A review by squirrelfish
Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age by Clay Shirky

4.0

I enjoyed it. I found it motivational, the indictment of tv to be particularly relevant, and the concepts interesting. The idea of the power of cognitive surplus - the thoughts and time of educated people - is important. The comparison of LOLCats and Wikipedia and Facebook groups, the idea of a continuum of contributions from this cognitive surplus, is powerful as a use of spare time. It broke down as first half aimed at the individual or the society as a whole, with the last bit aimed at developers and individuals more as creators - but a central thesis of the book is that everyone can be a creator now.