One Company’s Audacious Plan to Organize Everything We Know Audiobook
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(3.03) - 412 listener ratings
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After one of the most successful IPOs in history, Google set forth on an incredible, audacious new strategy for its future—a vision so bold, large-scale, and controversial, that the company has worked very hard to keep it totally under wraps. Neither The Search nor The Google Story, both successful books about the company, included any information about this new vision the business has for itself. The business world and the large community of those interested in web issues have been desperately trying to understand what Google is up to, because they know that Google is the arbiter of the future of the web, and really of computing altogether.
Randy Stross has achieved unprecedented access to the Google headquarters and top management, including notoriously close-to-the-vest CEO Eric Schmidt, as well as to a wide range sources who have worked with Google or monitored its activities. In this book he will reveal for the first time the astonishing scale and scope of what Google is setting out to accomplish, including such potentially disruptive initiatives as free downloadable software, which could put providers like Microsoft out of business, and Google Earth satellite technology, which is rapidly mapping the entire surface of the Earth in high-powered detail. Stross explores the profound implications of these plans, not only for the business world, but for our culture at large.
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"A very interesting look-see into one of the most reclusive and innovative corporations of the internet age. Planet Google explores how a company which was built purely out of a problem that needed solving, and whose founders had no interest in money, made them billionaires by the age of 30... "
— Amit (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“A computer enthusiast who wants to Google Google couldn’t find a more dedicated guide than Stross…Stross’ access to the company pays off nicely for both Google’s fans and people who read books on paper."
— Time -
“[An] even-handed and highly readable history of the company.”
— Wall Street Journal -
“A vigorous history/analysis/appraisal of the 21st century’s most notable company."
— Fortune -
“A spellbinding behind-the-scenes look…Readers will find the sheer scale and scope of Google’s progress in just a decade astounding. The unfolding narrative of Google’s journey reads like a suspense novel.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“Whether you buy the company’s snuggly, anticorporate image or whether you think that image is cover for a sinister, Orwellian agenda—heck, even if you’ve never given Google much thought at all—you will likely find much of interest in Planet Google, a riveting account by New York Times ‘Digital Domain’ columnist Randall Stross…Clearly, the end of this story has yet to be written, but this fascinating book will leave readers ready for whatever comes next.”
— Barnes and Noble, editorial review -
“An outstanding business history of Google from its humble beginnings through the dot-com era to current times…A balanced portrait, including criticisms concerning copyright, privacy, and other ethical issues…Recommended for all business collections, both public and academic.”
— Library Journal -
“As the first outsider to receive unfettered access to Google’s headquarters, top management, and company meetings, Stross has provided the most in-depth look at the company to date.”
— Booklist -
“New York Times business and technology columnist Stross takes readers on a revelation-packed journey into the secretive world of today’s most transformative and potentially disruptive company, uncovering Google’s bold, provocative pursuit of control of all the world’s information.”
