chaosofcold's review against another edition
1.0
Moderately entertaining, but I fully concur with everyone else here who said this could/should have been a blog post or infographic.
salshrem_nardea's review against another edition
3.0
I was really looking forward to reading this book but I had a few problems with it.
It was more of a memoir than I expected, and honestly this author goes on and on about things that sometimes seem like they have nothing to do with the topic he's trying to explain. I did learn some interesting things about blogging and mass media online in general. However I felt like the author used this book to expose certain bloggers and writers because of a personal vendetta.
It was more of a memoir than I expected, and honestly this author goes on and on about things that sometimes seem like they have nothing to do with the topic he's trying to explain. I did learn some interesting things about blogging and mass media online in general. However I felt like the author used this book to expose certain bloggers and writers because of a personal vendetta.
hasseltkoffie's review against another edition
4.0
Even tough the narrator is unambigously unreliable, this is a great read especially in these times of 'fake-news' and 'alternative facts'.
If you consume social media, you should read this book. Even if you consume only mainstream media, you should read this book. The two are inextricably intertwined—and frankly, it’s a little scary
If you consume social media, you should read this book. Even if you consume only mainstream media, you should read this book. The two are inextricably intertwined—and frankly, it’s a little scary
nanometers's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
4.25
Telling book about progress of media in the Internet and digital age. Edgy examples and the playbook for what the author did are fun, whimsical and daring. Leave it a lesson to the reader to figure where their own lines are.
menniemenace's review against another edition
3.0
The media is bad and manipulative. Duh.
I didn't know Ryan Holiday wrote actual books that aren't outright self-help. That is an actually cute story of someone following his heart and all that.
However, this book wasn't really useful. It doesn't offer tips to do something good or avoid doing something bad. It also doesn't have an insightful idea. Of course the media lies. It lied before the internet and it will lie all the time.
This felt like an indirect apology from the author to himself and the people he used. That is something that doesn't need a whole book.
I didn't know Ryan Holiday wrote actual books that aren't outright self-help. That is an actually cute story of someone following his heart and all that.
However, this book wasn't really useful. It doesn't offer tips to do something good or avoid doing something bad. It also doesn't have an insightful idea. Of course the media lies. It lied before the internet and it will lie all the time.
This felt like an indirect apology from the author to himself and the people he used. That is something that doesn't need a whole book.
angelofthe0dd's review against another edition
4.0
A really eye-opening book! This book is basically about the "fake news industry" that has replaced traditional print journalism. One important take-away from this book is that we really can't go back to real, authentic journalism without paying for printed newspapers. It was the sales figures of the old papers that determined how successful a paper was, and most papers honestly attempted to maintain a level of journalistic integrity.
Having headlines on the internet completely changes how news is paid for - through clicks. It's because of this business model that the object of journalism is to get as many clicks as possible, with journalistic integrity taking a far back seat (if any seat at all). Anyone over 30 yrs old today would likely remember seeing numerous gossip tabloids in supermarket checkout lanes with headlines like "The Dark Secrets of Happy Days" or "Is President Bush Planning to Nuke Russia?". Of course only a complete moron would believe such obvious trash, but enough people bought into them that tabloid journalism did flourish for quite some time.
Fast-forward to today and headlines that *used to be* only only tabloid papers are now so ubiquitous as to have just about completely replaced honest, genuine journalism. Today's headlines aren't written by keen journalists with a network of inside sources and a nose for hot stories. Instead they're written by armies of poorly-paid hacks that churn out as much sensationalist BS as they can each day. The more clicks their headlines get, the better for the site hosting the headlines.
The author also goes into some of the psychological tricks the writers use to make the headlines being churned out almost sound like a genuine story.
Having headlines on the internet completely changes how news is paid for - through clicks. It's because of this business model that the object of journalism is to get as many clicks as possible, with journalistic integrity taking a far back seat (if any seat at all). Anyone over 30 yrs old today would likely remember seeing numerous gossip tabloids in supermarket checkout lanes with headlines like "The Dark Secrets of Happy Days" or "Is President Bush Planning to Nuke Russia?". Of course only a complete moron would believe such obvious trash, but enough people bought into them that tabloid journalism did flourish for quite some time.
Fast-forward to today and headlines that *used to be* only only tabloid papers are now so ubiquitous as to have just about completely replaced honest, genuine journalism. Today's headlines aren't written by keen journalists with a network of inside sources and a nose for hot stories. Instead they're written by armies of poorly-paid hacks that churn out as much sensationalist BS as they can each day. The more clicks their headlines get, the better for the site hosting the headlines.
The author also goes into some of the psychological tricks the writers use to make the headlines being churned out almost sound like a genuine story.
saralynnburnett's review against another edition
3.0
If you use the internet or watch the news you should read this. So yep - that means you. This one took a while to finish because I use the internet all day every day for work and this book is about how much the internet sucks... so basically I had to take it in small doses. It is fascinating and the best parts are the detailed blow by blow examples he gives about how easily public opinion is manipulated (and you'll remember all of them) - feed something (true or not - doesn't matter) to the blogs, they all report on it, it goes to mainstream news, TV channels etc, public believes it, no one fact checks anymore, no one cares, so mission accomplished. And it all starts with bloggers (and I'm not talking lifestyle blogs here, it's the news and gossip blogs - aka: the most read ones). We all know this happens but he really brings it home.
Biggest complaint with this book is that it's too repetitive. It would have been a knockout long essay, instead it drags a bit and the ironic part is I found myself skimming parts of it - which is exactly how I read anything on a screen.
Biggest complaint with this book is that it's too repetitive. It would have been a knockout long essay, instead it drags a bit and the ironic part is I found myself skimming parts of it - which is exactly how I read anything on a screen.
nickgoe's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting take on the current state of internet media. This book comes from someone who was a blog and reporting manipulator for years who is criticizing how much misinformation is out there.
This book is a must-read in the era of "Fake News" accusations.
This book is a must-read in the era of "Fake News" accusations.