What Would Google Do ... A Review

I'm making an effort to review the books I read on here, whether or not they relate explicitly to education law (this one does only tangentially). I have been reading heavily into technology lately and we return to that theme today. So you know, I get a lot of my tech. book tips from Scott McLeod, and this one is no different. I'm hoping his review is upcoming and I'll be interested to compare notes. 

Today: What Would Google Do, Jeff Jarvis, 2009, @$20 on Amazon.

The Bad:

1. I found the author very annoying. Sometimes the author gets in the way, and this is one of those cases. Jeff Jarvis didn't change the world, Google did, but Jeff seems to forget that from time to time. Also, you can easily tell that Jarvis is not a digital native. Some things he still doesn't seem to intuitively "get." Also, all his personal problems with Dell ... sorry, I'll stop, but you'll notice it as well.
2. Impractical at points. What Would Google Do ... to Toilet Paper? Just forget it. 
3. Enough with the "Google ____" ... it certainly got old. Googlejuice? [Shaking head]
4. Jumpy at places. Toward the end he starts running through industries too quickly and not effectively enough.
5. Some of his points end in socialism ... he tries to say otherwise, but its hard not to see how that happens. Too many of his points are based on "advertising" as the only revenue model. That is just not going to work in a capitalistic marketplace. Someone has to be making money on "atoms" or knowledge or something. Not everything can be free all the time and still call it capitalism. Last I checked, Twitter is still losing money, even though it is the hottest free thing going.

The Good:

1. A plethora of intelligent points and a pretty easy read. Its quick and painless if you can ignore Jarvis' self-congratulating style. 
2. "Be a Platform" - One of the best take-away points and I think either online or offline. Letting others build off of your work is a sure-fire influencing strategy. 
3. Tap into existing networks - Don't go through the trouble to build new networks when tapping into existing ones is so much easier. Make that network's life easier and you have an Internet winner.
4. "Inverse Relationship Between Control and Trust" - I think this is a good point for today's world, but a better point is that there is a direct relationship between trust and the control that "I" have. When I am helping to control an organization, obviously I feel more trust in it.
5. Protect Innovation. Obviously in my job I love my 1 day a week that is my time, which I can use for innovation (or other things). But, too often we overwork the very folks that have the potential for innovation. Assistant Profs obviously come to mind, but new attorneys in law firms, residents at hospitals, etc. 
6. Google U. - I like the points here. Stuff that is sort of "duh" to digital natives in academia, but maybe it will convert some immigrants.

The Recommendation:

I'd spend the money to go get this one. I did it as an audiobook over the Labor Day weekend and it was a good way to pass the boringness that is southern Indiana. Jarvis makes a multitude of good points and I found myself thinking of the application of those points to my life and industry all the way. I was inspired enough to perhaps even write a short article about it. So, I think the Amazon score of 4 out of 5 stars is about right, but it is an excellent pickup for a brainstorming session for your own organization.

Comments

[Russ Goerend]

I read _Free: The Future of a Radical Price_ as an audiobook and it sounds like the books were similar. I would say Free is worth a read, as well, as it's not *as* Google-centric, although it's hard not to focus on Google when you're writing about free in 2009.

Thanks for the review. I plan on reading it sometime. I'll be interested to see if I see the "digital natives" aspects you mentioned. I'm not much of a believer in the digital natives/immigrants labels.