Planet Google: One Company's Audacious Plan to Organize Everything We Know

Planet Google

Planet Google is an extremely-well written history of the internet giant Google. Randall Stross, the author, thoroughly used the 200 sources his credited in the back on his book and his personal contact inside Google to give the account of the company. And clearly gets out the message: Google wants to organize the entire world's information.
Stross writes in a journalistic style which manages to keep the reader's attention. His transitions from paragraph to paragraph keep the reader's interest in the story at a maximum level. While he is long-versed for one who is not as familiar with computer and business, he helps to put the story in terms which the reader can relate to.
The tone of the story clearly shows that Stross is very-versed in the world of computers and excellent source for this information. He gives his opinions on the well-known subject while also injecting the opinions of Google employees and employees of other companies. He is also knowledgeable in knowing what exactly was going on at each time period on the Google timeline. Planet Google is an excellent history for anyone wishing to know almost everything about Google without even logging on to the site.

Organizing the World's Information

Stross' review of Google provides excellent insight into the corporate culture of the search giant. Google is unlike any company today. It's vision to organize the worlds information is a task that seems impossible, yet if anyone can do it, it will be Google.

Stross presents a balanced analysis of Google's strengths (creativity, innovation, the ability to solve any problems, capital), and weaknesses (forgetting the concerns of end-users, strategic errors in web video, news and social networking).

Please be aware, however, that Stross' writing style is a little ADHD. He jumps around from topic to topic and his chapters are very loosely arranged around a theme. As long as you can keep multiple story lines and details mentally organized, you will enjoy this book.

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