Pride Before the Fall

by John Heilemann

First published 2003

Microsoft dominated the tech world with unprecedented speed and profit. The company seemed untouchable until the U.S. Department of Justice began investigating its business practices. Few expected the government to succeed against such a powerful corporation. Heilemann chronicles the epic legal battle that became the defining antitrust case of the digital age. Through exclusive interviews with key players, he reconstructs the courtroom drama and backroom strategies that shaped United States v. Microsoft. Bill Gates and his executives fought against Justice Department prosecutor Joel Klein and lead counsel David Boies. Intel's Andy Grove and Sun Microsystems' Scott McNealy played crucial supporting roles. Unknown government lawyers and corporate insiders influenced the outcome as much as the famous names. Heilemann examines how this landmark case unfolded and why it mattered for the future of technology. The book explores the forces that brought down one of history's most successful companies.

Genres: history, business, non-fiction, law

Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: epic, investigative-journalism

Setting: United States

Period: 20th-century, 21st-century

246 pages · Hardcover · Diane Pub Co

More by John Heilemann

Readers who liked Pride Before the Fall also liked

View on Siftivo