kyscg's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Allen has a line about computer programming being a true meritocracy and how anyone could write programs irrespective of their background. And then, a few pages later, he writes about how he racked hundreds of dollars in compute time and his dad just paid for them. Myopic.
I thought this venture was super interesting, considering how my first academic research was along these lines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traf-O-Data
The book is great, I loved all the parts about Bill, and his unrelenting leadership style. Definitely would have loved to read more about Bill. Paul Allen is super-cool too, with his renaissance man style of living, he probably squeezed more from the lemon than Bill Gates did. The best part is Paul Allen's prescience, it is uncanny, and you start to wonder if his predictions were as trivial to make as he makes them sound. The appendix has a list of ideas to solve in Artificial Intelligence, so many of which are already solved in the last couple years. RIP Paul Allen, you literally, would have loved 2023.
I thought this venture was super interesting, considering how my first academic research was along these lines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traf-O-Data
The book is great, I loved all the parts about Bill, and his unrelenting leadership style. Definitely would have loved to read more about Bill. Paul Allen is super-cool too, with his renaissance man style of living, he probably squeezed more from the lemon than Bill Gates did. The best part is Paul Allen's prescience, it is uncanny, and you start to wonder if his predictions were as trivial to make as he makes them sound. The appendix has a list of ideas to solve in Artificial Intelligence, so many of which are already solved in the last couple years. RIP Paul Allen, you literally, would have loved 2023.
javirk's review against another edition
3.0
The first half is good, a lot of insights about how Microsoft was founded. However, the second half was uninteresting to me so I couldn’t finish it.
ach2r's review against another edition
4.0
Поразительная, конечно, жизнь у человека.
В 22 года основал с Биллом Гейтсом компанию Microsoft. В 28 компания выпускает MS-DOS и захватывает рынок операционных систем. Пол становится одним из самых богатых людей мира. Вы начинаете думать, что это книга про Microsoft, как вдруг Пол, не выдержав сложного характера Билла Гейтса, уходит из компании, забрав четверть ее акций. Ему 30 лет, у него нет работы, но зато есть примерно бесконечные деньги. Впереди еще 50% книги и тут начинается самое интересное. В последующих главах Пол:
- вспомнив о своей детской мечте, покупает баскетбольный клуб Portland Trail Blazers, собирает там звезд NBA, но они все оказываются эгоманьяками со сложными характерами, не способными ужиться друг с другом, и команда так и не добивается значимых успехов;
- поддавшись на уговоры администрации Сиэттла, берет под свое опекунство местный футбольный клуб Seattle Seahawks, спасает его от банкротства, добивается постройки ему нового крутого стадиона;
- начинает развивать космический туризм (в 1996 году!), финансирует SpaceShipOne - первый коммерческий космический корабль. После успешных испытаний технологию приобретает Ричард Брэнсон для своей Virgin Galactic. В результате в 2021 году Брэнсон слетал к нижней границе космоса на корабле семейства SpaceShipTwo;
- основывает киностудию Vulkan Productions, чьи фильмы номинируются на Оскар и иногда даже его получают;
- финансирует изучение мозга, открывает институт нейронаук (Allen Institute for Brain Science), который вскоре выпускает первые атласы мозга мыши и человека;
- покупает компанию Ticketmaster и убеждает ее основателя перейти на онлайн-продажу билетов. Основатель долго сопротивляется и говорит, что это убьет его бизнес, в результате это его спасает;
- к концу книги совсем перестает стесняться и просто целую главу хвастается своей яхтой (конечно же у нее есть своя статья в википедии). Ну и заслуженно в общем-то хвалится: чтоб вы понимали, с этой яхты стартуют 2 подводных лодки, одна вмещает 8 человек, а вторая никого не вмещает, но оснащена видеокамерой и управляется удаленно.
... и это я еще опустил некоторые, не самые интересные главы (например, главу про то как он увлекся бизнесом по производству кабелей, потому что за интернетом будущее, а интернет это кабели), а в книге описаны далеко не все его достижения, в той же википедии список гораздо больше.
-1 звезда лишь за те пару скучных глав, которые я пролистал, не вчитываясь.
В 22 года основал с Биллом Гейтсом компанию Microsoft. В 28 компания выпускает MS-DOS и захватывает рынок операционных систем. Пол становится одним из самых богатых людей мира. Вы начинаете думать, что это книга про Microsoft, как вдруг Пол, не выдержав сложного характера Билла Гейтса, уходит из компании, забрав четверть ее акций. Ему 30 лет, у него нет работы, но зато есть примерно бесконечные деньги. Впереди еще 50% книги и тут начинается самое интересное. В последующих главах Пол:
- вспомнив о своей детской мечте, покупает баскетбольный клуб Portland Trail Blazers, собирает там звезд NBA, но они все оказываются эгоманьяками со сложными характерами, не способными ужиться друг с другом, и команда так и не добивается значимых успехов;
- поддавшись на уговоры администрации Сиэттла, берет под свое опекунство местный футбольный клуб Seattle Seahawks, спасает его от банкротства, добивается постройки ему нового крутого стадиона;
- начинает развивать космический туризм (в 1996 году!), финансирует SpaceShipOne - первый коммерческий космический корабль. После успешных испытаний технологию приобретает Ричард Брэнсон для своей Virgin Galactic. В результате в 2021 году Брэнсон слетал к нижней границе космоса на корабле семейства SpaceShipTwo;
- основывает киностудию Vulkan Productions, чьи фильмы номинируются на Оскар и иногда даже его получают;
- финансирует изучение мозга, открывает институт нейронаук (Allen Institute for Brain Science), который вскоре выпускает первые атласы мозга мыши и человека;
- покупает компанию Ticketmaster и убеждает ее основателя перейти на онлайн-продажу билетов. Основатель долго сопротивляется и говорит, что это убьет его бизнес, в результате это его спасает;
- к концу книги совсем перестает стесняться и просто целую главу хвастается своей яхтой (конечно же у нее есть своя статья в википедии). Ну и заслуженно в общем-то хвалится: чтоб вы понимали, с этой яхты стартуют 2 подводных лодки, одна вмещает 8 человек, а вторая никого не вмещает, но оснащена видеокамерой и управляется удаленно.
