Engineering & Technology

*REVISED AND UPDATED*

*SHORTLISTED FOR THE FINANCIAL TIMES BUSINESS BOOK 2022*
*A TIMES BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEARS 2022*
*A NEW YORK TIMES BEST BUSINESS BOOK 2022*

‘A fascinating study of the tech giant and its symbiotic relationship with the Chinese government’ – Guardian

‘Vital . . . More than a corporate hagiography, Ms. Chen’s book offers insight into the company via executive interviews and exclusive details.’ — New York Times

‘Influence Empire by Lulu Yilun Chen is so much more than the long-awaited story of Tencent and its vital everything app, WeChat, the messaging tool used by 1.3 billion people. It’s also the sobering account of an entire generation of high-flying Chinese tech entrepreneurs, whose wings were clipped by the omnipotent hand of their own government.’ — Brad Stone, author of Amazon Unbound and The Everything Store

PRE-ORDER NOW: the definitive look at Tencent, one of the world’s largest tech companies.
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In 2017, a company known as Tencent overtook Facebook to become the world’s fifth largest company. It was a watershed moment, a wake-up call for those in the West accustomed to regarding the global tech industry through the prism of Silicon Valley: Facebook, Google, Apple and Microsoft.

Yet to many of the two billion-plus people who live just across the Pacific Ocean, it came as no surprise at all.

Founded by the enigmatic billionaire Pony Ma, the firm that began life as a simple text-message operator invested in and created some of China’s most iconic games en route to dreaming up WeChat – the Swiss Army knife super-app that combines messaging, shopping and entertainment. Through billions of dollars of global investments in marquee names from Fortnite to Tesla and a horde of start-ups, Ma’s company went on to build a near-unparalleled empire of influence.

In this fascinating narrative – crammed with insider interviews and exclusive details – Lulu Chen tells the story of how Tencent created the golden era of Chinese technology, and delves into key battles involving Didi, Meituan and Alibaba. It’s a chronicle of critical junctures and asks just what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur in China.
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‘There’s so much fascinating detail here.’ — The Times

‘Lulu Yilun Chen has written a sharply informed, smart and compelling account of the rise of some of the most powerful companies in China, which also stand among the biggest and richest tech giants in the world. Despite their enormous size and power, few outside of China know of or understand these companies. Now, thanks to Influence Empire: Inside the Story of Tencent and China’s Tech Ambition, that will finally change.’ — Howard French, former NY Times Shanghai bureau chief and author of Everything Under the Heavens: How the Past Helps Shape China’s Push for Global Power

‘A book that tells Tencent’s story has been long overdue, and Lulu Chen’s account is not only comprehensive, but also a gripping business narrative. The globally influential company finally has the account it deserves.’ — David Barboza, The Wire

*A Forbes Espana Top Ten Book 2022*
*A Project Syndicate 2022 Best Read*

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If you’re ready to learn how to use all those fancy functions of your new digital SLR camera so that you can have more control over the pictures you take, then this book is for you!

Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet, or Kindle device.

Let me guess: You recently got a new DSLR camera, and in all your excitement, you tossed the manual somewhere and then went out to take pictures. Of course, similar to a “point-and-shoot” camera, anybody can take a fairly decent image using the Auto setting, because the camera does all of the work for you! However, with Auto mode, you’ll soon find yourself frustrated at the lackluster quality the photographs have. Auto mode simply doesn’t give you enough control over your image.

Believe it or not, photography is actually a hard skill to learn. The biggest obstacle is that people often feel daunted by all of the seemingly complex functions, buttons, and dials available to them on a DSLR camera. And this is where I come in to help! I’ve written this short book as an easy-to-understand guide on how to use the manual functions on your camera. Regardless of the brand of your camera, the goal of this eBook is to take the fear out of all the unknown buttons and features. As you’ll come to find out, once you’ve gotten control over your camera, you’ll begin to have more control over your photographs. Your frustration with your camera will subside, and even if you consider yourself an amateur or a beginner, your images will take on a much more professional, technical quality. So if you’re ready to impress yourself (and get your money’s worth from your expensive camera) by becoming a savvy DSLR photographer, then let’s get started!

Here Is A Preview Of What You’ll Learn…

• Getting Started with the Basics
• Choosing Your Settings
• Understanding the Dial on Top of Your Camera
• Learning to Read the Display
• Getting the Hang of Metering Modes and Focus Modes
• Understanding ISO and White Balance
• Learning to Work in RAW
• Much, much more!

Download your copy today!

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