4 ms·

I read the book. He seems like an extremely unlikable guy, what with all his cheesy pick-up stories and his hatred of ad-blockers. However, all-in-all, it was

I read the book. He seems like an extremely unlikable guy, what with all his cheesy pick-up stories and his hatred of ad-blockers. However, all-in-all, it was a great read. I liked his take on Zuckerberg thinking of himself as Alexander -- "Google delenda est" -- or the vignette where the Facebook VP asked "What is Facebook?", and the perky-possibly-a-plant intern responded "it's not your social network, it's your personal newspaper!". It's worth trudging through the annoying self-promoting stuff for the insider takes imo.

lazzlazzlazz 10y ago
The "insider takes" are comical exaggerations and little else. The self-promoting isn't a "veneer" to look past - it's the substance.
- RodericDay 10y ago
  > I work in an open office, and have been to Facebook's open office campus many times. I love working in an open office, and think Facebook's campus looks excellent. > Facebook Messenger has all of those advantages and even more, since your name is your identity and not something that requires exchange like a phone number. > These are shitty glasses that are already being billed as <$150. (On Snapchat) > Is there any evidence for this claim that a Tweet has more "cultural significance" than a Facebook post with objectively higher engagement? You seem like one of the "true believers" he talks about.
  - lazzlazzlazz 10y ago
    I work in the Bay Area and I have opinions on technology - a stunning indictment.
- cookiecaper 10y ago
  People are often repulsed by those who are willing to tell them the frank truth, but these people are indeed among the most valuable input sources available in life. Self-promoters are worth studying because they understand and willfully exploit elements of the human decision-making apparatus that most people don't like to discuss, because it's not fun to admit how unsophisticated we truly are.
lostlogin 10y ago
His similes take it past my pain point. >Managing a combined deal between Facebook and Twitter was like trying to engineer simultaneous orgasm between a premature ejaculator and a frigid woman: nigh impossible, fraught with danger, and requiring a very steady hand.
- RodericDay 10y ago
  The juvenile jokes are unbearable, but his reckless bridge-burning makes it just barely worthwhile to get through the whole thing. I wouldn't give him money for it, let's put it that way. If you find it used, though, it's worth a read.
- hockeybias 10y ago
  I had to look up similies, but you are spot on. I have read 3/4 of it and I can't quite seem to finish it... I find the quality of the writing and his style of writing to both be all over the map.

lazzlazzlazz 10y ago

The "insider takes" are comical exaggerations and little else. The self-promoting isn't a "veneer" to look past - it's the substance.

RodericDay 10y ago
> I work in an open office, and have been to Facebook's open office campus many times. I love working in an open office, and think Facebook's campus looks excellent. > Facebook Messenger has all of those advantages and even more, since your name is your identity and not something that requires exchange like a phone number. > These are shitty glasses that are already being billed as <$150. (On Snapchat) > Is there any evidence for this claim that a Tweet has more "cultural significance" than a Facebook post with objectively higher engagement? You seem like one of the "true believers" he talks about.
- lazzlazzlazz 10y ago
  I work in the Bay Area and I have opinions on technology - a stunning indictment.
cookiecaper 10y ago
People are often repulsed by those who are willing to tell them the frank truth, but these people are indeed among the most valuable input sources available in life. Self-promoters are worth studying because they understand and willfully exploit elements of the human decision-making apparatus that most people don't like to discuss, because it's not fun to admit how unsophisticated we truly are.

lostlogin 10y ago

His similes take it past my pain point. >Managing a combined deal between Facebook and Twitter was like trying to engineer simultaneous orgasm between a premature ejaculator and a frigid woman: nigh impossible, fraught with danger, and requiring a very steady hand.

RodericDay 10y ago
The juvenile jokes are unbearable, but his reckless bridge-burning makes it just barely worthwhile to get through the whole thing. I wouldn't give him money for it, let's put it that way. If you find it used, though, it's worth a read.
hockeybias 10y ago
I had to look up similies, but you are spot on. I have read 3/4 of it and I can't quite seem to finish it... I find the quality of the writing and his style of writing to both be all over the map.