In Jan. 2000, America Online and Time Warner announced the largest merger in U.S. history. It was celebrated as the marriage of new media and old media, a potent combination of the nation's No. 1 Internet co. and the country's leading entertainment giant. But 3 years later, nearly all the top exec's.

behind the merger had resigned, the co. had lost tens of billions of dollars in market value, and the Gov't. had begun 2 invest. into its bus. dealings. This book takes readers behind the scenes to show how a clash of cultures set the stage for a spectacular corporate collapse. A story of ambition, hubris, and greed set amid the boom-&-bust years of the technology bubble, based on 100s of confidential company documents and interviews with key players. B&W photos.