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John Battelle

The Search

In The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture John Battelle looks at the development of internet search engines. Starting in the early days with Yahoo starting as a list of sites, and Alta Vista as a program to demonstrate DEC hardware, he explains how search was considered unimportant - what businesses were aiming at was the status of a portal. Then the internet bubble burst, but somehow Google managed to buck the trend and make a rapidly growing business out of pure search.

Battelle doesn't just look at the history of internet businesses, he also examines what people want out of search engines, with the final chapter looking to the future of search. I felt that the book lacked focus a bit here. This wouldn't have been so much of a problem when it was published, but it is over two years old now, and that's a long time in search engine history. I feel it would have survived the test of time better if Battelle had looked more critically at the issues - is it time, for instance, for a return to human edited databases, moving away from the purely algorithmic approach which gave Google such success. If you're interested in a broad overview of the issues of search, though, then you may well find this book worth reading

Amazon.com info

Paperback 336 pages
ISBN: 1591841410
Salesrank: 27033
Weight:0.55 lbs

Published: 2006 Portfolio Trade

Amazon price $10.17

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Amazon.co.uk info

Paperback 336 pages
ISBN: 1857883624
Salesrank: 38579
Weight:0.93 lbs

Published: 2006 Nicholas Brealey Publishing Ltd

Amazon price £7.14

Marketplace:New from £4.97:Used from £4.91

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Amazon.ca info

Paperback 336 pages
ISBN: 1591841410
Salesrank: 170529
Weight:0.55 lbs

Published: 2006 Portfolio

Amazon price CDN$ 13.51

Marketplace:New from CDN$ 2.71:Used from CDN$ 2.43

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Product Description
How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture • The Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek Bestseller • Finalist for the Goldman Sachs/FT Business Book of the Year Award What does the world want? According to John Battelle, a company that answers that question—in all its shades of meaning—can unlock the most intractable riddles of business and arguably of human culture itself. And for the past few years, that’s exactly what Google has been doing. But The Search offers much more than the inside story of Google’s triumph. It’s a big- picture book about the past, present, and future of search technology and the enormous impact it’s starting to have on marketing, media, pop culture, dating, job hunting, international law, civil liberties, and just about every other sphere of human interest. BACKCOVER: “The Search is a superb story, well written and feverishly researched. Whether you are a student, techie, business executive, budding visionary or just enjoy pop culture, this is a book not to be missed.” —USA Today “John Battelle is Silicon Valley’s Bob Woodward. One of the founders of Wired magazine, he has hung around Google for so long that he has come to be as close as any outsider can to actually being an insider….The result is a highly readable account of Google’s astonishing rise.” —The Economist “It’s a fascinating story, and Mr. Battelle… tells it well.” —The Wall Street Journal “A surprisingly gripping story…The Search yields impressive results, pairing a reportorial eye for detail with an evangelical zeal to help readers understand the import of the search revolution.” —Wired News “Battelle…manages to keep things compelling, adding his own trenchant analysis about what Google’s rapid evolution and powerful technology might mean for the company and our society as whole.” —The Associated Press “A compelling glimpse of the search industry’s early years.” —BusinessWeek “Deeply researched and nimbly reported.” —Publishers Weekly “Indispensable.” —London Review of Books “John Battelle has written a brilliant business book, but he’s also done something more: he’s used the amazing saga of Google to explore what it means to search. All searchers should read it.” —Walter Isaacson, CEO of the Aspen Institute; former editor of Time; former CEO of CNN “Nobody, and I mean nobody, has thought longer, harder, or smarter about Google and the search business than John Battelle. If you want to understand the rise of the search economy and culture, you need to read this book.” —John Heilemann, author of Pride Before the Fall

Product Description

How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture

• The Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek Bestseller
• Finalist for the Goldman Sachs/FT Business Book of the Year Award

What does the world want? According to John Battelle, a company that answers that question—in all its shades of meaning—can unlock the most intractable riddles of business and arguably of human culture itself. And for the past few years, that’s exactly what Google has been doing.

