Episode · Acquired · 2025-06-30
Books mentioned on Google Part I: Origins of Search
We tell the story of the single greatest business ever created: Google search. From its origins as a Stanford research project called BackRub, Google became the front door to the internet.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Search
The Search by John Battelle is an industry chronicle that explores the origins of search engines, the rise of internet giants, and the cultural transformation brought by web discovery.
Recommended“This is from John Battel's book, The Search, which is excellent. From 1993 to 1996, the web grew from 130 sites to more than 600,000.”
Where to get it
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In the Plex
In the Plex by Steven Levy is a comprehensive non-fiction history that chronicles the meteoric rise, corporate culture, and technological evolution of Google.
Discussed“So supposedly this is according to In the Plex, Steven Levy's book, great book that we used as a source for the episode. They end up getting a meeting with Venode Kosla”
Where to get it
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7 Powers
7 Powers by Hamilton Helmer is an acclaimed business strategy book that outlines seven specific factors enabling companies to achieve persistent differential returns.
Discussed“For new listeners to the show, this is based on a book called Seven Powers by Hamilton Helmer. And it is the seven factors that enable a business to achieve persistent differential returns”
Where to get it
