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36 reviews for:
The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age
James Dale Davidson
3.79 AVERAGE
36 reviews for:
The Sovereign Individual: Mastering the Transition to the Information Age
James Dale Davidson
3.79 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I absolutely loved this book, it's an extremely zoomed out macro look at where we're heading as we transition into a different phase in our socio-economic landscape.
One of the most impressive aspects of The Sovereign Individual is it was published in 1999 and you can already see some of the predictions made in the book coming true. Namely the rise of billionaires with more power, money, and influence than entire countries, the popularity and innovation of crypto technologies as well as an increase in nationalism.
The book doesn't just cover how it's happening but why, with historical examples involving the minimalising of violence as a reason for such innovations. One of my fears after reading this book is the likely antagonising growing pains we'll face as we transition away from nation-states and governments into a cyber and more individualised society.
One of the most impressive aspects of The Sovereign Individual is it was published in 1999 and you can already see some of the predictions made in the book coming true. Namely the rise of billionaires with more power, money, and influence than entire countries, the popularity and innovation of crypto technologies as well as an increase in nationalism.
The book doesn't just cover how it's happening but why, with historical examples involving the minimalising of violence as a reason for such innovations. One of my fears after reading this book is the likely antagonising growing pains we'll face as we transition away from nation-states and governments into a cyber and more individualised society.
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
informative
slow-paced
I just read The Sovereign Individual and The People's History of the United States back to back and felt a comparison between the two was the best way to review them. Both books have more in common that one would expect. Both are extremely biased towards their viewpoints. Both dismiss the current dominant political parties in the US as more similar to each other than different. Both think current political leaders are severely lacking and yearn for governments that work better for the people that they support. Both were written over 20 years ago and recently received updated modern introductions.
The Sovereign Individual's updated introduction has Peter Thiel asking the reader to focus on what the authors got right over what they got wrong. That gets harder and harder to do as time goes by. The authors point to Hong Kong as the country of the future, spend a lot of time talking about Clinton having Vincent Foster murdered and they definitely weren't talking about the rise of Dogecoin when they talk about digital currency. They make some interesting points but it is so hard to separate those amongst the piles and piles of unsupported libertarian evangilism. If you took any chapter from this book and submitted it as a college essay you'd be lucky to get a C. The majority of the book is unsupported narrative and wishful projection. There has to be a better book than this that explores the trends brought up here. If you know of one let me know. Bonus points if it speaks to motives other than hoarding wealth as the meaning for life.
At one point A People's History of the United States felt like a breath of fresh air. That time has passed. It is too meandering and disjointed to retain it's value once a lot of the history it highlights is more well known. I appreciate that Zinn at least admits to his biases in the concluding chapter. That is something Davidson and Rees-Mogg should have done in their book.
Neither of these books are particularly bad. They present some interesting ideas. However, I can't recommend either one today. If you are interested in either book read a summary or longer review and move on. You'd be better off reading collections of disparate essays on the topics that these books cover. Read more contemporary work from authors that were influenced by them.
The Sovereign Individual's updated introduction has Peter Thiel asking the reader to focus on what the authors got right over what they got wrong. That gets harder and harder to do as time goes by. The authors point to Hong Kong as the country of the future, spend a lot of time talking about Clinton having Vincent Foster murdered and they definitely weren't talking about the rise of Dogecoin when they talk about digital currency. They make some interesting points but it is so hard to separate those amongst the piles and piles of unsupported libertarian evangilism. If you took any chapter from this book and submitted it as a college essay you'd be lucky to get a C. The majority of the book is unsupported narrative and wishful projection. There has to be a better book than this that explores the trends brought up here. If you know of one let me know. Bonus points if it speaks to motives other than hoarding wealth as the meaning for life.
At one point A People's History of the United States felt like a breath of fresh air. That time has passed. It is too meandering and disjointed to retain it's value once a lot of the history it highlights is more well known. I appreciate that Zinn at least admits to his biases in the concluding chapter. That is something Davidson and Rees-Mogg should have done in their book.
Neither of these books are particularly bad. They present some interesting ideas. However, I can't recommend either one today. If you are interested in either book read a summary or longer review and move on. You'd be better off reading collections of disparate essays on the topics that these books cover. Read more contemporary work from authors that were influenced by them.
Prescient and terrifying if you are not in the 1%.
