Customer Reviews

BlackBerry: The Inside Story of Research in Motion

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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!

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

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.

This is an extended press release.
There's no real point of reading this book unless you want to read about how great the top execs at RiM think they are.
Rod McQueen must be a wealthy man for selling out. Don't be fooled, this isn't journalism.