Stealing MySpace

The Battle to Control the Most Popular Website in America

By: Julia Angwin

Narrated by: Richard Powers

Barely funded, technologically inept, conceptually derivative, and driven by rivalries, the company that was to morph into the biggest internet site in the world had an unlikely beginning. This is the fascinating and surprising story that includes all the elements of a great business narrative: obsessive characters from cofounders Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolfe to Rupert Murdock, relentless and unlikely innovation, and dizzying backroom dealmaking; all centered around an epic battle for control.

Angwin had unparalleled access to all the necessary sources to reveal never-before-told accounts about Rupert Murdoch and Viacom Chief Executive Tom Freston.

©2009 Julia Angwin (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A well-written, entertaining and drama-filled chronicle.... This engrossing look at how MySpace became a media powerhouse will find a solid audience of business history, technology and entrepreneurship readers." (Publishers Weekly)

Great Info -

Great info - Little Hard to Follow - the read gets easier and easier, well research.

little fragmented jumping from one person to another, quick to little transitions.

I'm techie and in the space, so i found it very entertaining and informative. I can see how others may find it hard to follow as the author jump from one person to person to another, ie my space founder, then the founders of the company that my space founders work at, ie rupert murdoch back story

Popular History at Its Best

To my mind it is very important to have a record of how the electronic environment was created and evolved. This book does just that with My Space. Even individuals who have never worked with My Space will appreciate the thoughtful telling of the behind the scenes maneuvering which has propelled us into the electronic age. The book is read well, informative and well worth the time. It is a very interesting, informative listen.

not a straight line

Julia Angwel wrote a solid book. What I really liked about it was how well she laid out the twists and turns of the journey of myriad activities that ended up being My Space, and then the story of how NewsCorp scored the acquisition. Narration was solid.

Blast from the past

"MySpace remains the dominant social network, with 72 million monthly visitors in the United States". That was 2008. I was transported right back there, and remembered uni life, my wallpaper and that Tom dude who was my "friend". Still it's more a travel through the underbelly of the internet, power play, chance, daring, greed and hubris. A good story. Yes, there are lots of tangents, as other reviewers have pointed out. But it can't have been bad, I only took two days to listen to it. Pity the book cover here looks like an old MySpace banner ad, don't judge the book on that.

Interesting, but unfocused

This is a unique, interesting story, but the author follows too many rabbit trails and as a result the book feels unfocused. When the story stays on MySpace and its founders, it's a great listen. The supporting characters and side stories are what bogs it down.

Criminal shenanigans!

Blast from the past and captivating story about the fast-paced world of media companies pretending to be media giants by purchasing dumpster fires that are red hot popular! Wow, Ross Levinson is such a loser.

Choppy and Boring!

I was excited to give this book a shot, as I thought the subject would make for an interesting story. The problem was that the writing style felt choppy and boring.
To the authors credit, the book was loaded with what seemed to be an accurate yet never ending chronological list of facts and figures.

Disappointing

The book reads like an endless succession of 3x5 cards. Way too much detail and not enough context.