But The Search offers much more than the inside story of Google’s triumph. It’s a big- picture book about the past, present, and future of search technology and the enormous impact it’s starting to have on marketing, media, pop culture, dating, job hunting, international law, civil liberties, and just about every other sphere of human interest. BACKCOVER: “The Search is a superb story, well written and feverishly researched. Whether you are a student, techie, business executive, budding visionary or just enjoy pop culture, this is a book not to be missed.”
—USA Today

“John Battelle is Silicon Valley’s Bob Woodward. One of the founders of Wired magazine, he has hung around Google for so long that he has come to be as close as any outsider can to actually being an insider….The result is a highly readable account of Google’s astonishing rise.”
—The Economist

“It’s a fascinating story, and Mr. Battelle… tells it well.”
—The Wall Street Journal

“A surprisingly gripping story…The Search yields impressive results, pairing a reportorial eye for detail with an evangelical zeal to help readers understand the import of the search revolution.”
—Wired News

“Battelle…manages to keep things compelling, adding his own trenchant analysis about what Google’s rapid evolution and powerful technology might mean for the company and our society as whole.”
—The Associated Press

“A compelling glimpse of the search industry’s early years.”
—BusinessWeek

“Deeply researched and nimbly reported.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Indispensable.”
—London Review of Books

“John Battelle has written a brilliant business book, but he’s also done something more: he’s used the amazing saga of Google to explore what it means to search. All searchers should read it.”
—Walter Isaacson, CEO of the Aspen Institute; former editor of Time; former CEO of CNN

“Nobody, and I mean nobody, has thought longer, harder, or smarter about Google and the search business than John Battelle. If you want to understand the rise of the search economy and culture, you need to read this book.”
—John Heilemann, author of Pride Before the Fall

An insight into a company and an industry *****
As a computer professional I thought I pretty much got Search chalked out. It was quite a revelation to see that this book reveals facets about search that I did not comprehend before. Very exciting book and incidentally very good information about Google as a company as well. You can see my blog entry below as well if interested in my review: http://rajascyberspot.blogspot.com/2008/08/google-and-story-of-search.html

An insight into a company and an industry *****

As a computer professional I thought I pretty much got Search chalked out. It was quite a revelation to see that this book reveals facets about search that I did not comprehend before.

Very exciting book and incidentally very good information about Google as a company as well.
You can see my blog entry below as well if interested in my review: http://rajascyberspot.blogspot.com/2008/08/google-and-story-of-search.html

Great overview of the Search industry ****
It's a great overiview of the search industry and its brief but intense history. However, it's also a good and refreshing reminder that success stories, such as Google's, are not envisioned or planned they way they later unfold. For example, the book explains how Google early on tried to sell their search engine to Yahoo! or one of the other portals, but no buyer was found! Google was in financial hardships and did not know how to make money (except with traditional banner ads) when Bill Gross came up with the pay-per-click model that Google simply copied.

Great overview of the Search industry ****

It's a great overiview of the search industry and its brief but intense history.

However, it's also a good and refreshing reminder that success stories, such as Google's, are not envisioned or planned they way they later unfold. For example, the book explains how Google early on tried to sell their search engine to Yahoo! or one of the other portals, but no buyer was found! Google was in financial hardships and did not know how to make money (except with traditional banner ads) when Bill Gross came up with the pay-per-click model that Google simply copied.

Great, detailed, account on the foundation of how search became what it is *****
This book provides a great review and account of the history on how the foundation of 'search' became what it is. From original information retrieval technology, to modern day search the reader is taken on a journey from dorm-room technology to startup company with all the situations and decisions that search pioneers faced, in the early days of search to what is now the status quo. As someone who has grown up with search, this is a great read of how search evolved and provides a great backbone for understanding the relationships of the various companies involved. This is a must read for those in the SEO/SEM industry.

