Goomics: Google's corporate culture revealed through internal comics

by Manu Cornet

200+ comics, 150 pages in full color. A centerpiece of our culture. — Ben Henning, Googler Goomics constantly redefines what it means to be "Googley". — Michael Head, Googler Google's collective unconscious made manifest. — Luis Nin, Googler I've read books about Google, before and after joining, and this is the best one by far. — Hans Wennborg, Googler Manu, you have a gift for depicting in comic form the succinct, pithy truths we all need to see. Don't ever stop. — Matt Stone, Googler Impossible to ignore. — Satya Nadella, C.E.O. of Microsoft

Genres: Comics

142 pages, Paperback

Published May 19, 2018

Reviews

[Yulia Tell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nerdy, geeky and hilarious book - a fun insight into the reality of working at Google. Great sense of humor, fun comics, and truly Googley in spirit.

[Herve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must thank sincerely Nicolas for offering me today Goomics by Manu Cornet, subtitled Google’s corporate culture revealed through internal comics. It looks great though I have read only the 1st two chapters (A is for Android and B is for Bonus). It is funny for sure if you know a little about Google. It begins with a Foreword this way: “Forewords are boring. I never read them myself. Please go ahead and turn the page now.” I did not and was right not to! I think this may become another bestseller about Google… I might tell you more as I read it…

I’ve reached letter O of Goomics by Manu Cornet. (you can see my previous post about the book here). My favorite piece is at letter N for Nerds. I hope this author will not complain about my copying it here… I agree with the author. That much for lousy jokes, but I love it. And a more serious one, the amazing growth of Google with its 4 CEOs. Thanks a lot for the author for new contribution about Google.

My final comment about Goomics deals with Manu Cornet’s views on Patents. They are not that different from mine. You may also try to guess what invention Cornet’s is referring to and what is the Australian patent I use in my class. It was granted and then revoked, shoudl you be interested to know about it…

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed Goomics!
As a non-Googler it was a delight to discover and have an insight of what makes up the "curious and mysterious world of Googlers" to 'outsiders'!! Hehe :)

Without spoiling too much Goomics covers quite a lot- From funny and witty anecdotes; passing by the complex workflow and systems and onto the darker bits of the corporate world.

A slight hiccup that i found- the text can be quite heavy and lengthy at times whilst the author is trying to explain terms or jargon (and may not appear as being reader friendly to everyone)

As a big fan of Manu Cornet's works (being a self made cartoonist) I'm looking forward to the next edition(s)!!! 😄

I'm sure many things have changed in the company since he first published Goomics in 2018 :P and hoping to see Manu back with updates soon...

[ZeV · Rating 4 out of 5]

Google held a special place as a company, symbolizing the hope and optimism of the internet era at the turn of the century. It particularly resonated with those in the tech industry, who dreamed of new and exciting possibilities for a better future. However, as we find ourselves a quarter of the way into the current century, things have changed dramatically. Nowadays, Google is rarely portrayed in a positive light. It has become associated with the term "Big Tech," which carries a negative connotation referring to the multinational corporations solely focused on world domination through capitalism. Whether this characterization is fair or not, we observe Google using different lenses now and back in the days.

In "Goomics Vol. 1 2010-2015," we get a glimpse into the inner workings of Google during its transition from the "Don't be evil" phase to the current era of Big Tech. The comics, drawn by a long-time employee for internal use within Google, offer an immediate and intriguing perspective for those who have only observed the company from the outside. The book is structured like a dictionary, with each letter of the alphabet introducing a word or concept associated with Google.

Different readers will find different aspects of the book interesting. As a software engineer, the depiction of the engineering process and the experience of working for a rapidly expanding company resonates, particularly when viewed through the eyes of an employee fortunate enough to be part of its historical growth.

While much has been written about Google elsewhere, the unique presentation of this book, in the form of comics drawn by an employee, offers a truly distinct experience.

[Deepa Priolkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every engineer's handbook basically.

[superawesomekt · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband works for Google, so this was a fun read. For those who know or love Google engineers this is a fun insight into their work life.

[Abdullah Mirza · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most intelligent comic strips I've read.