The four : the hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google

Business. Technology. Nonfiction. HTML:NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER USA TODAY BESTSELLER Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google are the four most influential companies on the planet. Just about everyone thinks they know how they got there. Just about everyone is wrong. For all that�??s been written about the Four over the last two decades, no one has captured their power and staggering success as insightfully as Scott Galloway. Instead of buying the myths these companies broadcast, Galloway asks fundamental questions. How did the Four infiltrate our lives so completely that they�??re almost impossible to avoid (or boycott)? Why does the stock market forgive them for sins that would destroy other firms? And as they race to become the world�??s first trillion-dollar company, can anyone challenge them? In the same irreverent style that has made him one of the world�??s most celebrated business professors, Galloway deconstructs the strategies of the Four that lurk beneath their shiny veneers. He shows how they manipulate the fundamental emotional needs that have driven us since our ancestors lived in caves, at a speed and scope others can�??t match. And he reveals how you can apply the lessons of their ascent to your own business or career. Whether you want to compete with them, do business with them, or simply live in the world they dominate, you need to u… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member brianinbuffalo

If you're looking for an insightful, interesting and even entertaining look at the ever-changing digital economy, Galloway's fascinating book is "it." The author's extensive experience in marketing/business bolsters his credibility -- even if readers don't ultimately embrace all of us premises. His

writing is lively, even though some sections border on becoming rants (I'm no Puritan by any stretch, but the multiple F-bombs he drops to emphasize his passionate convictions seem out of place and borderline unprofessional.) But I nitpick. "The Four" is a riveting work that reshaped many of my conceptions about Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google. It was one of the fastest "reads" in a year. Readers who have even a tenuous interest in how Goliaths in the tech industry are changing the world will find the book well worth their time.

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LibraryThing member writemoves

I first became familiar with the author Scott Galloway on a podcast called Pivot. He and Kara Swisher provide lively an interesting conversation about Technology, Business, culture and politics. I really enjoyed his book and his analysis about Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google. He provided a

concise history of the four companies and some insights into their CEOs, management and business practices.

Surprisingly enough, the best chapter in the book was chapter 10 titled The Four and You which provided some excellent career advice that I do not find expressed in other articles, essays and books.

I like this one quote, “In sum, it's never been a better time to be exceptional, or a worse time to be average.” Galloway offer some tips on how to be exceptional in a disruptive economy.

Very entertaining book. Galloway is not afraid to express his opinions. He has the background and experience to offer exceptional analysis. He also provides a glimpse into the future regarding the four companies and how they will affect us going forward. Nice sense of humor too...

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LibraryThing member MrsBond

Reads like a one way conversation with the author in an off Main Street bar. He’s had a few, has some very strong opinions, and is a little riled up. The writing style was off putting and at times felt unprofessional. I found myself skimming paragraphs, and sometimes full sections. While there

were some interesting insights, I just didn’t like it.

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