Great, detailed, account on the foundation of how search became what it is *****

This book provides a great review and account of the history on how the foundation of 'search' became what it is.

From original information retrieval technology, to modern day search the reader is taken on a journey from dorm-room technology to startup company with all the situations and decisions that search pioneers faced, in the early days of search to what is now the status quo.

As someone who has grown up with search, this is a great read of how search evolved and provides a great backbone for understanding the relationships of the various companies involved. This is a must read for those in the SEO/SEM industry.

Semantic Search is Coming ****
I found "The Search" captivating. Partly this could because of my long time fascination with the Internet and part of it because of my marketing mind. It tells of the cat and mouse game of spammers and how Google tries to outwit them (sometimes hurting innocent marketers at the same time). I loved the section on the future of search. Ideally we want a search that gives us what we are thinking about - not just what we say we want. This is about filtering, presentation and understanding. It has a whole section on Semantic Web which is another area I am fascinated with. Highly recommend the book if you like thinking about the future and if you like marketing.

Semantic Search is Coming ****

I found "The Search" captivating. Partly this could because of my long time fascination with the Internet and part of it because of my marketing mind. It tells of the cat and mouse game of spammers and how Google tries to outwit them (sometimes hurting innocent marketers at the same time).

I loved the section on the future of search. Ideally we want a search that gives us what we are thinking about - not just what we say we want. This is about filtering, presentation and understanding.

It has a whole section on Semantic Web which is another area I am fascinated with.

Highly recommend the book if you like thinking about the future and if you like marketing.

Secret to Google's success *****
I have always wondered how Google made so much money from Advertising alone. This book helped me answer that question. BTW, I have recently changed the job from being a moribund corporate IT developer to being an engineer at Google. Reading this book was my first attempt at understanding my employer.

Secret to Google's success *****

I have always wondered how Google made so much money from Advertising alone. This book helped me answer that question. BTW, I have recently changed the job from being a moribund corporate IT developer to being an engineer at Google. Reading this book was my first attempt at understanding my employer.

An excellent companion volume *****
A story, written from further on the outside than 'The Google Story' about the early stages of google development. Not really an insider view, this concentrates on the public face of Google history as well as the details of the many companies that set the scene and created the early technology that allowed Google to exist. Provides a rich context for Google, but doesn't cover the internals of the company all that well, a good companion volume to 'The Google Story'

An excellent companion volume *****

A story, written from further on the outside than 'The Google Story' about the early stages of google development. Not really an insider view, this concentrates on the public face of Google history as well as the details of the many companies that set the scene and created the early technology that allowed Google to exist. Provides a rich context for Google, but doesn't cover the internals of the company all that well, a good companion volume to 'The Google Story'

A Google-focused useful insight into the world of search ****
John Battelle has written an unputdownable page turner with a wealth of first-hand knowledge about the world of internet searching. He tells the story of Google and does not shirk away from dealing with some of the thorny legal and ethical issues surrounding one of the most successful companies in history. This book will prove invaluable to all those who want to upgrade their background knowledge of SEM, SEO and the world of the internet in general.

A Google-focused useful insight into the world of search ****

John Battelle has written an unputdownable page turner with a wealth of first-hand knowledge about the world of internet searching. He tells the story of Google and does not shirk away from dealing with some of the thorny legal and ethical issues surrounding one of the most successful companies in history.

This book will prove invaluable to all those who want to upgrade their background knowledge of SEM, SEO and the world of the internet in general.

