Groundswell by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff – Book Review

Posted April 13, 2009
Filed under: Book Review, Social Media | Tags: blogging, Book Review, Charlene Li, Groundswell, Josh Bernoff, Social Media |

I would like to offer periodic book reviews on WiFiJedi.com The plan is to review wireless networking and security books. However, I have been doing a lot of reading about blogging and social media these days. Therefore, this week I am reviewing the book “Groundswell” by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff.

Please let me know in the comments section if you like the idea of book reviews. Also let me know if you would like them strictly on wireless, or if you don’t mind if they are off topic.

I originally bought this book based on a You Tube video of the author, Charlene Li, making a presentation under the “Authors @Google” program. I guess the Groundswell sold one more copy of her book…

In many ways, this book reminded me of Jim Collin’s “Good to Great” book. “Groundswell” is very quantitative in nature. There are a TON of in-depth case studies – the book even contains a case index in addition to a subject index.

The book is well structured. It is broken into three main parts and has a logical idea flow of listening, talking, energizing, supporting, and embracing the groundswell. While I liked the structure, it took more time to read than most books due to its academic nature.

Overall, the authors take a practical, high-level approach to social media. They focus on the people, objectives, and strategy BEFORE they focus on any given technology.

This should definitely be a cornerstone text in any library on Social Media!

1 comment so far

Montez on April 14, 2009

I like the idea of periodic book reviews. I like the idea of you pre-screening worthwhile books for me to pickup as I enjoy your views on Wireless Security. If its a book that I’ve read, then I think I would also be curious to see if you got the same ‘feeling’ from the book that I did.

This is your space and you can do whatever it is you like. As a reader, though, I personally come here for wireless security. I don’t think the occasional off-topic book review would hurt. Especially if a dotted line can be drawn. I’ve always wanted to start a security blog but never got around to it; a book like “Groundswell” would probably be a good read, and I cannot say that I would have been exposed to it otherwise, just be careful about off-topic.

Good work on the blog!

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