The Google Story – Unauthorized

It should come as no surprise that there is a new, unauthorized, book about Google that is about to hit the shelves. I just received my copy of The Google Story – Inside The Hottest Business, Media And Technology Success Of Our Time by David A. Vise and Mark Malseed.
The clear disclaimer reads that “this book was not created, authorized, or endorsed by Google Inc.”
Here is an overview of the book from the Random House website:
“Here is the story behind one of the most remarkable Internet successes of our time. Based on scrupulous research and extraordinary access to Google, the book takes you inside the creation and growth of a company whose name is a favorite brand and a standard verb recognized around the world. Its stock is worth more than General Motors’ and Ford’s combined, its staff eats for free in a dining room run by the Grateful Dead’s former chef, and its employees traverse the firm’s colorful Silicon Valley campus on scooters and inline skates.
The Google Story is the definitive account of the populist media company powered by the world’s most advanced technology that in a few short years has revolutionized access to information about everything for everybody everywhere.
In 1998, Moscow-born Sergey Brin and Midwest-born Larry Page dropped out of graduate school at Stanford University to, in their own words, ‘change the world’ through a search engine that would organize every bit of information on the Web for free.
While the company has done exactly that in more than one hundred languages, Google’s quest continues as it seeks to add millions of library books, television broadcasts, and more to its searchable database. Readers will learn about the amazing business acumen and computer wizardry that started the company on its astonishing course; the secret network of computers delivering lightning-fast search results; the unorthodox approach that has enabled it to challenge Microsoft’s dominance and shake up Wall Street. Even as it rides high, Google wrestles with difficult choices that will enable it to continue expanding while sustaining the guiding vision of its founders’ mantra: DO NO EVIL.”
I’m very much looking forward to tackling this one. I am especially curious to see if the authors (who are both reporters) paint a positive or negative picture about Google. Vise is also the Author of The Bureau And The Mole and Malseed did some work on Plan Of Attack and Bush At War. These are hard-hitting wordsmiths.
The Google Story may well become a future selection to be discussed at The Montreal Business Book Club.
(Thanks for the package Deanna).