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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
Comprehensive and well-sourced, even if it doesn’t break much new ground — not surprising given the volume of Facebook coverage in the last 5+ years.
It may have been the final straw convincing me to delete Facebook… stay tuned.
The book flows nicely and is easy to follow and read. Started and finished across the 7-hour Capitol Limited Amtrak from DC to Pittsburgh.
It may have been the final straw convincing me to delete Facebook… stay tuned.
The book flows nicely and is easy to follow and read. Started and finished across the 7-hour Capitol Limited Amtrak from DC to Pittsburgh.
I think most know parts of the story of Facebook and it’s creation but this book delves into the trials and tribulations it’s suffered over the last 5-10 years. Whilst I’ve seen a bit of it through new reports and hearings, I wasn’t fully aware just how much of a shit show the social experiment has made. Well written and researched, this is the perfect introduction to why Facebook and its compatriots are not to be trusted and how what may start as a vision to change and help the world, can quickly dissolve into a cash cow that has its inner circle dropping all ethics and values to keep churning.
Throughout, Zuckerberg is seen asking why he isn’t seen in the same light as Bill Gates even though he has similar philanthropic adventures and sorts. Well Mark, its because you’re a wanker. The perfect read if you’re looking to dissociate from social media (data mining) and need a gentle push to delete Facebook et al.
Throughout, Zuckerberg is seen asking why he isn’t seen in the same light as Bill Gates even though he has similar philanthropic adventures and sorts. Well Mark, its because you’re a wanker. The perfect read if you’re looking to dissociate from social media (data mining) and need a gentle push to delete Facebook et al.
An incredible book. The reporting is so thorough, the narrative is coherent, and the takeaway is clear. Facebook is what it is today because of a relentless pursuit of growth at all costs. Its product—the attention of its billions of users—has never been more valuable, despite scandal after scandal that made headlines, but amounted to nothing substantial. I hope that this book becomes outdated soon, that the future story of Facebook is starkly different from the one we've seen so far.
In this book, Frenkel and Kang masterfully expose the core values and goals of Facebook that have led to its myriad security and privacy problems. Despite all its executives' (like Zuckerberg and Sandberg) touting a mission to connect people across the globe, Facebook consistently prioritizes profits, growth, and data collection over user safety and experience. Many of the scandals covered in this book are well known, but the reporters tie them together to tell a story of how Facebook has become what it is today. Reading this was like peaking behind the curtain to get a better understanding of Facebook's company culture. And sadly, what you find does not inspire hope.
It's well-reported, thorough, and interesting, but I was a bit disappointed to see that the book does not address other critiques of social media (i.e. health, crime, trafficking, etc) to focus solely on politics. Also, I wish the authors had attempted to be more prescriptive in their reading of Facebook.
Ah, man. I appreciate that this book is well-researched; Frankel and Kang have published a narrative on the building of Facebook with a focus on its misfires on privacy and monopolization of social media/advertising, with Sheryl Sandberg and Mark Zuckerberg serving as the main characters. It’s not much ‘new’ content, and the writing of NYT reporters gets so frustrating. The authors love inserting inane but hyperspecific details (“the group ate fish and chips and enjoyed draft IPAs”, “he was wearing a navy merino wool sweater”), but all I could think was ‘who gives a shit!!!!’ I appreciate that this likely requires diligence and persistence to accumulate, but the book leaves me wondering why I needed to read it in the first place. Wouldn’t recommend.
It's important to understand Facebook's impact on our democracy (and on our mental health, though that's not the focus of this book). This is a concise history of Facebook's genesis, driving principles, and lasting impacts on our society.
Excellent book - rare that I can't put down nonfiction, but this was superbly reported and narrated.
Most of these stories won't be new if you're someone like me who makes a hobby out of hating Big Tech, but the new reporting and synthesizing these into a fully fleshed out narrative make this book a worthy read whether you are someone who follows this type of news, or somebody looking to get into the business of hating the Zuck.
Most of these stories won't be new if you're someone like me who makes a hobby out of hating Big Tech, but the new reporting and synthesizing these into a fully fleshed out narrative make this book a worthy read whether you are someone who follows this type of news, or somebody looking to get into the business of hating the Zuck.
A cohesive look at one of the world’s most powerful companies, An Ugly Truth offers perhaps the most stunning case study of the conflict between ethics and technology. The story is yet to be completed, with new competitors such as TikTok, greater adoption of cryptocurrencies, and a new presidential term, and this book provides, at least, an excellent summary of everything that has led up to this point.
Facebook’s history of data collection, privacy violations, and inaction about disinformation and violence is truly shocking. This is a fascinating read!