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
Infinite Powers
Becoming
Subliminal
She Has Her Mother's Laugh
Facing Love Addiction
What is Life?
Nature Via Nurture
Bet With the Best
The Messy Middle
The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty
The Power of Positive Thinking
The Parasitic Mind
The Upanishads
As A Man Thinketh
Focus
Pebbles of Perception
Payoff
The Persian Expedition
The Farming Ladder
To Sell is Human
Expert Political Judgement
The Box
The Mathematics of Politics
A Higher Loyalty
The Omnivore's Dilemma
One Monster After Another
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia
At Home in the Universe
Energy Transitions
Growth
Distress
Influence
Inside Trump's White House
Sperm Wars
Modern Man in Search of a Soul
A Time for New Dreams
The Way of Kings
The Gun Seller
The Cost Of Hope
The Sun Also Rises
The Bias That Divides Us
Built To Last
The Inevitable
Pale Rider
On Writing Well
Technically Food
Understanding Comics
The Search
The 4 Hour Body
The Long Tail
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Barbarian Days
Have Space Suit - Will Travel
Game of Thorns
Peak
The Culture Code
Reboot
The Tartar Steppe
Pasture Perfect
XKCD
How The West Grew Rich
The Bed of Procrustes
The Art Of Doing Science And Engineering
The Compleat Strategyst
The PayPal Wars
Elvis Cole Series
Human Action
Money: Master The Game
Snow Crash
A Peace to End All Peace
Changes in the Land
Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish
Why Buy Bitcoin
Kingpin
Eisenhower
100 Best-Loved Poems
Heaven on Earth
The Araboolies of Liberty Street
Good Profit
Tao Te Ching
Being Wrong
Who's In Charge
Dance to the Tune of Life
Don't Feed the Monkey Mind
The Sleepwalkers
Immortality
Direct Truth
Cryptonomicon
The Courage To Be Disliked
Physics of the Impossible
Against The Gods
Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha
The Book of Nothing
No Easy Day
Inside the Rise of HBO
Discovering Your Personality Type
The Lean Startup
Something Like an Autobiography
The Purple Cow
Wild Swans