The second book by Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, "Business @ the Speed of Thought," hit bookshelves Wednesday, following on the heels of its predecessor, "The Road Ahead," which sold over 2.5 million copies. But like The Road Ahead, Gates' latest book is considered a massive waste of time for most people. Gates had promised that his second book would be more technical, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
Instead, the book covers business in the digital age, a sort of loose collection of anecdotal information about commerce on the Internet, business operations, and "knowledge management." This from the CEO of the company whose own email sunk Microsoft during the ongoing antitrust trial. Gates has a reputation of a technologist, but this book looks to offer nothing of value to people who are into technology. Rather, it appears to be targeted at Dilbert's pointy-haired boss. I can only imagine that managers around the world are sitting at home (or God forbid, their offices) highlighting key phrases.
In any event, I'm going to read it, of course. If I see anything that changes my mind, I'll post a full review. But take my impending silence as a sign that this book is probably best left for the weaker minded. If you're still interested, please feel free to visit the Web site for the book.
--Pau
