When the Caffeine Wears Off: De-Hyping the New Economy [Paperback]

Brian Ross (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 14, 2001

Go behind the scenes of the New Economy in this compelling firsthand account written by a Fortune 500 company's e-commerce manager.Often funny, occasionally shocking, but always on target, When the Caffeine Wears Off recounts the efforts of a century-old firm to gain a foothold in the online world.Starting in August 1999, as the hype surrounding the Internet was reaching its peak, When the Caffeine Wears Off candidly reveals how the consultants, entrepreneurs and others involved with the New Economy really behave outside the public view.Filled with real-world lessons from the trenches, When the Caffeine Wears Off is a must-read for businesspeople and anyone else who wants to understand the inner workings of the New Economyand earn a profit in the digital age.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Wicked, funny, insightful. This book is light years better than "Who Moved My Cheese." -- The Ann Arbor News, August 2001

Worth seeking out, particularly for managers...a sobering personal story about the dangers of any kind of business enthusiasm. -- Harvard Business Review, October 2001

From the Publisher

An insider’s look at the people and firms of the New Economy – including practical guidance for competing in the post dot-com era.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse; illustrated edition edition (June 14, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595183506
• ISBN-13: 978-0595183500
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,009,067 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read to understand the REAL new economy, November 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: When the Caffeine Wears Off: De-Hyping the New Economy (Paperback)

As a second-year MBA student who is interested in e-commerce and the new economy, I have read many recent books on relevant subjects. Unfortunately too often those ooks were written by consultants or vendors who purposely created unnecessary buzz words, confusions, and self-serving exaggerations that twist the truth and mislead the reader.

Well, finally here 's a book that brings fresh, unbiased, and insightful perspectives. It is written by a global e-commerce manager from a fortune 500 company, who managed his company's e-initiatives and venture capital fund. Maybe because he is very hands-on with his job, this book does not preach complicated economic theories or strategies, rather it offers real world cases and examples that makes the book simple but powerful, and abover all, REAL. It is hence very easy and enjoyable to read.

The portrayal of corporate America in this book is precise and revealing. I wonder which company the author works for. It certainly reminds me of my internship in the east coast this summer.

This book is ideal for MBAs interested in careers in start-up, consulting, and corporate America.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A view of the real internet from the trenches of buisness, October 18, 2001

By 

Milton (MINNEAPOLIS, Mongolia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When the Caffeine Wears Off: De-Hyping the New Economy (Paperback)

This book pulls no punches as it outlines the smoke and mirrors used to sell the internet to buisness. Brian outlines the methods used by these internet companies to obtain money and use your established company name to build their reputation, all without supplying a meaningful product. His view as a middle manager outlines the dangers company executives entertain and the burdens they place on their people when they have high expectations without understanding the true buisness model of the companies they want to partner with. See the recent writeup in the October 2001 Harvard Buisness Review.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book tells it like it is, August 25, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: When the Caffeine Wears Off: De-Hyping the New Economy (Paperback)

Finally! A book that tells the truth about the so-called "New Economy." I'd always suspected there was more hype than reality being spewed forth by the consultants and Internet entrepreneurs. This book confirmed my suspicions. Like many other people, I've read a lot of books about the Internet and the New Economy. None of them have been as revealing as this one. The author's conversational style and humor make this an entertaining read. But don't let that fool you. There are serious lessons learned, which the author recaps in his Ten Lessons from the Front Line. His tips on how to deal with vendor phone calls alone makes the book worth purchasing. I wish I'd known about the gems contained in this book months ago. It would have saved my firm a lot of money.