Aol.com Pages: 1- 51

Summary:

Internet is one of the most popular things in the world. Whether it’s about connecting online to use chat rooms or to connect with old friend’s internet is the way to get to all these things. The book I am reading “Aol.com: How Steve Case beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads, and Made Millions in the War for the Web” by Kara Swisher is about how the internet got started.

            The book starts off with the founder of AOL also known as America Online on his way to Bill Gates house for a meeting with CEO’s of different companies. As he is on a boat on his way to Bill Gates house, he reminisces of how his company even got to a point where they made a lot of money. Being in the house of one of the world’s richest men, it surprised him that he would be in such a category with all these influential people, considering all the ups and downs his company went through.

            The AOL Company, although founded by Steve Case was the seed idea of a man named Bill Von Meister. Being born 1942, even when he was young he was coming up with inventions that no one would have ever thought about.

They called him very creative and smart, considering that even at his young age he came up with a red signal that would indicate when his father was on his way home in order for them to be able to make tea for him as the important figure of the house. But that was only the beginning. Von Meister spent his whole life going from invention to invention, and making thousands off of each. Although none of his inventions lasted long and he ended up dying with tons of debts, his only legacy was thought to be inspiring the creation of AOL which is ironic because no one knew that except for the founder. The author of this book jokes around by saying that if Bill’s name was to be mentioned in the picnic that AOL employees were having, none would ever be able to point out his collaboration with this company.

Quote:

“‘I’m going to make a mark,” said Billy Von Meister. “Just you watch’” (Swisher 12).

Reaction:

Bill Von Meister was a very confident man. He spent most of his time trying to create an innovation that would bring both success and fortune towards him. He never let any of his failures bring him down, which is what led to most of his success. By being a person who never listens to others, and works hard in trying to achieve personal goals, you will achieve most of your goals. You just have to have confidence and respect for yourself and those who are working with you.