Softwar: An Intimate Portrait of Larry Ellison and Oracle

In the computer industry, where inflated egos fire up and burn out like supernovas, Oracle's Larry Ellison's ability to sustain and thrive at the top of the software industry is overshadowed by only one: Bill Gates. But Ellison is in many ways the more compelling character: devotee of Japanese culture, jet fighter pilot, and accomplished racing boat captain. Business journalist Symonds—who was granted two years of access to Ellison at work and at play—traces his ambition and passion for competition back to a troubled upbringing that bred a longing for emotional and financial security. But the book is just as much about Oracle as Ellison's flashy personal life, and Symonds deftly analyzes the company's ups and downs including Ellison's key decision in 1995 to specifically target Microsoft in the marketplace. In an intriguing format, Ellison is allowed to add his own comments to what Symonds has written; the asides are often more revealing than the original text.