While it was interesting learning a bit about Ma and alibaba, this book comes across as a glowing PR puff piece. The goal of the book seems to have been to suck up to Ma rather than actually tell the story of the man and his company.

Several times, the authors refer to events and stories that may or may not be true, saying as such. Isn't it your job as a writer to do some research and prove/disprove them?

Also, the writing itself is horrific. It is appalling that someone li More...

This book was an interesting introduction to Jack Ma and the company he created. The first few chapters give inspiring insight into Jack's energy and how he grew from his humble beginnings to recognize the potential of the internet to transform how Chinese businesses can be run. Unfortunately, the second half reads like some Alibaba Inc. propaganda sheet on how the company rose to its current heights. Hence the 3 stars for what is actually a 4.5 star story.

This book should have been far better than it was: the lead author is a Chinese journalist, and the secondary author is an author/translator. So, where was the editor? Why no footnotes supporting the claims, quotes and statistics cited? Why no complex sentences?

Given the importance of China, this book could have been a Must Read for businesses looking to figure out how/what to do in that country. Instead it's a 288-page essay written by someone in the 8th/9th grade. Ma "fee More...

This counts as journalism? Informative in some respects and thus perhaps a necessary read for investors, but otherwise utterly one-sided. Co-authors Liu Shiying and Martha Avery are apparently respectively a journalist and head of a media consulting company, and a Chinese business author with a Wharton MBA. Whatever. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Told a good story about Jack Ma, Alibaba.com and business is done in Asia or more specifically China (its not the usual American narrative stuff - which can be a turn off sometimes).
Inspiring and had quite a bit of quoteworthy lines.
Definitely worth a reread in the future.

Corporate hagiography. Not that Jack Ma hasn't earned one, but still.