In the Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives By Steven Levy

In the Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives was written by Steven Levy and narrated by L. J. Ganser.
 
Have you ever wondered how Google got where it is today? Then this could be the book for you. With a run time of nearly 20 hours, Plex goes in depth into the world of Google – sometime a little too far.
 
I liked the way Steven Levy broke down this book. There is a section for each area of Google’s development; including Google’s beginnings, how it started AdSense, the acquisition of Android and YouTube, etc. With the level of detail included in this book, Levy must of had nearly full access to Google. I was even surprised by the last chapter which detailed Google’s shortcomings and projects that failed.
 
There is also a interview by the author of Marissa Mayer, Google’s Vice President of Location and Local Services. The interview only adds a few facts to the book, but it is a nice perk on an audio book.
 
L. J. Ganser had a tough challenge with this book as a core history book and the material can get a little dry. I find the topic very interesting, but I have to admit that from time to time my attention did wander. With over 115 books under Ganser’s belt (according to Audible), I would have to guess the those episodes were due more to the author than the narrator.
 
If you love tech and how the biggest players develop or just want to know more about Google, you will probably like this book. If you’re the type that loves new gadgets and programs but couldn’t care less how they came about, you would probably be better served to avoid this book.
 
Story gets 7 out of 10.
Narration gets 8 out of 10.
 
This book is available at Audible and Amazon
 
 
Happy Listening
 
My next book is Robert J. Sawyer’s WWW Trilogy

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