The authors are about 50/50 on their predictions. Unfortunately, the future of the working classes was bleak in the book and it is bearing out as more bleak some 25 years after the book's debut.
This is an important book to read, and I believe that it will be critical reading for those who emerge from the ashes of the world crashing down around us.
The authors are about 50/50 on their predictions. Unfortunately, the future of the working classes was bleak in the book and it is bearing out as more bleak some 25 years after the book's debut.
This is an important book to read, and I believe that it will be critical reading for those who emerge from the ashes of the world crashing down around us.
While reading this book, you need to be in AWE of the fact that it was written in 1997. Actually, incredible.
The Sovereign Individual imagines what changes are to come from the Information Revolution. A revolution that will bring in the fourth stage of human economic life; that of the Information Society.
Side note: This book has aged really well. It was written in 1997, and many of Davidson and Rees-Mogg's predictions have come to be. More importantly, the Sovereign Individual still has value as a guide to intellectually understand the current tectonic power shifts that will define the geography of tomorrow.
In seeking to lay a good foundation for their arguments, Davidson and Rees-Mogg look at other historical moments they identify as similar to today. They are similar in that the balance of power shifted quickly, either to the advantage of centralized authorities or to their disadvantage.
"...the fall of Rome is one of history's more vivid examples of what happened in a major transition when the scale of government was collapsing. The transitions of the year 1000 also involved the collapse of central authority, and did so in a way that increased the complexity and scope of economic activity. The gunpowder revolution at the end of the fifteenth century involved major changes in institutions that tended to raise rather than shrink the scale of governance. Today, for the first time in a thousand years, megapolitical conditions in the West are undermining and destroying governments, corporate conglomerates, labor unions, and many other institutions that operate on a large scale."
The authors go on to proclaim that "...recognize it or not, we are living through a change of historical season, a transformation in the way people organize their livelihoods and defend themselves that is so far-reaching that it will inevitably transform the whole of society. The change will be so profound, in fact, that to understand it will require taking almost nothing for granted."
Since we are in the end days of the behemoth nation-state era, what does that mean for the future?
Well, if we break down governments into three categories:
1.) those run by their proprietors (lords and royalty)
2.) those run by their employees (the modern nation-state)
3.) those run by their customers (ancient democracies and early America)
The authors figure that Sovereign Individuals will be drawn to more nimble, representative, and comparatively cheap ones; generally, those governments which fall into the third category.
Just like in other epochs, centers of power or sovereignties, will not necessarily resemble the nation-state. They could be free associations, leagues, tribes, federations, orders, etc.
No matter the guiding principles, they will be powerful enough to promise their constituents security of life and property.
That isn't to say that nation-states will allow power to change hands without a fight. Davidson and Rees-Mogg believe there will be increasing violence, just as in other moments of power change. They think nation-states will seek to make examples of those they judge as challenges to their authority. We already see this in how the U.S. has treated individuals like Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, Colin Kaepernick, Aaron Swartz, and Ross Ulbricht.
But, according to the authors, these attempts to stop the tide of change will be futile. It is already possible for wealth to be held outside of state grasp, and increasing numbers of individuals are taking advantage of this fact. Whether it be by taking advantage of tax havens, microstates, or simply playing nation-states off against each other for advantaged citizenship status.
After providing their arguments and predictions for the future, Davidson and Rees-Mogg continue to reflect on societal changes and start descending into racist and misogynistic views. This tarnishes what before was such an unambiguously good book.
The book builds well. It provides clear arguments and reasoning. That many predictions were accurate provides evidence that Davidson and Rees-Mogg did their homework.
For example, holding two or more passports is now common, and fleeing tax obligations with off-shore accounts is more and more accessible, not necessarily for the middle class, but data dumps from tax-havens show how popular these investment centers are. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin will add another weapon to the arsenals of would-be Sovereign Individuals.
In fact, cryptographically secured assets are a huge battlefield at present.
True also is that governments are seen with greater and greater disdain. Even their authority over the truth (science and media) is being undermined by more peer-to-peer and self-catered media feeds. Behemoth industries of the 20th Century are easily eclipsed now by more nimble, more information-savvy companies. Just look at the top performers in the stock market in any given year after 2000.
If citizenship and the ideal of loyalty to country go the way of chivalry, we are going to be in for a ride!
I very much enjoyed the Sovereign Individual. Even going back over my notes was enjoyable. Clearly, there are a lot of new ideas to digest. I'm inspired even. I just wish Davidson and Rees-Mogg gave more answers.
