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# Inside Amazon: AWS, APIs, and Platform Thinking
- URL: https://www.philsimon.com/inside-amazon-aws-apis-and-platform-thinking/
- Published: 2013-12-05T22:02:57.000Z
- Updated: 2025-07-18T00:10:17.000Z
- Description: A fascinating window into one of the company's strongest, most innovative, and most profitable planks.
- Author: Phil Simon
- Tags: Platforms, Strategy, Amazon, The Age of the Platform

Not that much is known about the inner workings of certain parts of Amazon, Brad Stone's great book [*The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon*](https://www.amazon.com/The-Everything-Store-Bezos-Amazon/dp/0316219266/ref=cm%5Frdp%5Fproduct&linkCode=as2&tag=phisim-20?ref=philsimon.com)(affiliate link) notwithstanding. After reading it, I for one still had many questions about how AWS works.

For an amazing insight into this, check out [this HBR piece with Andy Jassy of Amazon](https://blogs.hbr.org/2013/12/amazon-turned-a-flaw-into-gold-with-advanced-problem-solving/?ref=philsimon.com). The best part about this talk: Jassy is discussing highly technical concepts in plain English. It's a critical skill on which many tech executives could certainly improve.

Enjoy.