Softwar: An Intimate Portrait of Larry Ellison and Oracle

1.700,00 EGP

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AK78QVI
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster (April 30, 2013)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 30, 2013
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 18950 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 722 pages

Description

Price: $17.00
(as of Jul 29,2024 21:36:29 UTC – Details)




ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AK78QVI
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster (April 30, 2013)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 30, 2013
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 18950 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 722 pages

Customers say

Customers find the book insightful, interesting, and unique. They also describe it as fun and entertaining to read.

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This Post Has 12 Comments

  1. Inside the Mind of a Software Genius!
    Full disclosure requires me to report, at the outset of this review, that I had the privilege to work for Larry Ellison and Oracle Corporation back in the mid to late 80’s. During my time at Oracle, I enjoyed the unique opportunity to meet with Mr. Ellison on a couple of most memorable occasions. When I did, I always had the distinct feeling that I was in the presence of a genius. And indeed, I was.In this unique, remarkable, and truly excellent book, Matthew Symonds captures, as well as a journalist could, what an amazing man Mr. Ellison is, and what an amazing company he founded and led to unbelievable success. Symonds also gives a truly special look inside the mind and character of the enigmatic founder of this software colossus.Currently, I am working on a book on the Relational Model for Database. And I picked up this book by Symonds as part of my research. Having read “Softwar”, I am well prepared to describe, with awe, the remarkable role that Mr. Larry Ellison played in making Dr. E.F. Codd’s dream a reality. Indeed, as Codd provided the theoretical foundation for the Relational Model for Database, and fought valiantly for its acceptance, even unto his death, Ellison probably merits more credit than any particular human being for making the Relational Model a commercial reality, and success.A common theme occurs throughout this wonderful book. The theme is that programmers, of which Larry Ellison is certainly one, are constantly playing the game of “I’m Smarter than You” whenever locked in technical debate. One of the reasons that Ellison is so disliked by many uninformed observers in the industry is that he nearly always won that game. And that sort of unparalleled excellence always seems to become the object of jealousy.I strongly recommend this excellent book to any who would understand both Mr. Ellison and the history of his amazing company. God bless.

  2. terrific meandering read on Larry
    I mean, I really enjoyed it, but maybe an editor could have helped. Not sure I needed the blow by blow on that much sailing, but the business stuff was terrific.

  3. Why I Read This At Starbucks
    I’ve been drinking a lot of coffee at Starbucks while reading `Softwar.’ It’s such a great read, I can’t put the book down (and don’t want to go to sleep). I have read a few books and articles about Larry Ellison and Oracle and this book is the most insightful and interesting piece of work. Larry’s footnotes, which counter, clarify or expand on the authors passages are a unique and worthwhile addition – adding credibility to this title. `Softwar’ comprehensively covers both the business of Oracle and offers a surprisingly intimate view of Larry’s life and thinking. At the same time, Matthew Symonds presents a balanced portrait of the man who admits in his footnotes to making some mistakes, but who also demonstrates a keen intellect, foresight and a sense of humor.`Softwar’ is an extraordinary book about an extraordinary man and his enterprise – a must read for those who want to be inspired and have a better understanding of business, technology and human nature.

  4. If you want to know a lot about Ellison AND Oracle
    For years it seems like I’ve heard about Larry Ellison being the complete antithesis of Bill Gates while at the same time earning almost as much money. Knowing this about him and very little about Oracle, I decided it was time to look into it. “Softwar” appears to blend a few things that I find very desirable into one book.First, its written by an independent observer– Matthew Symonds of the Economist. While who can say whether this is truly an unbiased account, the vast majority of the book seems to portray Oracle in good light, but contains quips that allow the reader to see where all the Oracle detractors might have a point.Second, Larry Ellison. When Symonds writes something or quotes someone (like Tom Siebel or other former employees) and Ellison disagrees, he gets to chime in and tell his side of the story through footnotes. After looking at so many books that just don’t seem to have any proximity to Ellison, I chose this book mainly because you can get Ellison’s rhetoric straight from the horses’s mouth.Third, if you read this book soon, the information will be more practical than books that seem to focus on interesting, but outdated info about a companies products or strategies. I personally knew nothing of Enterprise software or hardware other than hearing people complain about SAP. Now I at least have a semblence of knowledge about a field I’ll probably end up at least working with.If you want a book that puts Oracle in a good light while displaying its bad side at times and to hear mostly about Oracle with a brief biography of Ellison and how he commands the world’s second largest software company, read it! PS I loved it.

  5. Interesting, but too long.
    An interesting read, and certainly gave me new insights into Larry Ellison and Oracle. But the same insights and a more compelling could have been told in a book that was a third shorter.

  6. but the book is an excellent work.
    Though this book is a couple of years old, it is still a fascinating look at Ellison and Oracle. The author had extensive access to the subjects, and though he occasionally spends a bit too much time on seemingly unimportant details (sailing), there is a lot to learn from the twists and turns of both Ellison’s life and the history of his company. Giving Ellison the chance to comment at the end of each chapter even adds extra entertainment value. People often tend to be polarized in their opinion of both Ellison and Oracle, but the book is an excellent work.

  7. This book was written by a journalist, so you get a very good picture of the man and his journey. Riveting read, very enjoyable.

  8. この本は Larry Ellison の foot notes がなければ、詳細なだけで少し陳腐な本になっていたかもしれません。Larry Ellison が時には本文を補足し、時には it is wrong と真っ向から反論したりしているので、全く退屈せずに読めました。Database や E-Business Suite で Oracle と実際に仕事をした事がある人には、Derek Williams, Ray Lane, Ron Wohl 等々全て実名で書かれているので、非常に面白く、Oracle のいわれや、結婚生活、ヨットレース、Life Sience 等 Oracle 以外について知る事ができるのも面白いです。一つ、Sanbashi を Three Bridges と本文で解説してありましたが、これは pier の間違いだと思います。

  9. Pour ceux qui veulent un peu mieux connaître un versant de la vie de ce grand de l’informatique des années 80 à 2000 et quelques unes de ses pratiques. Larry Ellison a fait ce que la société Oracle est de nos jours et depuis ses origines, incontournable !Ouvrage facile à lire, même si en anglais, passionnant et instructif.

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