- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: H.B. Fenn & Company (Mar 1 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1552639401
- ISBN-13: 978-1552639405
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.8 x 2.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 567 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#113,040 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #28 in Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Patents & Inventions
- #29 in Books > Engineering > Patents & Inventions
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Product Details |
Product Description
Quill & Quire
Rod McQueen’s new book features a foreword by tech giants Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis, co-CEOs of the Waterloo, Ontario-based Research In Motion. Typically, this would mean that the main figures in the book have, in one way or another, endorsed the author’s work. In this case, however, the foreword barely reads like an endorsement. In fact, the tone of Balsillie and Lazaridis’s corporate boilerplate-heavy foreword is reminiscent of Jack Donaghy’s blurb for Liz Lemon’s book, Dealbreakers, on the sitcom 30 Rock: “Lemon numbers among my employees.” Here, the RIM co-CEOs write: “Rod McQueen has interviewed a broad range of people and endeavored to capture many of the events and turning points that occurred during that time.”
There is no reason for Balsillie and Lazaridis to be so reserved: McQueen has turned them into the heroes of his book. The story of Research In Motion is undeniably compelling and genuinely inspiring, and not only to those who seek to earn unfathomable riches. Lazaridis, who is the central figure in this book (not the better-known, NHL franchise-seeking Balsillie), is portrayed as a hard-working engineering whiz with a unique vision who is ultimately rewarded (with unfathomable riches) for his efforts.
McQueen’s admiration for the RIM co-CEOs manifests itself in comically bad descriptions of the two middle-aged men, as when he writes that Balsillie “looks slimmer than his 190 pounds, as if he’s built to go where others can’t.” McQueen is also prone to Dan Brown-esque chapter-ending sentences that are surely intended to foreshadow and build suspense, but will leave most readers groaning. The second chapter, which includes a reference to the fact that RIM, while still a young firm, declined an opportunity to be involved in building what became known as the Canadarm, concludes with this: “After forgoing outer space, RIM was about to take the first tentative steps to a new frontier right here on earth.”
With writing like this and an overabundance of RIM-friendly sources, the book seems, at times, a bit like an in-house production. Overall, though, the book is quite detailed and will prove to be a very useful resource for those who want to study RIM. Now that’s a blurb.
Review
“The story of Research in Motion is undeniably compelling and genuinely inspring.”--Quill & Quire
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
This is not a book - it is a press release,
By Jasper Taylor (Toronto (ON)) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Blackberry: Inside Story of Research in Motion (Hardcover)
If you're looking for a detailed, objective analysis of Research in Motion and the Blackberry you won't find it here I'm afraid. This book reads like a collection of press releases courtesy of RIM's PR department. This is not a serious book but more like a company-sanctioned puff piece. You'd be much better off by reading The BlackBerry Planet which will give you a far better behind-the-scenes view of what RIM is all about.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Insight about a Great Company,
By
This review is from: Blackberry: Inside Story of Research in Motion (Hardcover)
This is an amazing little book giving great insight into the history of the company, where RIM came from and why and how the Blackberry itself became so popular.I'm not sure what the other reviewer wanted except for maybe stats, charts and numbers.... you won't find it in this book, but what you will find is the heart and soul of RIM and why it has become a dynamo in todays SmartPhone market and how it all came about. It gives the history of Research in Motion and its' symbiosis with Waterloo University and the growth of both of them. Once you've read this book, you'll understand why it acquired a company like Qnix. RIM shows itself ready and willing to blaze ahead in yet newer and even more exciting technological frontiers. Research in Motion is more, much more than just a cell phone company, and this book will give you insight into all of that. It's also an easy and enjoyable read.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
3.8 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews) 1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Business libraries need this!,
By Midwest Book Review - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Blackberry: Inside Story of Research in Motion (Hardcover)
BLACKBERRY: THE INSIDE STORY OF RESEARCH IN MOTION tells of a generation enamored by their Blackberry smartphones - and follows its history from its modest appearance in 1999 to how it became one of the most popular and famous technology gadgets in the world. Research in Motion is the company behind the BlackBerry's marketing program - and this follows its rise and the key influences of two leaders who have set business industry standards through their efforts. Business libraries need this!
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Overall, a decent read,
By R. Pokkyarath - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Blackberry: Inside Story of Research in Motion (Hardcover)
I've always been fascinated with RIM; not sure why, it's perhaps due to a perception I have that RIM has depth, both from a technological and business standpoint. I've long stopped reading books that chronicles the rise of companies and have walked right past bookshelves that proclaim the arrival of new giants like Facebook and Twitter, but, RIM, of course, is different and I had to get it.Now, the book is good and it starts well. It does give an 'inside story' about the company and does a fairly good job of providing an overview of the company right from pre-inception to where it stands towards the end of 2009; it covers the early business approach, the financing aspects and transitioning as a major player with the introduction of BlackBerry. However, towards the end it gets a little light and fluffy, if I may say so. I would have preferred to read more about the technological challenges RIM overcame (there are pieces here and there such as the single mail box problem, Show Low project) and a bit more about how they successfully navigated the market with all those big guys around. Personally I would have preferred the last few chapters compressed into fewer pages; for example, I mean, I wasn't really that interested in knowing all the specific charity contributions of the early team members; so instead of enumerating that it would've been better if something else had taken its place. But, in overall, it does give you a picture about how RIM became what it is today. If you are part of the Black Berry cult you might like it more since there is a lot of emphasis on the personalities. PS - Einstein's notion of God is a bit different... "I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it."..."I believe in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with the fates and actions of human beings." I'm not expressing an opinion one way or the other here, but the author has tried to draw a parallel between Mike's faith and Einstein's thoughts about reality 2 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Story About A Great Company,
By Geoff Howard - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Blackberry: Inside Story of Research in Motion (Hardcover)
I was thoroughly impressed by this book. The story is well written, easy to read and at times hard to put down. I was completely drawn in to the story that began as a biography of Mike Lazaridis and evolved in to the story of Research in Motion.I was impressed with how Mike Lazaridis combined his desire for pushing the boundaries of technology with the development of a successful business. You realize that Research in Motion is a company that was built from the ground up and then when it got to the point of serious lift off along comes Jim Balsillie whose introduction and effect on Research in Motion took it up to and beyond that next level. This book is not a deep dive in to what it takes to get a company up and going and then turn it in to a success but I would say it is a brilliantly written over view of what it takes to do just that. It lets you know that while Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie are the main faces of the company there were also many other people whose names many may not know that were and are key components in getting Research in Motion to where it is at now. It also lets you know that Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie are doing more for Canada and the world in general then just keeping everyone connected with the BlackBerry. I definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about Research in Motion or how hard work, focus and vision can build something truly successful. |
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