chadkoh's review against another edition
3.0
These two speak as the establishment, and some of their proposals will scare proponents of the open Web. Many of their other proposals are basically blue sky solutioneering. I think this book will appeal to those already in power, which is disappointing because I find their view is far to statist and establishment to reflect the true disruptive power and decentralized nature that Web connectivity gives us. But policy writers will point to this book as a mandate from the "tech elite" which makes it an important read. Study it closely and highlight as much as you can. There are many layers here. Think of who the messages are intended for, and be very critical in your assessment.
d_is_reading's review against another edition
2.0
Started reading this enthusiastically, read more than one third, tried to finish it, but found it on the boring side.
hjjansen's review
3.0
Lots of ideas here, but many of them are speculative at best without much to back them up. The writing is a little wooden, too, which makes this book more of a slog to get through than it should.
barrysweezey's review
A million thoughts about how connectivity and mass data storage will affect our relations with the state through terrorism, revolution, war, and reconstruction. States will use them for good things, but also to control and oppress us, and we'll use them to fight back.
marystevens's review
3.0
Forecast of the dangers and opportunities of the future posed by technology. I was annoyed by the focus on anodyne utopias for the wealthy and the intellectually gifted. What's to become of the Average Joe and Jane? What is the future technology brings for the poor (beyond internet connectedness)?
barry_sweezey's review
A million thoughts about how connectivity and mass data storage will affect our relations with the state through terrorism, revolution, war, and reconstruction. States will use them for good things, but also to control and oppress us, and we'll use them to fight back.
evolvemind's review against another edition
4.0
An information-dense analysis of how current technological, cultural, and political trends may interact and play out in the future. A must-read for futurists, political scientists, sociologists, defense specialists, technologists, and anyone interested in quality of life in the coming era.
coreyzerna's review against another edition
2.0
Partly reads like a tech com achievements presentation, partly an Internet-for-dummies-of-the-future edition, partly a how-to manual for future cyber terrorists/bullies/despots .... didn't feel like there was any real revelations in this book and its authors more than a little too idealistic about just how connected the poor masses will be in the future
rgombert's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting book.
Sad to see that it is already dated.
It seems that this was used by the ruling party as a play book to build the current dystopian regime.
Sad to see that it is already dated.
It seems that this was used by the ruling party as a play book to build the current dystopian regime.