Book Review: The Domain Game by David Kesmodel

Posted October 8th, 2008

In a lot of ways, the domain industry has enjoyed a period of unspoiled bliss. Save for an article here and there, no one has paid a large amount of attention to what we do. A lack of scrutiny from the outside world has allowed the industry to grow and thrive on its own terms. For years, this business has been dubbed the “wild west”, a space where anything goes. We made up the rules as we went along and although we didn’t always get it right the first time, the result is that a stable, respectable industry has been created by hundreds of people siting in front of  their computers, as author David Kesmodel describes “in their shorts”. As the industry evolves from the “wild west” business place of the last 10 years into a more controlled and traditionally profitable venture, so go the days of searching hard for the words to explain what we do.

In his book “The Domain Game: How People Get Rich From Internet Domain Names,” Kesmodel opens the door on domaining and invites the rest of the world to the party. Weaving together a series of success stories, court cases, major gains, crippling losses and dumb luck, Kesmodel, a writer for the Wall Street Journal, paints a portrait of the industry as it is. Kesmodel charts the rise of industry luminaries from (often) humble beginnings to the top of the “domain game” while simultaneously telling the story of how entities like Network Solutions, DigiMedia and BuyDomains came to exist.

Similar to Sarah Lacey’s book “Once You’re Lucky, Twice You’re Good: The Rebirth of Silicone Valley and the Rise of Web 2.0” a book about those other internet mavericks; it works as much as an encyclopedia of whose who in the domain industry as it does as a history book explaining how we got where we are. Kesmodel also includes a list of resources for readers who are interested in joining the domain action. 

“The Domain Game” is an excellent resource for the domain industry regardless of what side of the business you are on. Equal parts historical text, business self help and biography you would be hard pressed to not learn something new regardless of how seasoned a domain veteran you may be.

“The Domain Game” by David Kesmodel is currently available for purchase at Amazon.com. Check back with us in the coming weeks for an interview with the author.

Tags: David Kesmodel, The Domain Game
Posted in Book Reviews by Kelly Hardy