The Cluetrain Manifesto: The End of Business as Usual

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It's a hit!

The book was written 10 years ago and published 9 years ago. And the very factors that the authors recognized in the power of the Internet to crea... (show more)

The book was written 10 years ago and published 9 years ago. And the very factors that the authors recognized in the power of the Internet to create global conversations has made the explosion of social media technologies possible. They totally "got it" a decade ago - well before MySpace, Facebook, Linked-In and Twitter were even conceived of. It's their fundamental concepts about how human beings choose to interact with one another that is the real eye-opener. It's not about the technologies - those will continue to change rapidly. It's about the relationships we want to have with one another - personally, professionally and as consumers. I highly recommend this book, especially to those who are baffled by who is using these social media platforms and what they are using them for. It is so well written, funny, irreverent and engaging, you will find yourself recommending it to others as a "must read." (show less)

 

 

by Catherine S. Read

No, it's a flop!

This book was actually written in 2000, and you can tell that some of the information is dated. However, the core philosophies are quite valid, eve... (show more)

This book was actually written in 2000, and you can tell that some of the information is dated. However, the core philosophies are quite valid, even today. Namely, that people yearn to hear "real" or "human" voice on the internet - drop the "corporate speak" and marketing lingo, and also drop the attitudes behind them. I found it strangely hard to read - it was like reading a 190 page blog-post. :) Of course, I am used to either straight fiction or more technical books - this was neither: more of a philosophical treatise. Decent. (show less)

 

 

by Krista Ray Ehlers

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  I finally finished reading this over the Labor Day weekend. I noticed how relevant this book is almost 10 years after its publication. The book and the manifesto itself address how business is changing in the Internet age. Back in the dark ages, before computers and mass media, commerce was done through conversations between people. The village bazaar with its hustle and bustle is where people met, talked, gossiped, spread news and generally got things done. It was chaotic and informal. ... (show more)

  I finally finished reading this over the Labor Day weekend. I noticed how relevant this book is almost 10 years after its publication. The book and the manifesto itself address how business is changing in the Internet age. Back in the dark ages, before computers and mass media, commerce was done through conversations between people. The village bazaar with its hustle and bustle is where people met, talked, gossiped, spread news and generally got things done. It was chaotic and informal. It was human. Somehow business lost this in the last 50 years.

  I was amazed how much has changed and how little has changed since this came out. Some companies, like Zappos and Amazon, have embraced the notions in the book. Many others are just trying to form fit their old thinking into the new tools. The best part of the book is the story telling and language that doesn't sound like a business book. It makes it easy to relate to the concepts (it doesn't sound like a text book). (show less)

   

   

  by Ron Arden on Sep 09, 2009 at 04:30PM

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  A relic, having been printed in 2000, but I can definitely see how this book had an impact at the time and has shaped business strategy since. However, for me, it carried a tone that was, at times, lecturing and came off as very scientific. If you've read any of my reviews of late, you'll know that right-brained books that allow the back of my head to wander/wonder get better rating from me. Yes, it's my review and I'll write what I want to. So, when the Cluetrain is forcing me to get on ... (show more)

  A relic, having been printed in 2000, but I can definitely see how this book had an impact at the time and has shaped business strategy since. However, for me, it carried a tone that was, at times, lecturing and came off as very scientific. If you've read any of my reviews of late, you'll know that right-brained books that allow the back of my head to wander/wonder get better rating from me. Yes, it's my review and I'll write what I want to. So, when the Cluetrain is forcing me to get on board and I've no choice over my destination, I kinda have one foot on the train, but one foot swinging from the side in case something more interesting comes along.

  "Chat, email, home pages--all reinforce our feeling that not only is it easy to enter into discourse with others, but also that we're by-god entitled to wade into the conversation stream."

  And once we enter into it, we better be authentic, pay attention and prepared for anything to happen. Word.

  This is my 27th book this year on the road to 52 (one per week). You can see all of my reviews at http://bigbadbobby.blogspot.com. (show less)

   

   

  by Bob Roth on Jul 18, 2009 at 01:44PM

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