What Would Google Do? by Jeff Jarvis
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Book Reviews of What Would Google Do?
Book Review: a job well done trying to make sense of the changing world
Summary: 5 Stars
... However only the history will judge the accuracy of the predictions and usefulness of the prescriptions offered by Jeff.
This is a nice book! Jeff is using the tremendous success of Google to extract several lessons for many types of companies and social forms of organization. This approach risks misattributing the causes of success (e.g., just because Google is successful - not everything it does inevitably and automatically brings success). However, a thoughtful reader and a critical thinker should be able to make her own judgments on that.
I'm a communication/new media researcher and found many sections in the book to be of great interest (e.g., "googlification" of universities, mass media, government, etc.). Many ideas do sound extreme and radical. But, then again, Jeff is a revolutionary thinker - his ideas should sound like that. Plus, this stirs imagination - and this is good.
I'd say this book is a must for anyone trying to understand where the communication world is (or might be) headed. Even, if some ideas sound too radical or untenable or hard to swallow - the vast majority of the volume is quite thoughtful and thought-provoking, and therefore, very well worth your money and time.
Book Review: Jeff Jarvis writes the Gospel According to Google
Summary: 5 Stars
After hearing Bob Edwards interview Jeff Jarvis on his XM radio show, I was so inspired I immediately went to Amazon to buy the book. It came quickly and I was soon engrossed in Jarvis' analysis of how Google had turned commerce and many other fields on their heads. It took me, a book and scientific (Psychological research) journal writer, a while to reorient the way I think about commerce and communication. But the more I read, the more I realized how Google, Wikipedia, Digg, etc. have been reinventing communication and sharing ways of expressing oneself. I immediately went back to Amazon and ordered copies for my 4 adult children. Some of Jarvis' ideas are not fully developed and, in fact, half-baked. But this is one of the most important books I have read in a long time. I recommend it to anyone interested in understanding the use of the internet in their own activities. I plan to put together a list of websites by topic as a guide to my new endeavors.
Takes up where The Long Tail by Anderson, leaves off
Peter Vietze, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Montclair State University and
Clinical Psychologist, New York City
Book Review: WWGD? It's where we're headed.
Summary: 5 Stars
"What Would Google Do?" is a very compelling read. Although internet technology is moving ahead at such a breath-taking pace, and updates are literally by the hour, Jeff Jarvis brings the cogent message home: with anything, for your sake and society's, ask yourself "what would Google do?" Jarvis could revise this edition almost weekly to keep us all up to date and aware of the fast-paced changes afoot in marketing, news, and commerce today. And, that's precisely his message, Jarvis' blog does that (electronically)!
Google has been innovative not only in replacing physical libraries in our quest for information, but exemplary in providing such invaluable services based on the brilliant platform of "free." Google has become extraordinarily prosperous via their advertising vehicle and yet it didn't start that way. Jarvis also includes Craigslist, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon.com, he helps explain what is happening in our society with regards to immediacy and community. Sharing serves and sells.
Great read. Get it. Embrace it. It's where we're all going.
Book Review: Learned something of value on almost every sentence.
Summary: 5 Stars
I am not sure what the negative reviewer where expecting to get from this book, if you are a business owner/leader and want to understand, from a business perspective, the thought process which drives the most successful companies of today this is your book. You will glean strategies which will be business altering.
Jeff's mind is incredibly strong in this regard, understanding business principals, and coming to conclusions which explain, what might be the most valuable information of today; how these companies are changing everything, worth billions, and how to leverage all this for yourself.
Yes, Jeff's book is really written to allow the average guy to leverage what these companies are doing in their own favor (google, facebook, craigslist, amazon, etc.) Just one of these tips is worth the book. I found myself learning something on almost every line.
Very valuable read, thanks Jeff.
Book Review: Very important book about today's internet
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book and found it to be profound. I'm shocked at the number of bad reviews on Amazon -- scrawled by folks who just don't "get it." It's the most important tome about the internet since "The Long Tail." If you don't understand what Jarvis is telling you, perhaps you should read this book again. There are new rules out there, people, and if you're going to survive, it's time to get with the program. The old ways are dead, and many things consumers paid for in the past are now provided for free (such as this book review). "What Would Google Do" explains how the fastest-growing company in human history managed to generate billions upon billions in profit, while giving away their content to the world. I suggest you read it, and if you can't afford to buy it, go to the library (it's probably taken out, with a long waiting list).