The Everything Store

Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon

by Brad Stone

It's a great illustration of how to own a hill by proving leadership on one hill and using that as a steppingstone to the next. Amazon started with online books, then CDs, e-commerce, and is now a technology platform. Bezos' Point has remained constant: start with the customer and work your way backward, believing he could deliver both extraordinary service and the lowest prices. Lots of interesting insights, one of my favs was Bezos' analysis of what makes companies loved vs. unloved: better to be an explorer than a conqueror.