Not too geeky ****
Although I've been using computers, in one form or another, since the late 80's I didn't really use the Internet until around 2001. I'm not a particularly sophisticated user and haven't thought particularly carefully about the various search tools available. This book has changed my view - I now understand more about the differences between the search engines available on sites like Google and Yahoo - where did they come from, what drives their development, what are the aims and motives of those who control them? This book is simultaneously reassuring and deeply worrying, prompting some real thought on the consequences of our headlong rush into a digitised world. It is written in a very approachable style so that someone with only a modest knowledge of the Internet can understand the points it makes. The numerous items of 'insider gossip' and anecdotes make it lighter, helping the reader to digest the longer passages and also illuminating the characters and the part they played in the history and development of the Internet. I have deducted one star from a non-USA reader point of view - some terms were unfamiliar (particularly to do with the US financial world) and a bit of explanation for international audiences would have been useful.

Not too geeky ****

Although I've been using computers, in one form or another, since the late 80's I didn't really use the Internet until around 2001. I'm not a particularly sophisticated user and haven't thought particularly carefully about the various search tools available. This book has changed my view - I now understand more about the differences between the search engines available on sites like Google and Yahoo - where did they come from, what drives their development, what are the aims and motives of those who control them?

This book is simultaneously reassuring and deeply worrying, prompting some real thought on the consequences of our headlong rush into a digitised world. It is written in a very approachable style so that someone with only a modest knowledge of the Internet can understand the points it makes. The numerous items of 'insider gossip' and anecdotes make it lighter, helping the reader to digest the longer passages and also illuminating the characters and the part they played in the history and development of the Internet.

I have deducted one star from a non-USA reader point of view - some terms were unfamiliar (particularly to do with the US financial world) and a bit of explanation for international audiences would have been useful.

Simple search, complicated industry *****
Receive the search query and give back the results - it's that simple. There can't be more to this industry, right? Very wrong. Read this book to get a good understanding of the birth, rise and future of this (massive) industry.

Simple search, complicated industry *****

Receive the search query and give back the results - it's that simple. There can't be more to this industry, right? Very wrong. Read this book to get a good understanding of the birth, rise and future of this (massive) industry.

A 'must read' for Human Resources Executives ****
Companies pay millions to Futurists to tell them how consumer behaviours are likely to change. At the core of much of this, of course, is the internet. When you read this book though, you'll understand that the real power of the internet lies in 'search' - and that's where the future is going to get interesting! Human Resources leaders need to understand their business - we've known that for a long time - but they also need to understand the external world and what lies ahead. This book will broaden your thinking about the future of business and consumerism in ways that will inspire you.

A 'must read' for Human Resources Executives ****

Companies pay millions to Futurists to tell them how consumer behaviours are likely to change. At the core of much of this, of course, is the internet. When you read this book though, you'll understand that the real power of the internet lies in 'search' - and that's where the future is going to get interesting! Human Resources leaders need to understand their business - we've known that for a long time - but they also need to understand the external world and what lies ahead. This book will broaden your thinking about the future of business and consumerism in ways that will inspire you.

A must for every marketer *****
Starting with the fascinating concept of the Database of Intentions introduced in Chapter 1, the book kept my attention. This is a well told story of the development of the Internet search industry. The book documents in a journalistic fashion that is very enjoyable to read, the convergence of academic research and business thinking around the problem of searching an exponentially expanding internet. Inevitably the story of Google is at the center of the book but Batelle covers well the known and unknown pioneers of search. He also shows that despite Googles dominance, the search for the perfect search function is far from over. The book puts in perspective how all marketers must now think in terms of consumer intent when designing their web properties or SEO strategies.

A must for every marketer *****

Starting with the fascinating concept of the Database of Intentions introduced in Chapter 1, the book kept my attention. This is a well told story of the development of the Internet search industry. The book documents in a journalistic fashion that is very enjoyable to read, the convergence of academic research and business thinking around the problem of searching an exponentially expanding internet. Inevitably the story of Google is at the center of the book but Batelle covers well the known and unknown pioneers of search. He also shows that despite Googles dominance, the search for the perfect search function is far from over. The book puts in perspective how all marketers must now think in terms of consumer intent when designing their web properties or SEO strategies.