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AcquiredSeptember 18, 2017
Episode 44: AOL - Time Warner (with the Internet History Podcast)
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About this episode
On this extra-long episode of Acquired, Brian McCullough from the Internet History Podcast returns to discuss perhaps the most (in)famous merger of all time: AOL - Time Warner. Who doesn’t remember the soothing sounds of 56k modems and the timeless phrase, “You’ve Got Mail”? Join us all as we unpack how one of the biggest ISP’s of the 90’s tried to take over the world… and fell far short.
Book mentions
11 book mentions in this episode.
Jump to booksTip: Click “Mentioned at …” to copy a timestamp.
Tip: Click a cover image to open a book link.
Books Mentioned
There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere
Kara Swisher
“Kara Swisher's book discusses the dot-com era and the challenges faced by companies during that time.”
Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: dot-com bubble analysis
For: Readers interested in business history and the dot-com era
Key quote: “We all knew we were living on borrowed time and we had to buy something of substance by using that huge currency.”
The host mentions Kara Swisher's book to highlight insights into the mindset of AOL executives during the dot-com bubble. The book provides a detailed account of their strategic considerations as they faced the impending collapse of the internet boom.
ASIN: B0000X8R6G
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
Fool's Russian
Nina Monk
“Nina Monk's book is one of the three great books written about the dot-com era.”
Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: dot-com bubble analysis
For: Readers interested in the history of the dot-com bubble
Key quote: “It's unusual that there's been this many books written about a dot-com era thing.”
The host mentions 'Fool's Russian' by Nina Monk as part of a discussion on books that cover the dot-com era. This reference highlights the unusual number of publications addressing the complexities and consequences of that time.
ASIN: 5717200773
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
Stealing Time
Alex Klein
“Alex Klein's book is mentioned as part of the discussion on the dot-com era.”
Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: dot-com bubble analysis
For: Readers interested in business history and the dot-com era
Key quote: “We all knew we were living on borrowed time and we had to buy something of substance by using that huge currency.”
The host mentions 'Stealing Time' as part of a discussion on the dot-com era and the strategic decisions made by AOL executives during the bubble. This book, along with others, provides insights into the internal dynamics and foresight of companies as they faced impending market changes.
ASIN: 0743247868
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
“The week before, it might even be the day before, they actually announced the deal with Time Warner. Kara Swisher has a quote from her book where she says, quote, in one major move, the two companies had seemingly expressed both of their weaknesses and intensified their strengths.”
Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: dot-com era analysis
For: Readers interested in technology history and business strategy
Key quote: “We all knew we were living on borrowed time and we had to buy something of substance by using that huge currency.”
The host mentions Kara Swisher's book to highlight insights from the dot-com era and the strategic decisions made by AOL executives during the bubble. This book, along with others, provides a detailed account of the challenges faced by companies in that period, emphasizing the foresight of industry leaders.
ASIN: B0CFYPHG5Z
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
“Warner Studios refuses to let AOL take over the Harry Potter website and the online promotion for the Harry Potter movies are just getting going.”
Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: AOL and Time Warner merger
For: Listeners interested in media mergers and corporate culture
Key quote: “Warner Studios says no, right?”
The host mentions 'Harry Potter' in the context of the cultural clashes during the AOL and Time Warner merger. Specifically, it highlights how Warner Studios refused to let AOL take over the Harry Potter website, illustrating the internal conflicts within the company.
ASIN: B0F14PDX2Z
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
There's a Pony in Here Somewhere
Kara Swisher
“Kara Swisher's book is called 'There's a Pony in Here Somewhere'. If there's a mountain of shit this big, there's got to be a pony somewhere.”
Sentiment: Deep Dive
Trigger: AOL and its decline
For: Individuals interested in technology history and corporate failures
Key quote: “If there's a mountain of shit this big, there's got to be a pony somewhere.”
The host mentions Kara Swisher's book to highlight the idea that amidst the failures of AOL, there were still valuable aspects worth recognizing. The phrase 'There's a Pony in Here Somewhere' serves as a metaphor for finding positives in a seemingly disastrous situation.
ASIN: B0000X8R6G
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
Give and Take
Adam Grant
“The book discusses the behaviors of givers, takers, and matchers in our lives and the results of those personality types.”
Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: personality types in life
For: Individuals interested in personal development and social dynamics
Key quote: “The book discusses the behaviors of givers, takers, and matchers in our lives and the results of those personality types.”
The host briefly mentions 'Give and Take' to highlight the different behaviors of givers, takers, and matchers. This context suggests an exploration of how these personality types impact our interactions.
ASIN: B07J1KZSDN
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
“The book explores the dark history of the counterculture in San Francisco during the 60s and 70s, including events like the Manson murders.”
Sentiment: Highly Recommended
Trigger: dark history of counterculture
For: Readers interested in historical narratives and counterculture
Key quote: “it's the history of um the dark history of the dark side of the counterculture and san francisco and what happened to san francisco in the 60s and in particular in the 70s”
The host mentions 'Season of the Witch' to highlight its exploration of the darker aspects of San Francisco's counterculture during the 60s and 70s. They emphasize how the book reveals the often overlooked violent events that shaped the city's history, contrasting the typical narrative of peace and love.
ASIN: B09P8MRKFB
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
“This book is about the tech angle in the 60s and the counterculture.”
Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: tech and counterculture
For: Readers interested in technology history and counterculture.
Key quote: “i'm also started reading another book called what the dormouse said oh yeah which you've probably read yeah which is about the tech angle and in the 60s in the counterculture.”
The host briefly mentions 'What the Dormouse Said' in the context of discussing the intersection of technology and counterculture in the 1960s. This book is noted as relevant to understanding the tech developments that emerged from that era.
ASIN: B006Q9J6ZO
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
“The book discusses the theory behind coding and logic in programming, related to Claude Shannon.”
Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: AOL and Time Warner merger
For: Listeners interested in media and technology history
Key quote: “It's just such a, you know, such a fitting coda to this whole story is history repeating itself.”
The host briefly mentions the history of AOL and its acquisition by Verizon as a reflection of how history tends to repeat itself in the tech industry. This context serves to highlight the changing landscape of media and technology companies over time.
ASIN: B004Q3NKK4
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.
A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age
Rob Goodman, Jimmy Sony
“This book is a comprehensive biography of Claude Shannon, the inventor of information theory.”
Sentiment: Passing Reference
Trigger: Claude Shannon biography
For: Readers interested in the history of information theory
Key quote: “This book is a comprehensive biography of Claude Shannon, the inventor of information theory.”
The host briefly mentions the book as a comprehensive biography of Claude Shannon. It highlights his significant contributions to the field of information theory.
ASIN: 7508694805
Buy on AmazonClick the book cover image to open the affiliate link.