Alibaba

March 1, 2016
A study of the multibillion-dollar Chinese e-commerce conglomerate and its charismatic founder. Technology and financial expert Clark astutely profiles Jack Ma, the 51-year-old entrepreneur behind Alibaba, "the Amazon of China" that has become the world's largest online shopping mall. Having met Ma in 1999, the author recalls the former English lecturer's remarkably ambitious spirit and his intentions to overthrow the giants of Silicon Valley with the development of an unrivaled Internet-based business. Ma was backed by only a small handful of co-founders (his wife included), but the author pitched in and became an adviser to Alibaba in its infancy as it developed and gained a competitive edge through what Ma calls the "iron triangle" business plan: e-commerce, logistics, and finance, all of which Clark outlines in lucid detail. Further embellishing his portrait, the author also draws on his 20-year tenure living and working in China, and he shows the great impact of the multifaceted online experience on the country's financial and cultural climates. Clark cites the 2008 global financial crisis as the tipping point when China's economic focus turned inward to boost its own economy instead of primarily exporting goods overseas. Alibaba took the lead, launching itself with an online payment system and a host of subsidiary sites, which attracted small businesses to sell merchandise through their Web portals with no fees. Noting that the company remains governed by a "customer first, employees second, and shareholders third" philosophy, Clark contrasts Alibaba's camaraderie-centered campus culture, including employee incentives and commitment awards, with its initial struggle to find startup investors and earn commercial credibility. The author frequently highlights Ma's quirky, often contrarian personality and risk-taking management style. A particularly vigorous chapter on the struggle between Alibaba and e-commerce titans eBay and Yahoo for profitability and marketplace saturation in China dramatically demonstrates the volatility and competitiveness between businesses seeking to harness Internet consumerism. Useful, business-minded reporting on an unconventional corporate magnate, containing both corporate and human-interest perspectives.

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November 15, 2015
Former Morgan Stanley banker Clark, who's lived in China for over 20 years, explains how Alibaba became the world's second largest Internet company. With a 50,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2016

Alibaba became famous in the United States in 2014 when it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and became the largest initial public offering (IPO) in history. In China, the company has radically changed the way people shop and even created a national shopping holiday that surpassed Black Friday in sales. This book concentrates on the unique character and ambition of founder Jack Ma, while simultaneously chronicling the development of Alibaba from an apartment where you "could count the number of cofounders...by the toothbrushes jammed into mugs on a shelf in the bathroom," to the multibillion dollar corporation that has transformed life in China. As an advisor to Alibaba in the early years, Clark (chairman, investment advisory firm BDA China) is qualified to provide riveting stories about Ma, including his becoming a Tai Chi master to his role in boardroom spats. The study will appeal to those interested in business, China, ecommerce, and readers who are curious about the vibrant personality behind one of the world's greatest success stories. VERDICT This absorbing and well-written portrayal of Ma's character, and his role in Alibaba's development will appeal to a wide range of readers. [See Prepub Alert, 10/19/15.]--Casey Watters, Singapore Management Univ.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.