One Click

Jeff Bezos and the Rise of Amazon.com

By: Richard L. Brandt

Narrated by: Neil Shah

Length: 5 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

An insightful look at how Amazon really works and how its founder and CEO makes it happen....

Amazon’s business model is deceptively simple: make online shopping so easy and convenient that customers won’t think twice. It can almost be summed up by the button on every page: Buy now with one click.

Why has Amazon been so successful? Much of it has to do with Jeff Bezos, the CEO and founder, whose business strategy and unique combination of character traits have driven Amazon to the top of the online retail world. Originally a computer nerd rather than a businessman, he had the vision to capitalize on the untapped online marketplace for bookselling and continues to discover new marketing opportunities, from groceries to auto parts. He’s a calculating machine, energetic, passionate, highly aggressive, and out to radically transform retail.

Through numerous interviews with Amazon employees, competitors, and observers, Richard Brandt has deciphered how Bezos thinks, what drives his actions, and how he makes decisions. Anyone in business can learn a lot from the example of Amazon’s ongoing evolution.

Richard L. Brandt is an award-winning journalist who has been writing about Silicon Valley for more than two decades. He is well known throughout the technology community as a former correspondent for BusinessWeek, where he won a National Magazine Award. He lives in San Francisco.

©2011 Richard L. Brandt (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

Praise for Brandt’s Inside Larry and Sergey’s Brain: “In this mustread for anyone who deals seriously with cyberspace, Brandt has a remarkable profile in presentday innovation and potential.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Good narrative but...

I read the book called The Everything Store before reading this book and I was looking for something different or additional to what I read. One Click is a good narrative of Amazon's and Bezsos beggining and current history but if you want more details I recommend The Everything Store.

love the history and thinking if Jeff.

I didn't find this so much a biography but a light history of Jeff and Amazon. I would like deeper detail

A Nice Overview of a Retail Giant

I love Amazon, so I was interested in giving this book a shot, despite some of the unfavorable reviews. While it doesn't hold a candle to the official Steve Jobs biography, "One Click" is an interesting and entertaining listen.

As many have correctly pointed out, the author failed to examine the success of Amazon Prime. However, the Kindle, the Zappos takeover and many other topics are discussed in sufficient detail. The Steve Jobs book did an excellent job of detailing Jobs's upbringing and what influenced his personality and leadership style. This book does that for Jeff Bezos, but without the same depth. And the reader must keep in mind that almost all of the research and quotes in the book came from secondary research.

I've never listened to this narrator before, but he has a pleasant voice and did a fine job.

Despite it's shortcomings, I recommend that those fascinated by Jeff Bezos and Amazon check this out. It's a quick, easy listen that will, more than likely, provide a deeper understanding of how Jeff Bezos and Amazon work.

Good Listen, light on details

What did you like best about One Click? What did you like least?

I enjoyed the book, it was a good overall summary of Amazon since the start.

I was hoping for more insight and detail regarding the company.

Interesting glimpse into culture of Amazon

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this since it is the best history of Amazon I have found. Seems written by an outsider who only got a glimpse of the secrets of the company but a decent top level summary

What was one of the most memorable moments of One Click?

The description of Bezos trying to cultivate an image of thrift for the company stood out. Especially an example of them buying

Which character – as performed by Neil Shah – was your favorite?

Jeff Bezos my far...interesting guy

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Really thought the writers use of similies was terrible. They really stood out poorly.

Inspiring story of a visionary

Would you consider the audio edition of One Click to be better than the print version?

Have not read the print version

What other book might you compare One Click to and why?

Steve Jobs biography, because it was also an inspiring story of a visionary by content. Of course, Steve Jobs biography was way more detailed and longer, and better written - the story was complete

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Pretty good audiobook. The very ending seemed a bit "rushed" though - maybe because Amazon is a living and expanding company still, but the ending seemed more like stating facts without pulling the story together.

it was OK

good book got a understanding of how Amazon operates. it's some to think about in the future.

a straight forward telling of the Amazon story

straight forward telling of the early Amazon story, but very much in need of an update to cover the past 10-ish years

Dry, but Worthwhile

The narrator drones on a bit, but Jeff Bezos story is really interesting. It's at times hard to decipher what his true talents are, because this book makes it seem like he is good at everything. Which, considering his success he probably is. I work for Audible so this helped me better understand our company's history and in that sense it was truly useful. Amazon is such a large and ubiquitous company that this book really helps you understand in how many different ways Amazon effects us. More importantly it's interesting to gain Jeff's perspective and approach to opportunity. I think that will be useful.

wrote this on my phone sorry for typos

it's always day one

Well detailed history of Jeff Bezos and the company he built, with a clear sense that it ain't over yet. Even with 20/20 hindsight, I think few people saw the power of the web in the way Bezos did.