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labeet's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting. But guess i should either have read it when it first came out or be a person who reads fewer articles about this stuff. There weren't much I hadn't heard before. Must remember to read new books by the top authors in the field as they come out!
jentastic76's review against another edition
3.0
This book took me a while to get through - but that's probably my own fault for not reading it right when it was published. Waiting two years post publishing to read means that a great deal of the book was out of date. Jeff Jarvis even brings up how publishing is going to be left in the dust due to the immediacy of the internet and I can see what he meant. A few of the sites and companies he mentioned in his book have changed so dramatically that his examples are out-dated.
However, the general message of the book remains current - you just have to see through the specific examples and take the nuggets of advice. People are getting information from different sources than they have in previous decades and because of this we're thinking differnetly and reacting differently - and businesses will have to adapt to those changes to stay current. It's a good reminder of how the world has changed and what needs to be done to stay current and operate in a way that makes sense in a fast-paced google world.
However, the general message of the book remains current - you just have to see through the specific examples and take the nuggets of advice. People are getting information from different sources than they have in previous decades and because of this we're thinking differnetly and reacting differently - and businesses will have to adapt to those changes to stay current. It's a good reminder of how the world has changed and what needs to be done to stay current and operate in a way that makes sense in a fast-paced google world.
in_between_pages's review against another edition
3.0
It should be 3.5 stars out of 5 (or somewhere between 3-4 stars).
In this book, author Jeff Harvis of BuzzMachine.com, discusses the concept of "Googlethink". He takes Google and studies what made today's huge company, an enormously successful organization and how that success can be transferred to other industries.
The book is divided into 2 parts. The first of which is the answer to "What/Why?" as in "What/Why is Google successful?". Jeff discusses the concepts of "Googlethink" and "Googlejuice". He also suggests that Google is a platform for success. Being a "platform" for other people to improve on and adopting the collaborative open-source mindset is what got it to be where it is today. He also explains and touches on his personal first rule which shows the relationship between Control and Trust. A few other ideas are also explored.
In the second part, Jeff provides some examples of the various services/products in our world that can truly benefit from the Googlethink way of doing things. Airlines, cola companies, hospitals, restaurants, media, etc. can all adopt the Google mindset of openness and collaboration which will ultimately transform these services into platforms of success by keeping customers and users involved. Although some ideas seem far-fetched. It's the idea that counts.
An enjoyable read, especially the second part of the book which answers the title's question.
In this book, author Jeff Harvis of BuzzMachine.com, discusses the concept of "Googlethink". He takes Google and studies what made today's huge company, an enormously successful organization and how that success can be transferred to other industries.
The book is divided into 2 parts. The first of which is the answer to "What/Why?" as in "What/Why is Google successful?". Jeff discusses the concepts of "Googlethink" and "Googlejuice". He also suggests that Google is a platform for success. Being a "platform" for other people to improve on and adopting the collaborative open-source mindset is what got it to be where it is today. He also explains and touches on his personal first rule which shows the relationship between Control and Trust. A few other ideas are also explored.
In the second part, Jeff provides some examples of the various services/products in our world that can truly benefit from the Googlethink way of doing things. Airlines, cola companies, hospitals, restaurants, media, etc. can all adopt the Google mindset of openness and collaboration which will ultimately transform these services into platforms of success by keeping customers and users involved. Although some ideas seem far-fetched. It's the idea that counts.
An enjoyable read, especially the second part of the book which answers the title's question.
alanvonlanthen's review against another edition
3.0
Brilliant! I thought I understood almost everything about how and why Google's turning the world upside down, well no, actually, I had (and still have) a lot to learn... I've realized that Jarvis probably only unveils the tip of the iceberg. Worth every page. Brilliantly documented, very well written, a very mind-opening and instructive pleasure. Highly recommended!
davefoolery's review against another edition
2.0
I thought this was going to be more about Google and less about how other industries should be like Google. It was interesting at times, stressing openness, innovation, and connection, but also kind of repetitive. Jarvis is probably on to something and I think a lot of Google's concepts are applicable to other industries, but there wasn't a lot to get excited about. Except for that one mention of Adrian...
