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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I find Scott Galloway to be entertaining because he’s so opinionated but this book is basically a series of blog posts that have been pulled into a paperback. Unfortunately what can be entertaining or provocative in a short blog post because exhausting to read in a book form. The persuasive essay you has to write in high school? This is like, but an entire book.
I don’t disagree with some of the points he makes but this was just too over the top.
I don’t disagree with some of the points he makes but this was just too over the top.
3 Stars
*An interesting but disordered look at some of the top companies in the world*
The Four was on the list of recommended reading at my work. Since I try to keep up on reading related to my field, and in hope of having something other than the weather to discuss at company events, I am working my way through that list.
This book provides a brief background on each company, their current business areas, and the ways in which they are growing and what that means for consumers and the economy. It is informative, but it also lacks focus and effectiveness.
One problem is that Galloway doesn’t stick to one metaphor. He has the whole horsemen of the apocalypse thing. Then there is his overly reductive view about all purchases being driven by subconscious primal urges for survival and sex. There were other metaphors thrown in higgledy-piggledy. It all became too muddled. Mixed metaphors do not make a strong message. The author goes for sensationalism.
The book also isn’t balanced. Some sections were dry bombardments of facts. Other sections dissolved into tangential rants. Galloway includes anecdotal experiences. He also has no qualms about piling on the self-promotion.
Another problem is that Galloway doesn’t have much of a likeability factor. And he is upfront about that. When people start throwing around words like “irreverent” to describe someone that is usually code for “rude.” Galloway seems smart, but he also seems like a total jerk. And he was trying so hard to be cool and shocking. But really, it takes more than swear words to impress me.
Galloway did remind me a bit of a professor I had in college. That professor also liked to swear a lot to shock people and was known for going off on tangential rants. His lectures were always entertaining. I learned about the proper use of Yiddish swearwords and the origin of the middle finger hand gesture. I did not, however, learn much about the actual intended coursework: The History of American Slavery. Like that course, I’m not sure how much I actually learned from this book. I would have gotten more out of a calmer and more rational book rather than the sensationalism and self-promotion featured in this book.
I’m glad I read the book, but I can’t point to any particular epiphany or live-changing words of wisdom. I think everyone, regardless of their field, should be aware of just how much market share (of multiple markets) that these companies are controlling. Because what these companies do has a HUGE impact on global economy. And that impact is only going to grow as “The Four” continue to cannibalize markets. This is a decent book if you want an overview of these companies and how they are changing all commerce. But The Four seems more impactful as a consumer guild than as the advertised business/career guide book.
RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 3 Stars
Writing Style: 3 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Attention to Details: 3 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 3 Stars
Objectivity: 2 Stars
*An interesting but disordered look at some of the top companies in the world*
The Four was on the list of recommended reading at my work. Since I try to keep up on reading related to my field, and in hope of having something other than the weather to discuss at company events, I am working my way through that list.
This book provides a brief background on each company, their current business areas, and the ways in which they are growing and what that means for consumers and the economy. It is informative, but it also lacks focus and effectiveness.
One problem is that Galloway doesn’t stick to one metaphor. He has the whole horsemen of the apocalypse thing. Then there is his overly reductive view about all purchases being driven by subconscious primal urges for survival and sex. There were other metaphors thrown in higgledy-piggledy. It all became too muddled. Mixed metaphors do not make a strong message. The author goes for sensationalism.
The book also isn’t balanced. Some sections were dry bombardments of facts. Other sections dissolved into tangential rants. Galloway includes anecdotal experiences. He also has no qualms about piling on the self-promotion.
Another problem is that Galloway doesn’t have much of a likeability factor. And he is upfront about that. When people start throwing around words like “irreverent” to describe someone that is usually code for “rude.” Galloway seems smart, but he also seems like a total jerk. And he was trying so hard to be cool and shocking. But really, it takes more than swear words to impress me.
Galloway did remind me a bit of a professor I had in college. That professor also liked to swear a lot to shock people and was known for going off on tangential rants. His lectures were always entertaining. I learned about the proper use of Yiddish swearwords and the origin of the middle finger hand gesture. I did not, however, learn much about the actual intended coursework: The History of American Slavery. Like that course, I’m not sure how much I actually learned from this book. I would have gotten more out of a calmer and more rational book rather than the sensationalism and self-promotion featured in this book.
I’m glad I read the book, but I can’t point to any particular epiphany or live-changing words of wisdom. I think everyone, regardless of their field, should be aware of just how much market share (of multiple markets) that these companies are controlling. Because what these companies do has a HUGE impact on global economy. And that impact is only going to grow as “The Four” continue to cannibalize markets. This is a decent book if you want an overview of these companies and how they are changing all commerce. But The Four seems more impactful as a consumer guild than as the advertised business/career guide book.
RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 3 Stars
Writing Style: 3 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Attention to Details: 3 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 3 Stars
Objectivity: 2 Stars
medium-paced
For me this book can be divided into two narratives:
- Good and detailed insight into how The Big Four operate and how they got to the top of their game.
- The author's rant on how they (Apple/Facebook/Amazon/Google) represent everything that's wrong with the world.
I really liked the first part, but didn't appreciate the second part as much. The author has some not so flattering things to say about The Big Four or The Four Horseman as he calls them, some of them true. But, overall this feels like the author has written this book to settle a few scores, (he mentions early on how some of his business ventures were unsuccessful because of The Four) as opposed to actually concentrating on the topic at hand.
Also, it's ironic that me and so many others have purchased this book on Amazon :D
- Good and detailed insight into how The Big Four operate and how they got to the top of their game.
- The author's rant on how they (Apple/Facebook/Amazon/Google) represent everything that's wrong with the world.
I really liked the first part, but didn't appreciate the second part as much. The author has some not so flattering things to say about The Big Four or The Four Horseman as he calls them, some of them true. But, overall this feels like the author has written this book to settle a few scores, (he mentions early on how some of his business ventures were unsuccessful because of The Four) as opposed to actually concentrating on the topic at hand.
Also, it's ironic that me and so many others have purchased this book on Amazon :D
Truly an insightful and thought-provoking book that will expose you to the inner workings of modern business in silicon valley
A very depressing book from a techno surf's point of view. Clearly written with snappy graphics. A little too much on the bro attitude with the purposefully casual (but ocassional) swearing. Maybe better used as a supplement to the author's talks. As depressing as it is, good to know about the coming death of the middle class in the digital age. Sigh, might be too sad right now.
(Oh, GREAT book cover design. Sold this book to me.)
(Oh, GREAT book cover design. Sold this book to me.)
Great writing and I learned a lot, just wasn’t a topic I’m super interested in.
The author provides some OK narratives on the big four (Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple) but all through some anecdotes or overstretched, often remotely relevant facts. For example he stipulates that homo-sapiens were hunter gatherers (a fact) hence they like shopping and physical stores (gathering in this age), and builds a chapter on this.