Velocity: The Seven New Laws for a World Gone Digital [Brossura]

If you are smartly playing in digital creation, you see many decks and presentations about "what is happening." They always include wonderfully articulated quotes from successful, wise people. And you wonder, "Where did they get that quote?" Well, Velocity quotes are going to be all over decks for the next several months, FYI.

The format is written literally as a conversation between the two authors, Ajaz Ahmed & Stefan Olander. You are most likely grabbing this book because of the titles these people have: Chairman and Co-Founder of AKQA and Vice President, Digital Sport, Nike Inc. Boom. Instant credibility. There is absolutely no need for them to establish their credibility, the web drips with accolades on their digital smarts, creative performance and successes.

The bullet hole cover is fitting, as the book reads like bursts of shots. A smart idea. A great quotable line to sum it up. An anecdote. A quote from another source. Another smart idea, and so on. Each "chapter" closes with a summary, but ironically the book closes with none - it just ends. Well, there is a url and I guess that is the point, conversations keep going online.

As someone who teaches university students in this arena, I found this book has already proven to be quite valuable. As mentioned, the quotes have found their way into my lectures. But more importantly, I have an arsenal of anecdotes from Nike and other cool brands for student questions. The students definitely connect with the stories and the credibility of the authors. It allows me to reinforce my own ideas. The thinking is mostly agreeable, as you'd expect with two people with such a proven track records.

What kept me from giving it 5-stars:
+ I really liked when they included conversations with other people, but there were too few in my opinion. These two are going to have an extensive network, so I'd love to have other perspectives filling out the book's stories and points.

+ It is strange to read an edited conversation. You don't feel like you are over-hearing a conversation (a la Joseph Campbell & Bill Moyers.) You also don't get the normal flow of an industry book. It is an experiment, and it feels that way, both good and bad. I didn't actually "connect" with the material at times; it felt distant and conflicting. But I also enjoyed this, as it made me think and engage with the content, rather than just be led down an author's path.

Overall, good read - and something to read NOW, not later.

I had high hopes. This book contains about 6 pages of retreaded encouragement that would make a Nike sneaker blush.
That leaves 242 pages for the two authors to quote all the athletes that have been quoted in other self-help books and pat each other on the back time after time. It gets boring after a bit. Don't think that your garage based idea is going to get a start from anything in this book, because they are only talking about mega organisations that they have been affiliated with and sadly there is no room for your ego with theirs in the room.

Just because you have made it does not mean that you can write a book that others should read.

I just finished reading Velocity while on the airplane. I do like the conversational style that the 2 authors use. They bring up points that sustainable businesses can not ignore.