The Difference Between God and Larry Ellison

As the head of the Oracle Software Corporation, Ellison keeps his name firmly in the headlines: Recently he announced his desire to buy Apple Computer (only to change his mind just weeks later) and now he has a place on Apple's board, alongside his friend Steve Jobs. Equally bold are his visionary ideas (the network computer, for example), his public determination to conquer Bill Gates, and his brash, yet immensely appealing personality, which has made him one of the most visible players in Silicon Valley. One of the ways he's done this is by making sure that Oracle software is everywhere you turn: If you withdraw cash from an ATM, that's Oracle at work. If you make an airline reservation, you're experiencing Ellison's impact on today's technology landscape. While Microsoft was busy putting a computer in every home, Ellison was fomenting a revolution at the office, creating faster and better databases for businesses and government agencies. Along the way, as this probing book shows, Ellison developed the skills of a ruthless businessman, who sometimes employed misdirection and half-truths to achieve the success he desired.