Behind Amazon’s quirky smile logo lurks a cold and calculating giant machine. Author Kalpanik S. reveals his own smile as he tells the somewhat quirky story of his complex, and often hilarious, relationship with Amazon. From the sophisticated wit in his portrayal of the courtship period in “How To Get Hired By Amazon In Ten Days”, to the dark humor of the disillusionment period in “The Cold, Calculating Machine”, Kalpanik’s story is more than just an insider’s view of the giant machine known as Amazon.com. It’s a modern, universal story of the uneasy relationship between an individual and today’s gargantuan corporations. In the end, it is also a story of redemption for creative and freethinking individuals that define America.
Trade Review by Carine Engelbrecht, Readers’ Favorite
You can love them or loathe them, but since Amazon sold their first book over nineteen years ago, the company has transformed the lives of book lovers & online shoppers worldwide. The company started out as an e-commerce bookstore, but grew to the retail giant of today through the efforts of some of the world's finest technoratis. One such person is author, who chronicles his personal experiences with the company in this book.. While Kalpanik was doing other equally interesting things with his life when it all started, he did experience Amazon's crucial shift from retailer to major selling platform from a close vantage point and provides insight into how some of the features we take for granted today, such as the search algorithm and the look-inside-the-book application were created. Through the author's eyes, readers experience the relocation to Seattle and also the ultimate 'kiss-off' when he finally decides to leave the company.
Inside the Giant Machine by S. Kalpanik will make an absorbing read to anyone interested in exploring internet history or learning more about the dynamics that drive the powerful thrust of e-commerce. You will visit Amazon's largest warehouse in Fernley, Nevada, and discover why even executives must still shoulder warehouse duty from time to time. Speaking of those fully automated warehouses, you will also learn how they are optimized for shipping efficiency. Other topics covered include the company's extensive hiring protocol, almost draconian work ethic and how the notorious "cruelty curve" is applied. You will also catch priceless glimpses of the company's sometimes goofy CEO and founder Jeff Bezos
at his best - and worst. The book was released through Amazon's self publshing arm, which - considering the content - seems both ironic and deeply significant.
Let me introduce my book by saying what it's not - it is not THE Amazon story, just "an" Amazon story, that developed from a series of blog articles that I wrote before, during and after working there.
That said, I do believe that the book does give you an authentic insider's glimpse into inner working of Amazon in an interesting way.
A book about Amazon can be pretty dry, so I have tried to add some humor. In my attempt to make this book funny, a few facts may have been stretched. I quote this passage from 21 Dog Years: Doing Time @ Amazon.com, written by Daisey, a fellow Amazon alumnus–turned author:
“Some facts were injured in the telling of this story. The truth, however, remains unharmed.”
That applies to this book as well.
To respect the privacy of the people involved in this story, their names have been changed — with one exception. Trust me, there really is a guy named Jeff Bezos who works at Amazon.
So ... if you are looking for a 1,000-page treatise on Amazon that can be used to illustrate perfect grammar in a High school class, this ain't it. English is my 3rd language, and it shows here and there. There are several other books on Amazon which are written in perfect English but are also perfectly boring.
All in all, I am proud of my work, Enjoy!
Kalpanik S.
Trade Review by Carine Engelbrecht, Readers’ Favorite
You can love them or loathe them, but since Amazon sold their first book over nineteen years ago, the company has transformed the lives of book lovers & online shoppers worldwide. The company started out as an e-commerce bookstore, but grew to the retail giant of today through the efforts of some of the world's finest technoratis. One such person is author, who chronicles his personal experiences with the company in this book.. While Kalpanik was doing other equally interesting things with his life when it all started, he did experience Amazon's crucial shift from retailer to major selling platform from a close vantage point and provides insight into how some of the features we take for granted today, such as the search algorithm and the look-inside-the-book application were created. Through the author's eyes, readers experience the relocation to Seattle and also the ultimate 'kiss-off' when he finally decides to leave the company.
Inside the Giant Machine by S. Kalpanik will make an absorbing read to anyone interested in exploring internet history or learning more about the dynamics that drive the powerful thrust of e-commerce. You will visit Amazon's largest warehouse in Fernley, Nevada, and discover why even executives must still shoulder warehouse duty from time to time. Speaking of those fully automated warehouses, you will also learn how they are optimized for shipping efficiency. Other topics covered include the company's extensive hiring protocol, almost draconian work ethic and how the notorious "cruelty curve" is applied. You will also catch priceless glimpses of the company's sometimes goofy CEO and founder Jeff Bezos
at his best - and worst. The book was released through Amazon's self publshing arm, which - considering the content - seems both ironic and deeply significant.
Confessions of a foreign-born Author
Let me introduce my book by saying what it's not - it is not THE Amazon story, just "an" Amazon story, that developed from a series of blog articles that I wrote before, during and after working there.
That said, I do believe that the book does give you an authentic insider's glimpse into inner working of Amazon in an interesting way.
A book about Amazon can be pretty dry, so I have tried to add some humor. In my attempt to make this book funny, a few facts may have been stretched. I quote this passage from 21 Dog Years: Doing Time @ Amazon.com, written by Daisey, a fellow Amazon alumnus–turned author:
“Some facts were injured in the telling of this story. The truth, however, remains unharmed.”
That applies to this book as well.
To respect the privacy of the people involved in this story, their names have been changed — with one exception. Trust me, there really is a guy named Jeff Bezos who works at Amazon.
So ... if you are looking for a 1,000-page treatise on Amazon that can be used to illustrate perfect grammar in a High school class, this ain't it. English is my 3rd language, and it shows here and there. There are several other books on Amazon which are written in perfect English but are also perfectly boring.
All in all, I am proud of my work, Enjoy!
Kalpanik S.
