A Cool Billion

Rating:
Summary: A Cool Billion
Review: A Cool Billion by Michael Perkins ( co-author of Internet Bubble and a founder of The Red Herring) with Celia Nunez have conspired to write a Silicon Valley based thriller with fast cars, fire power and fine dining (I'm thinking about the scene in the book at Buck's) If you are tired of reading all the dry tell all business books, take a vacation for a little while with an inside out view of the up down world of startup mania featuring real maniacs.

There is so much going on in The Valley that it's unrealistic to try to capture it all but the authors have taken the most important element (that being the fact that one can come up with a billion dollar idea and bring it at blistering speed to the market) and shown what can happen when competitors grab for it and start to rip it off in several directions at once.

As a local, it was fun to travel through the culture and the real streets of the Valley and Santa Cruz. Unfortunately, the really cool undiscovered Chinese restaurant which sounded so perfect turned out to be one of the few fictional locations which I discovered when I when to look for it.

The authors have the insider dope of a Puzo, the rapid fire scene shifting of Crichton and the money making potential of a King (even though in the Valley we aren't supposed to mention the money, but in this case....)

Rating:
Summary: A Cool Billion...a thrilling ride
Review: A Cool Billion by Michael Perkins (co-author of Internet Bubble and a founder of The Red Herring) with Celia Nunez have conspired to write a Silicon Valley based thriller with fast cars, fire power and fine dining (I'm thinking about the scene in the book at Buck's) If you are tired of reading all the dry tell all business books, take a vacation for a little while with an inside out view of the up down world of startup mania featuring real maniacs.

There is so much going on in The Valley that it's unrealistic to try to capture it all but the authors have taken the most important element (that being the fact that one can come up with a billion dollar idea and bring it at blistering speed to the market) and shown what can happen when competitors grab for it and start to rip it off in several directions at once.

As a local, it was fun to travel through the culture and the real streets of the Valley and Santa Cruz. Unfortunately, the really cool undiscovered Chinese restaurant which sounded so perfect turned out to be one of the few fictional locations which I discovered when I when to look for it.

The authors have the insider dope of a Puzo, the rapid fire scene shifting of Crichton and the money making potential of a King (even though in the Valley we aren't supposed to mention the money, but in this case....)

Buck's of Woodside

Rating:
Summary: Jamis MacNiven Owner Buck's of Woodside
Review: A Cool Billion by Michael Perkins (co-author of Internet Bubble and a founder of The Red Herring) with Celia Nunez have conspired to write a Silicon Valley based thriller with fast cars, fire power and fine dining (I'm thinking about the scene in the book at Buck's) If you are tired of reading all the dry tell all business books, take a vacation for a little while with an inside out view of the up down world of startup mania featuring real maniacs.

There is so much going on in The Valley that it's unrealistic to try to capture it all but the authors have taken the most important element (that being the fact that one can come up with a billion dollar idea and bring it at blistering speed to the market) and shown what can happen when competitors grab for it and start to rip it off in several directions at once.

As a local, it was fun to travel through the culture and the real streets of the Valley and Santa Cruz. Unfortunately, the really cool undiscovered Chinese restaurant which sounded so perfect turned out to be one of the few fictional locations which I discovered when I when to look for it.

The authors have the insider dope of a Puzo, the rapid fire scene shifting of Crichton and the money making potential of a King (even though in the Valley we aren't supposed to mention the money, but in this case....)

Buck's of Woodside

Rating:
Summary: A Cool Book
Review: Corrupt business practices reign in the high-tech confines of Silicon Valley. A great read for any one who works for a big company--the author nails the "corporate-speak" business dialogue. You'll breeze through this one. Also recommended along these lines: COMPANY CONFIDENTIAL.

Rating:
Summary: Great Silicon Valley Billion $ Ride
Review: My wife and I just completed reading A Cool Million by Michael Perkins and Celia Nunez. We both thought that the book was well written and contained a perfect balance of suspense and character development. We also learned alot from the book. Michael and Celia did an excellent job explaining high technology issues and lifestyles of people who live in Silicon Valley.

WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT EVERYONE READ A COOL MILLION.

Rating:
Summary: A GOOD BOOK NOT OUTSTANDING
Review: The main character Steven Cavanaugh who is a motivated writer for a high tech magazine the Digital Business.Steve gets partnered up with a new intern which of course he does not want, but together the start to put together information for the magazines next big article.They are going to interview the CEO of Hays Software . When the interview with Arthur Hays does not reveal enough information about the latest and greatest internet search engine called Cheetah steve turns to his long time friend who is the PR director at Hays. His friend winds up dead before he can meet with her to obtain startiling information about the company.So steve and his assistant are of on the chase to find out who killed his friend and what info she has that could be harmful to Hay's IPOThis was an alright book but definitely not high drama as in other mysterys. It read pretty fast but i felt it was not a great book therefore 3 stars

Rating:
Summary: A Cool Book!
Review: This book is a real page-turner! I started reading the book on Sunday figuring that I could pick away at it during the week. After the first couple of chapters, I was totally engrossed in the story. By Sunday night, I had finished the book and didn't want it to be over.

Steven Cavenaugh, our lovable protagonist, has a seemingly normal job as an investigative reporter until he gets caught up in a tangled web of murder, intrigue and action. Perkins and Nunez have cunningly crafted ample doses of dramatic and romantic tension, as well as a humdinger plot twist in the final chapters. Even the car chase scene was absorbing - I didn't want that car to get hurt!

An electrifying fictional effort from this dynamic duo. I look forward their next enterprise!

Rating:
Summary: A Cool Billion...a thrilling ride
Review: When I picked up A Cool Billion I only had time to read the first couple of chapters...or so I thought. I couldn't put it down! In the first pages as the story unfolds it pulls the reader in immediately. It's fast-paced and well written and contains interesting details about life in Silicon Valley. Having worked and lived in Silicon Valley for years, I really enjoyed stepping into the high tech world the authors have created. For those unfamiliar to the valley, one would still find it an intriguing and edifying book. So grab a latte, turn off your cell phone, hunker down and enjoy this fantastic story. It's a thrilling ride!