— BookPage
Planet Google Listener Reviews
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" The worst book I read about Google. But if you want the big picture, read it. "
— Man, 2/6/2014 -
" Planet Google is very accessible but also informative for anyone who is interested in the history of Google as a company. Reading this, I was reminded of how incredibly quickly our online (and offline) world has changed. "
— Martha, 2/4/2014 -
" This taught me that I shouldn't read books about the internet anymore because they're all obsolete. Anyone who has successfully avoided a computer for the past decade and wants to catch up with the world should read this book. Topics not covered: Twitter, Buzz, and anything after mid-2008. "
— Maxwell, 2/1/2014 -
" Very interesting, especially if you work in IT. You will not only learn some fascinating facts about Google, but also about creativity, engineers and MBAs, and some of the relationships of other companies to Google. "
— Michelle, 1/26/2014 -
" It had some interesting bits. Overall wasn't that illuminating about google as a company. But it had some interesting insight about paradigm shifts in the tech industry. "
— sima, 1/24/2014 -
" Interesting book. Nice objective look at google's history, success, missteps and challenges. "
— Eric, 1/13/2014 -
" Very readable history about this company that is just over 10 years old and is already the envy of the Internet world. "
— Don, 12/16/2013 -
" Very good book giving the inside story, detailing Google's rise, and brushes with failure. Interesting back stories of how certain Google features came into being. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about the company whose master plan is to "organize the world's information." "
— Dave, 1/3/2013 -
" A very interesting look-see into one of the most reclusive and innovative corporations of the internet age. Planet Google explores how a company which was built purely out of a problem that needed solving, and whose founders had no interest in money, made them billionaires by the age of 30... "
— Amit, 9/27/2012 -
" It is an excellent overview of the company. It tells the story on how the company have been growing and their desire to organize/control all the information on the web. "
— J, 4/5/2012 -
" It was good but I enjoyed The Search by Battelle a bit more. "
— Josh, 3/3/2012 -
" though a bit outdated now (printed 2008), I enjoyed reading about the history and key decisions the company has made. We complain about Chinese plagiarism... not sure that Google really is that more ethical. "
— Dave, 11/9/2011 -
" Excellent. My entire review can be read by clicking here. "
— Phil, 10/13/2011 -
" The librarian in me loved this glimpse into the brilliant, innovative company who is enabler of most Internet searches...and so much more. "
— Rita, 8/29/2011 -
" I couldn't figure out if the author liked what google was up to or didn't.... "
— Kendra, 8/8/2011 -
" I kind of hoped the story of Google would be sexy. And then I read this book and realized that sexy computer engineer is an oxymoron. "
— Ellen, 6/19/2011 -
" Very good. Published in 2009, so doesn't have most recent events, but still a very interesting history on the company "
— Michael, 3/23/2011 -
" Better than the other book about Google, filled in some blanks and talks about the coming ' cloud ' concept "
— BAKU, 2/25/2011 -
" Interesting book. Nice objective look at google's history, success, missteps and challenges. "
— Eric, 10/18/2010 -
" Very factual and well researched. A little bit of a harder read at times and has a very academic outlook. Does not have a lot of "personality" but interesting non the less. "
— Ivan, 8/22/2010 -
" A nice read. Nothing major here, but I gave it 4 stars instead of 3 because it changed the way I view Google as a company. "
— Ahmad, 7/18/2010 -
" This taught me that I shouldn't read books about the internet anymore because they're all obsolete. Anyone who has successfully avoided a computer for the past decade and wants to catch up with the world should read this book. Topics not covered: Twitter, Buzz, and anything after mid-2008. "
— Maxwell, 7/4/2010 -
" It is an excellent overview of the company. It tells the story on how the company have been growing and their desire to organize/control all the information on the web. "
— Juankc, 6/21/2010 -
" It had some interesting bits. Overall wasn't that illuminating about google as a company. But it had some interesting insight about paradigm shifts in the tech industry. "
— sima, 4/18/2010 -
" I couldn't figure out if the author liked what google was up to or didn't.... "
— Kendra, 2/10/2010 -
" The worst book I read about Google. But if you want the big picture, read it. "
— Man, 2/9/2010
About Randall Stross
Randall Stross is the author of the New York Times column on business and technology, “Digital Domain,” as well as a professor of organization and management at San Jose State University, which is based in the heart of Silicon Valley. His book The Microsoft Way (Addison Wesley, 1996) was the most critically acclaimed book about Microsoft at the height of the company’s power, and his book eBoys(Crown, 2000) was one of the most successful books about the web 1.0 phenomenon, for which he was given full access to the venture capitalists who funded eBay and was able to tell the inside story of how and why eBay took off.
About William Hughes
William Hughes is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator. A professor of political science at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon, he received his doctorate in American politics from the University of California at Davis. He has done voice-over work for radio and film and is also an accomplished jazz guitarist.