How Google Works

Eric Schmidt · Jonathan Rosenberg

Sep 2014 · Sold by Grand Central Publishing

About this ebook

Seasoned Google executives Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg provide an insider's guide to Google, from its business history and disruptive corporate strategy to developing a new managment philosophy and creating a corporate culture where innovation and creativity thrive.

Seasoned Google executives Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg provide an insider's guide to Google, from its business history and disruptive corporate strategy to developing a new managment philosophy and creating a corporate culture where innovation and creativity thrive.



Google Executive Chairman and ex-CEO Eric Schmidt and former SVP of Products Jonathan Rosenberg came to Google over a decade ago as proven technology executives. At the time, the company was already well-known for doing things differently, reflecting the visionary-and frequently contrarian-principles of founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. If Eric and Jonathan were going to succeed, they realized they would have to relearn everything they thought they knew about management and business.

Today, Google is a global icon that regularly pushes the boundaries of innovation in a variety of fields. How Google Works is an entertaining, page-turning primer containing lessons that Eric and Jonathan learned as they helped build the company. The authors explain how technology has shifted the balance of power from companies to consumers, and that the only way to succeed in this ever-changing landscape is to create superior products and attract a new breed of multifaceted employees whom Eric and Jonathan dub "smart creatives."

Covering topics including corporate culture, strategy, talent, decision-making, communication, innovation, and dealing with disruption, the authors illustrate management maxims ("Consensus requires dissension," "Exile knaves but fight for divas," "Think 10X, not 10%") with numerous insider anecdotes from Google's history, many of which are shared here for the first time.
In an era when everything is speeding up, the best way for businesses to succeed is to attract smart-creative people and give them an environment where they can thrive at scale. How Google Works explains how to do just that.

Ratings and reviews

It is heartening to read your review Marvin. Unfortunately, your tenure at Google represents less than 30% of the time some of us have spent cultivating earnest disillusion, disrespect, and even dislike for Google. This is not the time for a puff piece. An Apology is more apt. I'll read this book, but my feeling is that the only thing Eric Schmidt could write that has the slightest chance of amending my low opinion, is a fat cheque. Google's role in the demise of my business is considerable.

Come on ... Try and get something right. I buy my books through Google, I subscribe to Ray Kurzweil's newsletter, where he often promotes books, again they are not available on Google.. I just don't understand unless there are some restrictive laws in the way which like I said I don't understand.

I'm a 4 year Googler and people ask me all the time what it's like to work here. It's been so hard to explain the culture, insight and magic that makes Google... GOOGLE, but Eric and JR's new book, "How Google Works" captures it perfectly. It's not only HOW we do things but WHY we make certain decisions, WHO the types of people we hire are and what technology shifts are leading the next evolution of Google's future. I'm clearly biased but as someone who as previously worked at Nike, Nickelodeon and a couple of startups, Google is truly a unique and magical place. Whether you're a senior executive leading your organization into the future or a college grad preparing for a career in the 21st century, How Google Works is a fun and insightful read.

About the author

Eric Schmidt served as Google's CEO from 2001 to 2011 and transformed it into a global technology leader. He is now Google's executive chairman.

Jonathan Rosenberg joined Google in 2002 and managed the design and development of the company's consumer, advertiser, and partner products, including Search, Ads, Gmail, Android, Apps, and Chrome. He is currently an advisor to Google CEO Larry Page.