Winner Sells All never comes to be without the trust all of my sources placed in me. That is not something I take for granted, and I owe a lot to every single one of them. This history is also theirs. I hope I did it justice.
This book might not exist either without an email that arrived in my inbox on the evening of April 7, 2020, only a few weeks after the United States plunged into the Covid-19 abyss.
“I realize it’s an unprecedented time, and I don’t mean to put extra pressure on you, on top of everything you are dealing with. However, the world is realizing how important e-commerce is. And you happen to have a book proposal in the works about this very subject. Have you had any time to work on it?”
The sender was Ethan Bassoff, a literary agent who had first contacted me the prior summer after he read an oral history of Amazon Prime that I published. Ethan and I began working on a book proposal together about the Amazon/Walmart rivalry shortly thereafter, even before I had agreed to hire him. But when the pandemic hit, and my work and home lives were turned upside down, I took a pause. Sorry, Ethan, but that email kind of annoyed me at the time. The truth, though, is that I needed that nudge. We finished the proposal over the next two months and rushed it out to publishers. Ethan’s edits and guidance then, and his counsel in the years since, were pivotal. I’ve been lucky to have him, and his persistence, at my side.
My editor, Hollis Heimbouch, at Harper Business took a chance on a first-time author with an ambitious idea that often felt too big to tackle. Her edits, feedback, and patience are crucial to whatever success this book ends up having. The sharp eye of Rachel Kambury, my associate editor, and her reminders about the real-world impact of these two industry giants made this book better. I’m also grateful for the behind-the-scenes work of Christina Polizoto, Jared Oriel, Beth Silfin, James Neidhardt, and the rest of the Harper Business staff who played key roles in this project and pushing it across the finish line.
At Walmart, Dan Bartlett welcomed me in despite knowing I was not drafting a hagiography. Ravi Jariwala and Erin Hulliberger made what could have been a long, difficult process easier. Erin, in particular, was a worthy sparring partner, but always a respectful one. Chris Oster and Jordan Deagle at Amazon were as helpful as you might find inside that company.
I might not have ever stumbled upon the wild worlds of retail and e-commerce if not for Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg, who hired me in 2013 to cover Amazon at Recode’s predecessor, All Things Digital. I’ve learned so much from both of them. I’m thankful for Samantha Oltman, my boss at Recode, who was supportive of this book even when it meant taking an extended leave from my day job. Sam also challenged me to widen the lens of my daily reporting to connect the dots between Amazon’s and Walmart’s actions and how they shape the lives of everyday people. I was fortunate to have worked with a long list of other stellar journalists at Recode, including Peter Kafka, Ken Li, Edmund Lee, and many others. Each of you has taught me valuable lessons and I have nothing but love for you all.
Even though we didn’t know each other very well, Christina Farr was a generous sharer of healthcare-related knowledge and contacts, which made one of my favorite chapters possible. Mark Bergen, Mike Isaac, and Max Chafkin provided helpful perspectives as fellow first-time authors.
Of course, there’s zero chance this book would have seen the light of day if not for the love and support of my family and close friends. Joe, Justin, and Steve are the best buds a guy could ask for. My cousin Mike’s motivating texts meant more to me than he probably realized.
My bonus mom, Marguerite, welcomed me into her home for an important week of writing at a critical juncture of my book leave. Beyond that, her love and confidence in me helped buoy my spirit. My siblings, Bernard and Christie, and my brother-in-law, Jason, offered constant encouragement and helpful feedback, whether from next door or the other side of the world. Their belief in me picked me up during trying times.
I would give up this book, and much more, to be able to share just one more day with my parents, Patricia and Bernard. Wherever you both are, I can only hope I’ve made you proud. Your legacies are enormous.
Visits to my attic “office” from my children, Sebastian and Scarlett, provided bursts of light on what felt like dark days. I’m not sure I deserved the patience they showed me, but I will be forever grateful that they did. And, yes, Daddy will seriously consider writing a children’s book next.
Where do I even start with the love of my life, Tyrene—my confidant, my biggest supporter, my inspiration, my first and last reader. I’m not sure either of us knew what we were signing up for when I agreed to a book deal in the summer of 2020. Yet you never made me feel guilty for the sacrifices this book required, even when it may have been called for. I will spend the rest of our days trying to make it up to you. I love you forever.