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The Four

summary ofThe FourBook by Scott Galloway

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You’ll learn

  • What secrets fuel tech giants
  • How Amazon takes risks
  • When to innovate or imitate
  • Why are data insights crucial

first KEY POINT

The rise of the four horsemen

For over 20 years, four tech giants have been directly responsible for shaping how we connect, shop for household items, and gain information about stuff we don't know.Can you guess who these giants are? It's not even hard because they've grown into behemoths in their rights. Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google have managed to displace the companies that played before them and establish themselves as disruptive market dominators. Apple displaced IBM; Facebook took people from MySpace; Amazon overrode Walmart and other retail stores; and for Google, it was Yahoo. Each of these competitors is still alive, but they've lost relevance to the four. How did it happen? What made these four companies grow to such mighty heights, and what does the future hold for them? Should we expect a fifth company to join their leagues soon, or would one of these be replaced by a younger, sexier, and more driven company?These are the questions we'll be answering in this summary. We'll begin with examining the four individually to extract lessons business leaders can learn from them. Then in a later chapter, we'd consider what it takes to become one of the four as well as a few companies that look promising. And we end with expert advice for career advancement in the digital age. Sounds interesting? Let's get started!

Non-visionary companies always lose out to their visionary counterparts.

second KEY POINT

Earth's most customer-centric company

When Jeff Bezos launched Amazon in 1995, his mission was to build the “Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online and to offer customers the lowest possible prices.”The vision may seem practical today, but it wasn't so in 1995. Bezos launched his company at a time when e-commerce wasn't a thing. The Internet hadn't developed to what it is today, so you could easily get a mocking laugh from friends when you told them you were building a platform where people could buy anything they wanted online.But Jeff Bezos was a visionary. He was able to see the future of retail before anyone even caught wind of it. The result? 52% of U.S. households used Amazon prime in 2016. If you’d compare that to the fact that just 44% of U.S. households had a gun in the same year, you'd see how much influence Amazon has amassed. If that's not staggering enough, half of all online growth and 21% of retail growth in 2016 are traceable to Amazon.In short, Amazon has become a household brand for most consumers around the world, and the secret of this growth lies in Amazon's commitment to its mission.

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first KEY POINT

Luxury always wins

second KEY POINT

Facebook and Google are taking over the advertising world

third KEY POINT

Lie your way to building a multibillion-dollar conglomerate

fourth KEY POINT

A trillion dollars and market dominance are what you need to take on the four

fifth KEY POINT

Conclusion

About the author

As an NYU Professor and entrepreneur, Scott Galloway merges academic insight with real-world experience to decode the success of tech’s biggest players. He explains how digital giants have reshaped global commerce and culture.

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Frequently asked questions

What is The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google about?

The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google by Scott Galloway explores the strategies and principles that have propelled these tech giants to dominance. It analyzes their business models and reveals the psychological and social factors that contribute to their extraordinary success.

What are the key takeaways from The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google?

Key takeaways from The Four include insights into how each company uniquely engages consumers and leverages data for growth. Galloway highlights the importance of brand loyalty, innovation, and ecosystem creation in sustaining competitive advantages.

Is The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google worth reading?

Yes, The Four is worth reading for anyone interested in understanding modern capitalism and technology's role in shaping consumer behavior. Scott Galloway's engaging writing style and sharp observations make it a compelling read for both business professionals and casual readers.

How many pages is The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google and when was it published?

The Four spans approximately 272 pages and was published on September 19, 2017. This concise format makes it accessible for readers looking to gain insights on today’s major tech players.

What insights does Scott Galloway provide about the future of technology in The Four?

Galloway forecasts that the power of these tech giants will continue to grow unless there are significant regulatory changes or shifts in consumer sentiment. He emphasizes the importance of understanding their influence on society and the market to anticipate future developments in technology.