The Facebook Effect

The Inside Story of the Company That Is Connecting the World

By: David Kirkpatrick

Narrated by: David Kirkpatrick

Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

In a little more than half a decade, Facebook has gone from a dorm-room novelty to a company with 500 million users - and an essential part of the social life not only of teenagers but hundreds of millions of adults worldwide. As Facebook spreads around the globe, it creates surprising effects - even becoming instrumental in political protests.

Veteran technology reporter David Kirkpatrick had the full cooperation of Facebook's key executives in researching this fascinating history. Kirkpatrick tells us how Facebook was created, why it has flourished, and where it is going next. He chronicles its successes and missteps, and gives readers the most complete assessment anywhere of founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the central figure in the company's remarkable ascent. This is the Facebook story that can be found nowhere else.

Kirkpatrick shows how Zuckerberg refused to compromise, insistently focusing on growth over profits and preaching that Facebook must dominate (his word) communication on the Internet. In the process, he and a small group of key executives have created a company that has changed social life in the United States and elsewhere, a company that has become a ubiquitous presence in marketing, and one that has altered politics, business, and even our sense of our own identity. This is the Facebook Effect.

This special edition also includes an exclusive conversation between the author and Randi Zuckerberg, who offers unique insight as a marketer at Facebook and the CEO's sister. You'll hear them talk about major company milestones, high-profile product launches, and the CEO's growth - emotionally and experientially - as a leader. They also discuss the controversial issues surrounding Facebook's privacy policies.

©2010 David Kirkpatrick (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This is a fantastic book, filled with great reporting and colorful narrative. The human drama of Mark Zuckerberg and his colleagues gives an exciting glimpse of how to launch a game-changing startup." (Walter Isaacson, author of Einstein: His Life and Universe)

Critique for Narrator

I found the sniffs/snorts from the narrator a bit irritating in some sections of the audio book but otherwise the author gave some good insight into the beginnings of FB.

Great audio book, you have to check it out.

Would you listen to The Facebook Effect again? Why?

Yes, I love this story. It's very detail about how the Facebook was created. It inspired me.

4 stars for the book, 2 star for the reading

The content of the book is interesting for anybody that wants to know about this amazing phenomenon that is facebook, although I cant say it was really exiting, if I wasn’t that interested, it wouldn’t have been a good read or listen.

I dont understand why the autor wanted to narrete his book. I am reading the Kite runner, where it makes amazing sense, and it feels even better to have the author narrate his story. Also, is much better narrated, for this book you can hear all sorts of noises that are not normal on a good audiobook, why did he do this? to save money? I really don’t understand.

Excellent Insights in amazing company

What made the experience of listening to The Facebook Effect the most enjoyable?

The Story was told very well and the author / reader had personal insights which made it more enjoyable.

What about David Kirkpatrick’s performance did you like?

Very well done!

Great book - well researched.

This audio book is outstanding. Excellent content. Great, insightful interviews with Facebook insiders and Mark's family. Really a brilliant job! Thanks David.

Buy In Print instead!

If you could sum up The Facebook Effect in three words, what would they be?

This is a great book on the not-too-biased creation and history of Facebook. Some interesting tidbits and history. Not as much "how" or "what made them do that" but a good story on the trials and tribulations.

BUT: The poor narration killed the audiobook version for me. There was so much swallowing and slip smacking and tooth licking that it killed the flow of the narration and made it very difficult to listen to. Almost grossed me out. Mr. Kirkpatrick should stick to writing and never speak, ever. I may be a bit sensitive about this kind of thing but it made me stop listening to the book and buy the Kindle edition instead.

Who was your favorite character and why?

NA

What didn’t you like about David Kirkpatrick’s performance?

The constant lip smacking, swallowing, and tooth licking
"breath...lick smack. say a few words, swallow, finish sentence" terrible.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

NA

Any additional comments?

Keep this guy on the keyboard and off the mic.

Great read (or listen)

Would you listen to The Facebook Effect again? Why?

The key business decisions of Mark at every major turn or cross-road of Facebook inspires the crap out of me. Worth listening over and over.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Facebook Effect?

Ah.. there are many.
Sean Parker's effect on The Facebook has to be it.

Which scene was your favorite?

"Now you know who you're fighting"... lol

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It drove my inspiration through the roof.

Any additional comments?

Worth listening... especially if you admire what Facebook has become and future possibilities.

Love the Book, but the interview at the end?

I really liked the book. I was fine with the reader. What I had issues with was the interview with Mark's sister at the end of the book. Firstly, when I found that there would be an interview with Mark's sister on the recording, I thought "Great, should be interesting to hear her thoughts on the company and her brother". Then when it started and she was interviewing David, that seemed like a mistake to me. The editing of the interview also made it feel weird and like a piece of Facebook Marketing rather then an interview.

This shouldn't take away from the rest of the book. I thought the book was fairly even. As the David poiints out, his connection to the company means he would be a little more biased towards the company but he touches the important issues in a fairly even way.

I would definitely recommend this book and would love to hear another book from David on another Tech Company!

If you use facebook then this book is a must get!

This is THE BEST audio book I have listened to so far. David Kirkpatrick does such a brilliant and awesome job in uncovering the facebook phenomenon and how it is changing our lives and the world we live in today, and he narrates the book so well that the 15 hours and 42 minutes go by so quickly you would wish it didn't end, which makes me sad.

I will definitely listen to this book again and again. If I could give it a 10 star rating I would.

The only thing left for me to say is THANK YOU & WELL DONE DAVID for such a rare gem.

Interesting read, average reader

This book is a fascinating look at the growth of a phenomenon and important insight into the motivations and plans of its founders. If you're interested in Facebook and the future of marketing and the internet, buy it.

I would rather Kirkpatrick had maintained more detachment from his subjects. I couldn't even listen to the bonus feature because he was too clearly in awe of Zuckerberg and co.

Also, I would have appreciated it if he, as narrator, had checked pronunciations rather than assuming he could tackle, for instance, Leicester, Bournemouth and Brunei without help. Instead his mangling of places he hasn't been made an excellent journalist sound foolish.

However, as the four-star rating shows, these are minor criticisms of what is a valuable read.