How to become a Sovereign Individual?
Anyone seeking to future-proof their life or consider the major ideology shifts which underpin modern and post-modern society should read this book. Crypto-enthusiasts will read with pleasure. High schoolers, in particular, will benefit from reading the Sovereign Individual, as they'll be able to form themselves better for the future.
Side note: This book has aged really well. It was written in 1997, and many of Davidson and Rees-Mogg's predictions have come to be. More importantly, the Sovereign Individual still has value as a guide to intellectually understand the current tectonic power shifts that will define the geography of tomorrow.
In seeking to lay a good foundation for their arguments, Davidson and Rees-Mogg look at other historical moments they identify as similar to today. They are similar in that the balance of power shifted quickly, either to the advantage of centralized authorities or to their disadvantage.
"...the fall of Rome is one of history's more vivid examples of what happened in a major transition when the scale of government was collapsing. The transitions of the year 1000 also involved the collapse of central authority, and did so in a way that increased the complexity and scope of economic activity. The gunpowder revolution at the end of the fifteenth century involved major changes in institutions that tended to raise rather than shrink the scale of governance. Today, for the first time in a thousand years, megapolitical conditions in the West are undermining and destroying governments, corporate conglomerates, labor unions, and many other institutions that operate on a large scale."
The authors go on to proclaim that "...recognize it or not, we are living through a change of historical season, a transformation in the way people organize their livelihoods and defend themselves that is so far-reaching that it will inevitably transform the whole of society. The change will be so profound, in fact, that to understand it will require taking almost nothing for granted."
Since we are in the end days of the behemoth nation-state era, what does that mean for the future?
Well, if we break down governments into three categories:
1.) those run by their proprietors (lords and royalty)
2.) those run by their employees (the modern nation-state)
3.) those run by their customers (ancient democracies and early America)
The authors figure that Sovereign Individuals will be drawn to more nimble, representative, and comparatively cheap ones; generally, those governments which fall into the third category.
Just like in other epochs, centers of power or sovereignties, will not necessarily resemble the nation-state. They could be free associations, leagues, tribes, federations, orders, etc.
No matter the guiding principles, they will be powerful enough to promise their constituents security of life and property.
That isn't to say that nation-states will allow power to change hands without a fight. Davidson and Rees-Mogg believe there will be increasing violence, just as in other moments of power change. They think nation-states will seek to make examples of those they judge as challenges to their authority. We already see this in how the U.S. has treated individuals like Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, Colin Kaepernick, Aaron Swartz, and Ross Ulbricht.
But, according to the authors, these attempts to stop the tide of change will be futile. It is already possible for wealth to be held outside of state grasp, and increasing numbers of individuals are taking advantage of this fact. Whether it be by taking advantage of tax havens, microstates, or simply playing nation-states off against each other for advantaged citizenship status.
After providing their arguments and predictions for the future, Davidson and Rees-Mogg continue to reflect on societal changes and start descending into racist and misogynistic views. This tarnishes what before was such an unambiguously good book.
The book builds well. It provides clear arguments and reasoning. That many predictions were accurate provides evidence that Davidson and Rees-Mogg did their homework.
For example, holding two or more passports is now common, and fleeing tax obligations with off-shore accounts is more and more accessible, not necessarily for the middle class, but data dumps from tax-havens show how popular these investment centers are. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin will add another weapon to the arsenals of would-be Sovereign Individuals.
In fact, cryptographically secured assets are a huge battlefield at present.
True also is that governments are seen with greater and greater disdain. Even their authority over the truth (science and media) is being undermined by more peer-to-peer and self-catered media feeds. Behemoth industries of the 20th Century are easily eclipsed now by more nimble, more information-savvy companies. Just look at the top performers in the stock market in any given year after 2000.
If citizenship and the ideal of loyalty to country go the way of chivalry, we are going to be in for a ride!
I very much enjoyed the Sovereign Individual. Even going back over my notes was enjoyable. Clearly, there are a lot of new ideas to digest. I'm inspired even. I just wish Davidson and Rees-Mogg gave more answers.
How to become a Sovereign Individual?
Anyone seeking to future-proof their life or consider the major ideology shifts which underpin modern and post-modern society should read this book. Crypto-enthusiasts will read with pleasure. High schoolers, in particular, will benefit from reading the Sovereign Individual, as they'll be able to form themselves better for the future.