Stone (The Everything Store) presents a detailed account of two powerful players in the contemporary internet marketplace: Uber and Airbnb. This insider's examination uses interviews with current and former employees, Uber drivers, Airbnb hosts, government regulators, and CEOs Travis Kalanick and Brian Chesky, respectively. Both firms started as one of many ideas that fledgling entrepreneurs launched in the mid-2000s. Although there were other ride- and space-sharing companies debuting about the same time, it was the hard work, vision, and contacts with venture capitalists that allowed Kalanick and Chesky to grow their companies, first nationally then internationally. They had to overcome the entrenched interests and political connections of the transportation and hospitality industries, along with public skepticism over the wisdom of sharing automobiles and living space with -total strangers. Both companies now stand as mature, successful enterprises always searching for new opportunities in the digital world. Dean Temple does a wonderful job presenting the story, changing the tone of his voice to individualize the different players. VERDICT Listeners interested in the ever-changing world of Internet commerce should enjoy this work. ["A very readable, informative history that will likely appeal...to those interested in the sharing economy and contemporary business history": LJ 2/15/17 review of the Little, Brown hc.]--Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. Parkersburg Lib. © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The fast-paced look at the rapidly changing world of the tech industry gets bogged down by the complexity of the story: there are so many young guns, also-rans, VC firms, and temper tantrums that it's hard for the listener to keep everyone straight. At times the narrative has so many players and so much complexity that the audio format feels overly demanding. Temple's solid, almost soothing, reading voice provides a steady guide through Stone's text, although at times his reasonable tone is at odds with the story, like when he softens the edges of Uber founder Travis Kalanick, notorious for his hotheaded iconoclasm and public outbursts. Overall, though, Temple turns in a proficient performance. A Little, Brown hardcover. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.