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orvillefartenbacher's review
challenging
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.5
This was a fantastic read. I have been conscious of the flattening of culture with the new media for a while. It’s always refreshing to read an in-depth text that came out the same year, especially with how quickly technology changes society. I always appreciate when a nonfiction book is written in a conversational style so anyone may read and enjoy it, but a sociological background adds a layer. I sincerely hope the algorithm chooses to recommend me more books like this one.
claireviolet's review against another edition
3.0
this book starts really strong, but i think it ultimately falls flat because it feels like such a deeply personal endeavor for chayka. i don't love feeling beholden to the big scary social media algorithm, and maybe this book is best for those who haven't been completely disenchanted by the whole thing yet. there's a good effort to talk to some esteemed curators across different parts of culture that do a good job of making you consider all of the ways people understand each other more than any algorithm could hope to, but it also feels like he's always talking to friends that are going to confirm what he wants them to say. that being said, i think there's a general lack of cohesion throughout the different sections that made me wish this maybe got one more round of editing just so it felt a little tighter.
ryanbensonsmith's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Made me want to throw my phone into the lake and get a flip phone. This book really opened my eyes
shelasher's review
3.75
3.75 Stars
Some interesting ideas, theories, and hot takes on the impacts of algorithms on public and collective psyche. The value of this book is the way it makes you question your own personal preferences and beliefs the pitfall is it is overly critical of the use of algorithms while completely ignoring some of the benefits/positive uses. I enjoyed this but it didn’t teach a ton more than what I already knew.