Hello, friends.
When I left Recode (RIP) in January after nearly a decade of reporting, podcast-hosting, and conference-producing there, I expected to take a little breather before jumping back into work. The plan was to eventually split my time between preparation for the publication of my first book, Winner Sells All, about the Amazon/Walmart rivalry, while also continuing to report and write on Amazon, Walmart and the future of commerce….right here in this very space.
But as a first-time author, I’ve been quick to admit over this three-year book journey that I often don’t know what I don’t know. And what I didn’t know back in January was just how much energy and time it was going to take to prep for the June 20 publication of Winner Sells All. I won’t bore you with all the details, but suffice it to say that my author friends were right when they told me that the work is far from over even when the manuscript is finished.
Alas, this is my first update since creating this Substack four months ago. I’m a bit disappointed by that. The good news is that I believe my time has been well spent. Besides enjoying a bit of extra time with my kids, Winner Sells All has received some great early praise. Award-winning authors like Brad Stone, Sarah Frier, Scott Galloway, and Mark Bergen have called it “revelatory,” “cinematic,” “a must-read for anyone interested in the future of commerce,” and the “definitive history” of the Amazon/Walmart battle. Kirkus Reviews dubbed it “eye-opening” and Publishers Weekly remarked that my “insights enlighten” and “This thorough outing delivers.” Smart people seem to like it and I’m really grateful for that.
In short, I’m proud of what I’ve created. My hope is this book will not only inform you about the behind-the-scenes workings and motivations of two of the most powerful corporations and employers in the world, but entertain you as well. Winner Sells All is equal parts history book and case study, with some dashes of made-for-TV drama. The audiobook version is pretty killer too. Here’s a snippet starring the narrator Roger Wayne reading the beginning of my prologue. Yes, I really did ask Jeff Bezos that.
If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll consider preordering some version of Winner Sells All today. And if independent booksellers are your jam, my friends at Word Bookstores are offering signed AND personalized copies for pickup or delivery. Preorders can have a huge impact on the long-term sales of a book. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
As for this space I’m writing in, I do hope to eventually use it more consistently. A lot has transpired in the business world in the last few months that I’ve been eager to write about if the days were longer. I am pretty intrigued by the new Substack Chat feature, too, so that may be a way to share insights and ideas with you all in a less time-intensive way. But if the last four months have taught me anything, it’s to not try to predict the future. I’m just trying to soak in the journey of bringing this book into the world, and hope you’ll join me on it.