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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
It's a pretty interesting read, and it made me more aware of how Big Tech historically came to power and currently manages to maintain it. I was hoping the book would be a bit more hopeful and would actually give instructions for 'normal' people to fight Big Tech, but that's not the message I personally managed to get out of it. The book is a motivated plea for interoperability, but other than suggesting what lawmakers and/or institutions should be doing (and why they're not likely to do so anytime soon) I don't feel like this is the "detailed disassembly manual for people who want to dismantle it" that it promised to be. Still an important & useful read nonetheless, but I was hoping to come out of it feeling more empowered.
I thought this was mostly great. I'm unconvinced by certain conclusions drawn in the book---I also used to think that an internet based entirely on splitting folks up into small communities was a great idea until I saw the past decade of our lives---but the book is generally very well reasoned and makes great points about what a better internet and tech space would look like.
Definitely do recommend.
Definitely do recommend.
An ode to interoperability, it is equally fascinating and informative to read, Cory Doctorow’s The Internet Con might the first book from Doctorow I’ve actually liked, as I appreciated both his knowledge on the subject and enthusiasm for it (the enthusiasm especially clear in the audiobook he narrated himself). And what’s more, despite the seemingly unwinnable situation and the depressing reality he describes, he is eternally optimistic about it (honestly, it's part of his point that we shouldn't give in to the corporate message that democracy can't win against powerful corps - a pessimistic belief that only serves the corporations).
The only problem I had was that he got a description of a radio boycott situation wrong and that made me wonder if he's getting some other facts wrong as well. But as it was a pretty small error, and that I didn't notice any other problems (which of course doesn't mean there aren't), and that I was really interested in reading on, I continued.
The book contains a valuable lesson on how to make the internet (and the world) more democratic, even if the recommendations for achieving it might be more useful for people who actually have the power to do any of that (as opposed to some rando on a rando 9-to-5 like me), but at the very least it can inform one’s voting decisions and such, and give a better idea of how our world works.
Now if only I found Doctorow's fiction writing as enjoyable as this …
The only problem I had was that he got a description of a radio boycott situation wrong and that made me wonder if he's getting some other facts wrong as well. But as it was a pretty small error, and that I didn't notice any other problems (which of course doesn't mean there aren't), and that I was really interested in reading on, I continued.
The book contains a valuable lesson on how to make the internet (and the world) more democratic, even if the recommendations for achieving it might be more useful for people who actually have the power to do any of that (as opposed to some rando on a rando 9-to-5 like me), but at the very least it can inform one’s voting decisions and such, and give a better idea of how our world works.
Now if only I found Doctorow's fiction writing as enjoyable as this …
The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation is a book broadly split into two sections. The first part critiques 'Big Tech', the problems they cause, and why Amazon's flywheel, lock-in and the prison of a walled garden. This part of the book is in equal parts informative and depressing. It is clear that the issues they cause make everyone's online lives worse; even if, like me, you don't use Facebook or Google, their sheer size and power impact me. If the systems were open, I could still interact with people over the fence as it is. I can't join the discussion on my kid's parties or collaborate with the writing friends on a document.
The second part of the book is where Doctorow identifies some solutions and their impact. This is a much more hopeful section, and while I agree that many of them would work or at least be a step in the right direction, I doubt the political will of our leaders to make any of them happen any time soon.
Overall, this is an interesting book worth reading if you have even a passing interest in what went wrong with technology and how we can solve it.
The second part of the book is where Doctorow identifies some solutions and their impact. This is a much more hopeful section, and while I agree that many of them would work or at least be a step in the right direction, I doubt the political will of our leaders to make any of them happen any time soon.
Overall, this is an interesting book worth reading if you have even a passing interest in what went wrong with technology and how we can solve it.
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
A must-read to understand how the internet really works, the forces at play, how it takes rights away from its users, and paths to make it work for and benefit its users.
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
i wish this had left me less despaired and more hopeful but alas we're in hell
informative
reflective
fast-paced
informative
medium-paced
⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
I completely agree with Doctorow, I just don't see how the corporations can be beat as they now have the power of monopoly it's going to be a long hard fight. I might be wrong but we'll have to see what happens with the Google monopoly trial going on right now. Even if google loses that trial there appeals with take it to a court that firmly believes in Bork's failed policy.
Another way to get through this is actually taking a stand and not using FB, Google, Apple or MS. There are alternatives such as Duck Duck Go that with !Bangs are a lot better then Google or Bing, and make re-search on Google as simple as !g
I completely agree with Doctorow, I just don't see how the corporations can be beat as they now have the power of monopoly it's going to be a long hard fight. I might be wrong but we'll have to see what happens with the Google monopoly trial going on right now. Even if google loses that trial there appeals with take it to a court that firmly believes in Bork's failed policy.
Another way to get through this is actually taking a stand and not using FB, Google, Apple or MS. There are alternatives such as Duck Duck Go that with !Bangs are a lot better then Google or Bing, and make re-search on Google as simple as !g
As the tech bro oligarchs take over the current administration, this book is increasingly important. I love how it’s broken down and the roadmap that’s drawn