AOL.com

How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads, and Made Millions in the War for the Web

Kara Swisher

Recommended By

Book Reviews

Book Synopsis

"AOL.com" by Kara Swisher is a captivating and insightful exploration of the rise and fall of America Online, one of the most iconic Internet companies in history. Swisher, a seasoned technology journalist, provides readers with an inside look into the tumultuous ride that AOL experienced as it battled competitors, navigated the dot-com boom and bust, and ultimately struggled to stay relevant in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

From the company's early beginnings as a pioneering dial-up service provider to its ambitious foray into content creation and acquisition, Swisher delivers a comprehensive analysis of the decisions, successes, and blunders that shaped AOL's journey. Drawing from extensive research and interviews, she uncovers the internal dynamics and strategic missteps that contributed to the company's decline.

Swisher's narrative is not just a corporate history; it also delves into the personal lives and ambitions of AOL's key players, including CEO Steve Case and other influential figures. Through these intricate portraits, readers gain a richer understanding of the individual motivations and management styles that influenced AOL's trajectory.

Moreover, "AOL.com" sheds light on AOL's impact on the broader digital landscape, exploring its role in shaping the Internet as we know it today. Swisher examines how AOL's massive user base and innovative marketing strategies left an indelible mark on online culture and connectivity.

Armed with her insightful reporting, Swisher offers valuable takeaways for entrepreneurs, investors, and technologists alike. "AOL.com" is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Internet and the lessons to be learned from one of its most influential and controversial companies.

Explore More Books

See All
The Scout Mindset
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
The Great Challenge
The Decadent Society
The Power of Relentless
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Competitive Strategy
Blankie
Believe In People
If At Birth You Don't Succeed
No Rules Rules
Hard Landing
The Status Syndrome
Opportunity Knocks
Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits
The Complete Sherlock Holmes
Mapping the Mind
Contrarian Investment Strategies
An Inconvenient Truth
Kill Switch
Race Against The Machine
Judgment in Managerial Decision Making
Leadership the Outward Bound Way
Upheaval
Atlas Shrugged
Dear Leader
Steal Like an Artist
Exponential Organizations
Fortitude
Data-Driven Marketing
The God That Failed
The Blank Swan
Tribe
Lost in Shangri-La
Dear Chairman: Boardroom Battles and the Rise of Shareholder Activism
Seeking Wisdom
Awakening Joy
Stan Smith
The Goal
The Gay Science
Rework
Ice Age
The Little Book of Common Sense Investing
The World Until Yesterday
Last Chance to See
Thank God for Bitcoin
The Lights in the Tunnel
Psychopolitics
Adapt
The Conquest of Gaul
The World For Sale
Walk in Their Shoes
The Ultimate Resource 2
The Future Is Asian
Shantaram
Wake Up to the Joy of You
The Story of Civilization: The Age of Faith
The Yellow Pad
The Line Becomes a River
One Up on Wall Street
Ender's Game
The Peacemaker's Code
The Rise of Superman
Value Investing
Without Their Permission
Consolations
The Storytelling Animal
Dune Messiah
The New One
The Tyrrany of Guilt
The Man Who Solved The Market
The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind
The Idea Factory
The Adventures of Henry Thoreau
The Undoing Project
The Red Decade
Subliminal
Midnight In Chernobyl
Pattern Recognition
Deng Xiaoping and The Transformation of China
Other People's Money
The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali
Defending Beef
The Botany of Desire
I Think, Therefore I Laugh
My Life on the Road
If The Universe Is Teeming With Aliens...Where Is Everybody?
The Making of Prince of Persia
The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers
The Laws of Thermodynamics
Ham on Rye
The Legend of Henry Ford
Francis Crick
The One Sentence Persuasion Course
The New Science of Strong Materials
River Out of Eden
12 Rules For Life
Einstein's Mistakes
Lost Ocean
The Watchman's Rattle