Book : Accidental Empires How The Boys Of Silicon Valley...

-Titulo Original : Accidental Empires How The Boys Of Silicon Valley Make Their Millions, Battle Foreign Competition, And Still Cant Get A Date

-Fabricante :

Harper Business

-Descripcion Original:

Computer manufacturing is--after cars, energy production and illegal drugs--the largest industry in the world, and its one of the last great success stories in American business. Accidental Empires is the trenchant, vastly readable history of that industry, focusing as much on the astoundingly odd personalities at its core--Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mitch Kapor, etc. and the hacker culture they spawned as it does on the remarkable technology they created. Cringely reveals the manias and foibles of these men (they are always men) with deadpan hilarity and cogently demonstrates how their neuroses have shaped the computer business. But Cringely gives us much more than high-tech voyeurism and insider gossip. From the birth of the transistor to the mid-life crisis of the computer industry, he spins a sweeping, uniquely American saga of creativity and ego that is at once uproarious, shocking and inspiring. Review Robert X. Cringely manages to capture the contradictions and everyday insanity of computer industry empire building, while at the same time chipping away sardonically at the PR campaigns that have built up some very common businesspeople into the household gods of geekdom. Despite some chuckles at the expense of all things nerdy, white, and male in the computer industry, Cringely somehow manages to balance the humor with a genuine appreciation of both the technical and strategic accomplishments of these industry luminaries. Whether youre a hard-boiled Silicon Valley marketing exec fishing for an IPO or just a plain old reader with an interest in business history and anecdotal storytelling, theres something to enjoy here. Review The title is an inspiration, and Cringelys whimsical, matter of fact style--an attribute altogether missing in the urgent, go-go lifestyles of the people he writes about--makes the book itself worth reading. It has a sense of perspective most books about the high-tech priesthood sorely lack.-- USA TodayA wonderfully readable, acerbic and funny tale of Americas most important industry-- Tom PetersCringely writes in a tone thats part Spy Magazine, part Newsweek, and part The Wonder Years.-- Los Angeles TimesAn epic tale. The best book on the subject so far.-- New York Daily NewsA fascinating book . . . well worth the time.-- Sacramento BeeAs compelling and entertaining read as Barbarians at the Gate.-- Roger von Oech From the Back Cover Computer manufacturing is-- after cars, energy production and illegal drugs-- the largest industry in the world, and its one of the last great success stories in American business. Accidental Empires is the trenchant, vastly readable history of that industry, focusing as much on the astoundingly odd personalities at its core-- Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mitch Kapor, etc. and the hacker culture they spawned as it does on the remarkable technology they created. Cringely reveals the manias and foibles of these men (they are always men) with deadpan hilarity and cogently demonstrates how their neuroses have shaped the computer business. But Cringely gives us much more than high-tech voyeurism and insider gossip. From the birth of the transistor to the mid-life crisis of the computer industry, he spins a sweeping, uniquely American saga of creativity and ego that is at once uproarious, shocking and inspiring. About the Author For eight years, Robert X. Cringelys Notes from the Field column appeared weekly in Info World. Currently he can be seen in the public television series Triumph of the Nerds, based on this book. A former Stanford professor and foreign correspondent, he lives in Palo Alto, California. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Chapter OneThe Demo-GodYears ago, when you were a kid and I was a kid, something changed in America. One moment we were players of baseball, voters, readers of books, makers of dinner, arguers. A