This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Winning @ Amazon by Gisela Hausmann is an account of Hausmann's twenty-two-year journey as a self-published author and employee at Amazon, and a reconnoiter of its business model, operations, and treatment of their workforce. Hausmann's early experience of self-publishing on Amazon in 1997 is basically a masterclass in bucking tradition and leveraging Amazon's sales rank system to market her book. Despite personal hardship, loss, and changes to the platform, Hausmann remains with Amazon and begins working at a local Amazon delivery station in 2019. During this time she witnesses operational inconsistencies, safety hazards, and a disconnect between Amazon's customer-centric claims and the reality of their practices. As these issues really soar during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hausmann leaves and publishes Inside Amazon: My Story. She credits her work as a possible catalyst of some of the positive changes she sees upon her return and sincerely encourages those working in any sector to take a hard look at their employers, consider other career options if needed, and remain resilient for optimal success.
I love books where an author gives us a “You got this!” feel as they share their personal story, and this is exactly what I got while reading Winning @ Amazon by Gisela Hausmann. I actually live about a mile from the largest Amazon sorting facility in London and while I've certainly heard grumblings on their practices, this is the first time I've gotten an in-depth account on the experience as a whole. Hausmann's assessment is authentically balanced. Amazon does a lot of things wrong, and there is plenty of room for improvement, but there are also areas where they are good. I didn't even know self-publishing on Amazon was a thing in the 90s! What's hilarious is that this is when Amazon was a straight-up bookseller and not the behemoth they are now. The bookending of self-publishing was definitely my favorite part, and Hausmann's eye on the impact of COVID-19 was superb. Amazon was essentially the savior of city folk in the pandemic...but at what cost? Hausmann's writing is clean and she herself is relatable, and I have no doubt others who read this will feel the same. Very highly recommended.