bpbailey's review against another edition
4.0
this book is a must read if you are trying to understand the the economics of the internet. WWGD works best laying out the history and the mechanics of how Google and the "link economy" work.
like many other reviewers the 2nd half of the book was more problematic (applying the "google way" to various other markets and institutions (like education and government) the book is weakest at this type of "future tripping" and you really wouldn't be missing much if you cherry picked the topics you were interested in.
like many other reviewers the 2nd half of the book was more problematic (applying the "google way" to various other markets and institutions (like education and government) the book is weakest at this type of "future tripping" and you really wouldn't be missing much if you cherry picked the topics you were interested in.
corymogk's review against another edition
3.0
Somewhat dated but some good questions on disrupting existing business and process
readr_joe's review against another edition
4.0
This is really two books in one. The first half: all about Google, who they are and what they and how they do it. The second half: techno-utopianism, as presented by the author, and the wonderful and fantastical things that could happen if everybody did things the way he believes they ought to be done, with a free and open internet and sharing of all information.
aranthe02's review against another edition
2.0
Dated and shallow: at least for someone who has some knowledge of the internet. This feels like a things friedman book.
jhodsden's review against another edition
3.0
Where many others have failed, Google has survived in the age of the internet. More importantly it has led by taking full advantage of the new medium. Not only has the company created an effective business model, but it has changed the way we think of information. Jeff Jarvis, who writes on media and news at Buzzmachine.com, explores the company's leadership in shaping the assumptions in the new culture in his book, “What Would Google Do?”. However, Jarvis does not rely on corporate documents such as “Ten Things Google Has Found to be True.” Instead, Jarvis generalizes his own rules and principles based on his own observations of the company. Then, in the most interesting section of the book, Jarvis asks, “What would Google do?” if we applied those principles to existing businesses, industries, and organizations.
Jarvis suggests that organizations who follow Google's lead will empower their clients, partnering with them. They will not seek to be everything to everyone, but they will become the platform for conversation and community. Rather than seek the highest price that the market will bear, they will seek the lowest. They will even be willing to give their services away. Organizations will focus on their purpose rather than a product, a technique, or a cash cow. The book pushes the reader to application through numerous helpful examples. I was constantly thinking about how the Google model would apply to a friend's business, a service club of which I am a member, or even the church that I serve.
Granted, my perspective will have minimal appeal, but my only real disappointment with the book is Jarvis' religious outlook. In the book, Jarvis acknowledges with a smug satisfaction that the book title plays off the “What would Jesus do?” theology of a few years ago. Unfortunately, he never delves into why his joke is so funny. Likewise, he spends only a paragraph applying Google's principles to the practice of religion. God seems to be merely a foil to Steve Jobs and Apple. Where God can learn from Google, Apple transcends the Google paradigm.
From Jarvis' blog, I have learned that he considers himself a liberal Presbyterian. Even his sister is a minister. As a result, I thought he might take more seriously how faith communities might learn from Google. Despite this criticism, I enjoyed the book and its analysis of our current culture.
Jarvis suggests that organizations who follow Google's lead will empower their clients, partnering with them. They will not seek to be everything to everyone, but they will become the platform for conversation and community. Rather than seek the highest price that the market will bear, they will seek the lowest. They will even be willing to give their services away. Organizations will focus on their purpose rather than a product, a technique, or a cash cow. The book pushes the reader to application through numerous helpful examples. I was constantly thinking about how the Google model would apply to a friend's business, a service club of which I am a member, or even the church that I serve.
Granted, my perspective will have minimal appeal, but my only real disappointment with the book is Jarvis' religious outlook. In the book, Jarvis acknowledges with a smug satisfaction that the book title plays off the “What would Jesus do?” theology of a few years ago. Unfortunately, he never delves into why his joke is so funny. Likewise, he spends only a paragraph applying Google's principles to the practice of religion. God seems to be merely a foil to Steve Jobs and Apple. Where God can learn from Google, Apple transcends the Google paradigm.
From Jarvis' blog, I have learned that he considers himself a liberal Presbyterian. Even his sister is a minister. As a result, I thought he might take more seriously how faith communities might learn from Google. Despite this criticism, I enjoyed the book and its analysis of our current culture.