... и это я еще опустил некоторые, не самые интересные главы (например, главу про то как он увлекся бизнесом по производству кабелей, потому что за интернетом будущее, а интернет это кабели), а в книге описаны далеко не все его достижения, в той же википедии список гораздо больше.
-1 звезда лишь за те пару скучных глав, которые я пролистал, не вчитываясь.
tjmcq's review against another edition
4.0
Early part of the book was a little slow for me as it was a little to “tech” for me but the mid/late chapter were terrific. Overall really enjoyed the book and made me want to meet the man and get to know him personally.
aerosif's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
A great auto-biography, well written and detailed of Paul Allens' life. Great for anyone interested in computers or an inspiring story.
conwaydean's review against another edition
5.0
As the news of Paul Allen's death broke in the papers, I was finishing this memoir - which was sad to hear, after reading of his accomplishments and philanthropic focus. Definitely worth reading.
rob53's review against another edition
4.0
Being the same age as Paul Allen it was fascinating to relive events through his eyes. The background of Micro soft was interesting. It is interesting to read about failures from a person who would be considered wildly successful by most measures.
santosh's review against another edition
4.0
What I got out of the book:
-The factors during his childhood that led to his intelligence, curiosity, and passion.
-The fascinating history of the development of Microsoft, and the best firsthand account possible of Bill Gates. Paul Allen is a pretty relatable guy, so it's very interesting to read about Gates from his point of view.
-His projects and investments after Microsoft. He goes into detail about the setup and execution of several projects, many of which have resulted in some of the most biggest scientific developments in Modern history.
Overall I had a great time reading this book. I noticed it came out in 2011 which is the year Steve Jobs passed away, and also when his book came out, so it might have been overshadowed a little.
The book may not be for everyone. In the first half, he can get quite technical about computer stuff which may bore people who are not into that stuff. I would recommend this book to those who have a strong passion for technology and technological history. However, other parts of the book, particularly the development of Microsoft and his insight into Bill Gates, would still be very fascinating for a larger audience.
-The factors during his childhood that led to his intelligence, curiosity, and passion.
-The fascinating history of the development of Microsoft, and the best firsthand account possible of Bill Gates. Paul Allen is a pretty relatable guy, so it's very interesting to read about Gates from his point of view.
-His projects and investments after Microsoft. He goes into detail about the setup and execution of several projects, many of which have resulted in some of the most biggest scientific developments in Modern history.
Overall I had a great time reading this book. I noticed it came out in 2011 which is the year Steve Jobs passed away, and also when his book came out, so it might have been overshadowed a little.
The book may not be for everyone. In the first half, he can get quite technical about computer stuff which may bore people who are not into that stuff. I would recommend this book to those who have a strong passion for technology and technological history. However, other parts of the book, particularly the development of Microsoft and his insight into Bill Gates, would still be very fascinating for a larger audience.
stylessantosh's review
4.0
What I got out of the book:
-The factors during his childhood that led to his intelligence, curiosity, and passion.
-The fascinating history of the development of Microsoft, and the best firsthand account possible of Bill Gates. Paul Allen is a pretty relatable guy, so it's very interesting to read about Gates from his point of view.
-His projects and investments after Microsoft. He goes into detail about the setup and execution of several projects, many of which have resulted in some of the most biggest scientific developments in Modern history.
Overall I had a great time reading this book. I noticed it came out in 2011 which is the year Steve Jobs passed away, and also when his book came out, so it might have been overshadowed a little.
The book may not be for everyone. In the first half, he can get quite technical about computer stuff which may bore people who are not into that stuff. I would recommend this book to those who have a strong passion for technology and technological history. However, other parts of the book, particularly the development of Microsoft and his insight into Bill Gates, would still be very fascinating for a larger audience.
-The factors during his childhood that led to his intelligence, curiosity, and passion.
-The fascinating history of the development of Microsoft, and the best firsthand account possible of Bill Gates. Paul Allen is a pretty relatable guy, so it's very interesting to read about Gates from his point of view.
-His projects and investments after Microsoft. He goes into detail about the setup and execution of several projects, many of which have resulted in some of the most biggest scientific developments in Modern history.
Overall I had a great time reading this book. I noticed it came out in 2011 which is the year Steve Jobs passed away, and also when his book came out, so it might have been overshadowed a little.
The book may not be for everyone. In the first half, he can get quite technical about computer stuff which may bore people who are not into that stuff. I would recommend this book to those who have a strong passion for technology and technological history. However, other parts of the book, particularly the development of Microsoft and his insight into Bill Gates, would still be very fascinating for a larger audience.