- Paperback: 420 pages
- Publisher: Collins; Reprint edition (1 Nov 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0060008768
- ISBN-13: 978-0060008765
- Product Dimensions: 20.3 x 13.7 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 864,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
"Silicon Valley seems to hold an endless fascination for business readers, and there are few more intriguing characters than Larry Ellison, founder and CEO of Oracle Corp., the huge software firm, and reputedly the fifth-richest man in the U.S. Be it the homes he is building, the women the thrice-divorced Ellison is dating or the (frequently none too favorable) comments he makes about his competitors, the self-made billionaire generates a lot of press. In this biography, Wilson, a reporter for the "St. Petersburg Times, " does a solid job of punching holes in the myths that surround Ellison. It turns out that his subject didn't grow up on the streets of Chicago, as he has led some to believe, nor does he have a college degree, let alone the graduate degrees attributed to him. As for the rest of Wilson's take on Ellison, who agreed to be interviewed for the book, the title tells close to all. The author paints a slightly broader picture of his subject, but this update of the "Citizen Kane" legend makes it clear no one is going to accuse Ellison of being self-effacing." --"Publishers Weekly"
"An authorized biography of Oracle's founder and brash billionaire leader. While the title is the funniest line of the book, this is an engaging, humanizing look at a Silicon Valley megalomaniac." -- "Kirkus Reviews, " 10/1/97 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
As the head of the Oracle Software Corporation, Ellison keeps his name firmly in the headlines: Recently he announced his desire to buy Apple Computer (only to change his mind just weeks later) and now he has a place on Apple's board, alongside his friend Steve Jobs. Equally bold are his visionary ideas (the network computer, for example), his public determination to conquer Bill Gates, and his brash, yet immensely appealing personality, which has made him one of the most visible players in Silicon Valley. One of the ways he's done this is by making sure that Oracle software is everywhere you turn: If you withdraw cash from an ATM, that's Oracle at work. If you make an airline reservation, you're experiencing Ellison's impact on today's technology landscape. While Microsoft was busy putting a computer in every home, Ellison was fomenting a revolution at the office, creating faster and better databases for businesses and government agencies. Along the way, as this probing book shows, Ellison developed the skills of a ruthless businessman, who sometimes employed misdirection and half-truths to achieve the success he desired.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
LARRY ELLISON WALKED DOWN THE LONG HALLWAY, HIS SNEAKERS chirping quietly as he approached the living room. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
LARRY ELLISON WALKED DOWN THE LONG HALLWAY, HIS SNEAKERS chirping quietly as he approached the living room. Read the first page
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Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book a must read for anyone who works with Oracle. I have always been intrigued by Larry Ellison and how he made Oracle in to what it is. The book was written quite some time ago so it doesn't really discuss the newer versions of the RDBMS nor any of the other applications nor the acquisitions that Oracle have made but it does give a wonderful insight into how Oracle started and what kind of corporate culture Larry Ellison set within his company. The book covers the period from the 1960's to around 1995. The author tries to give a balanced view on Larry Ellison and Oracle but there is definitely a very strong anti-Larry Elisson/Oracle vibe. In each chapter it's very much a case of "these are the 200 things that are wrong with Larry Ellison and this is why Oracle is bad and evil, but of course he is an extremely rich, successful and brilliant entrepreneur and Oracle is widely used..."! But if you work in databases or is interested how the IT software giants like Oracle, Microsoft or Apple were came to be where they are then this is a good place to start.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As Larry's friend I can say that mostly it is correct but still... Actually he's just another person in his life rather than he appeared in the book. However, you can get this feeling of his genious within Oracle and it is the main thing in the self-made person, right?
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
While Larry proclaims himself a "VISIONARY", I found this book to neaty describe how a self made man determined to climb his way up to the top by 30% software and 70% lies and decit. However, upon finishing the book I found myself putting Larry Elison in my "hero's" list of what to be and not to be if I ever became a CEO of a high tech company. A fast pace and fun book. Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Remember to wipe your nose Mr. Wilson.
Remember Igor? The ever faithful servant of the Dr. Frankenstein: "Yes, Master. Yes Master." Well, the reader gets the disturbing, yet comical, feeling that Mike... Read more
Published on 15 Feb 1999
Larry is a cool dude !
Great book to learn the early and tumultous history of Oracle and Larry... now, he is a REAL visionnary, not like the marketeers in Seattle... Read more
Published on 26 Nov 1998
Good Book
Like many other people who used to work for Oracle (albeit many layers removed from Ellison), I found this book fascinating. Read more
Published on 11 Nov 1998
Great if you already know about Oracle
Fun book for one who's been on the ride, like me. I don't know if anyone who wasn't an employee, a business partner or competitor to be able to relate to much in the book,... Read more
Published on 7 Oct 1998
Great history of Oracle from many different perspectives
Yes, I liked it. As an Oracle UK employee it filled in information on many of the myths that float around the company. Read more
Published on 16 Sep 1998
Great reading without much to learn from..
Its a fun book read but without much substance, you get to know how crazy things used(are) at Oracle. Read more
Published on 22 April 1998
Read this book and you'll realize how many Larrys there are!
This book has repercussions beyond the Rise-and-Fall-and-Rise story of Oracle. The portrait of Ellison rings especially true for those of us who work in high-tech: reading it, I... Read more
Published on 31 Mar 1998
Interesting look at Silicon Valley badboy millionaire
Reading this book, it becomes startlingly clear that Larry Ellison is extremely similar to Bill Gates - neither billionaire is particularly visionary, but both were able to find... Read more
Published on 11 Mar 1998
There is something to everybody...
If you like to read about inside the companies stories or biography of the
VIP or best of all, pure gossip, you would love the book! Read more
Published on 6 Feb 1998
Everything I expected....
I have always been fascinated by Steve Jobs, and little did I know that he and Ellison were best friends. Read more
Published on 9 Jan 1998
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