Thanks to a quick lead via Chris Brogan I ran across in my FriendFeed I picked up the eBook version of Age of Conversations 2: Why Don’t They Get It?… now I never do this… I am not big on “real” books, I mean I read all day and night on the internet blogs, code, documentation but books, it’s not me…
So, you are saying to yourself, is this a book review from a guy who doesn’t read books? No… I am only 14 pages in but damn if this isn’t the most engaging a sharply pointed of anything I have read recently…. I needed to put down some thoughts and maybe engage possibly one other person to pick it up.
Different… How?
I tell you this is truly different, the “book” is written by 237 bloggers in digestible pieces on topic and on point, slicing through their points if view in a page or less, blog post style. This style just hits home for me, and I bet it will for you too if you give it a chance… the last I read (heard actually – Audiobook) was Seth Godin’s The Big Moo : Stop Trying to Be Perfect and Start Being Remarkable a well executed set of stories that motivate you to do something that’s worth talking about.
Seth’s book was for charity, same here all of the profit from Age of Conversations 2 goes to charity, a whole ten bucks of the twelve fifty I paid for my eBook… you can’t complain about that.
The Focus
“Back cover” style synopsis from lulu.com:
Gone are the top-down, command and control messages that held sway through the 20th Century. In are a raft of new techniques that start with listening, responding and action that set the scene for a continuing and evolving dialog about brands, experience, business and community.
“Gone are the top-down, command and control messages”, “listening”, “evolving” These folks must be following me around… I think I am going to cry!
As I said I am only 14 pages in as of the writing of this post and I would never normally recommend something without being absolutely sure it’s perfect but… it is great, the points of view just ring true crisp, short, quotable and to the point. If you need to deliver that shot of understanding into your organization about the impact social media, the conversational nature of true engagement and the critical call to sit up and take notice of what is changing around all of us… it is well condensed and delivered in this volume.
Its method of creation and fact that no one will make a profit from it should show you just how these principles are changing the face of what we do on the web and beyond.
Get it, then help people “get it”
Go pick up your copy now, you can’t find this much great and diverse content in one place on these topics anywhere else today, period.
237 extra points of view can’t help but sharpen mine. -Ben
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Ben, Thanks for sharing “age of conversation 2 why don’t they get it?” confession: i have only skimmed it but quickly found the collective point of view well written & aligned with our collective 18 month personal journey at Best Buy. 3 things came to mind: 1.) I liked the collaborative manner in which the book was written…tons of smart people contributing teaching others why we all ought to be listening and participating in conversations. 2.) I like the clear message sent on page 35 where Spike jones tips to keep in mind when creating a movement. The most relevant for BBY is to “create opportunities for conversations online & offline. No amount of technology will ever replace the power of looking someone in the eye.” i think this is key because of the power of online and its ability to influence offline behavior. 3.) Finally, my personal experience has shown that people join the movement when they find a connection; this connection requires us all to be better teachers and communicate in simple ways: Eg: in multi media formats…video, visualization, collaboratively written works that appeal to a broader audience, and clear examples that show results (soft or hard benefits).
My hope is that we move the internal BBY zealots and our brilliant external friends and global connections to help us write the worlds’ most fascinating next iteration of Best Buy’s story, “Company as Wki…How social technology empowers employees, helps company’s do the right kind of listening, and creates new value for customers.” The collective story is ours to live out. I must admit, i anxious to read every word now-thank you for that!
OK I am in.