New Book Reveals Inside Story Of AOL

Business Wire, Jan 3, 2000

Business Editors

SUNNYVALE, CA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 3, 2000

New Book Reveals Inside Story of AOL

An insiders look at America Online (AOL) network is explored in "AOL BY GEORGE! The Inside Story of America Online" by George Thornally. Based on his seven years as a Forum Leader for AOL, the author reveals, among other insights, how the forums were created, tells how to use e-mail without devastating consequences, and provides insider glimpses of the early days when today's 20 million members numbered only a few thousand.

Not a single book until now tells about the early days or about the people who actually created AOL. Reports typically feature AOL management, who, when interviewed, talk about themselves. People want to go backstage to see how the AOL "community" was developed, for instance. What can the people who worked in the trenches tell us about how to handle e-mail? What problems can befall those who continuously work or play online? How is community created? What is information entrepreneuring? What of the future?

George Thornally provides the first look inside the jaws of the monster. Noteworthy revelations are: AOL was "invented" mainly in the San Francisco Bay Area; "Community" was created by design; Working or playing online leads to problems that can be overcome.

Praise for "AOL BY GEORGE!" from Guy Kawasaki, "Everyone who reads AOL BY GEORGE! will come away with a deeper sense of what it means to be human in a world increasingly governed by technology that can often be dehumanizing." Cliff Stoll, "Here with stories and smiles George Thornally tells the evolution of (AOL's) electronic community." Steve Roberts, "George was an early part of AOL culture, privy to the myriad growing pains of that unique community, and offers insights into the transition from geek chat'n download resource to key social focus of millions of lives."

Drawing on a fantastic cast of characters and episodes, the author tells about what went on under the mushroom. George writes "We complained America Online practiced Mushroom Management by keeping us in the dark. Who were we? We were the Forum Leaders. We presented AOL to its members and thereby to its public, the world at large. We were on the front lines. We evangelized AOL, we took guff from the members, smoothed their ruffled feathers, and on occasion, threw them a lifeline. Ultimately we created an extraordinary community and in doing so made AOL singularly great among online services."

("AOL BY GEORGE!" is available for $17.95 at bookstores, direct 800-929-7889, and online from Fatbrain or Amazon. Baker & Taylor serves the book trade. See the companion website: http://www.AOLbyGEORGE.com.)

SOURCE: DigitalWork ( http://www.digitalwork.com )

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