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4harrisons's review against another edition
5.0
I don't think this book truly delivers on the promise of the title, which to me implies perhaps something with more of a sense of where we're heading (something perhaps a little more like Four Futures by Peter Frase). That said, I genuinely enjoyed this book as a wide ranging investigation of the modern world from climate change to mass surveillance. The common theme is the dominance of "computational thinking" and the impact on the construction of modern life. Theoretically, this is akin to the sort of reification theorised by Lukacs. Society as conditioned by the thinking of machines. While not perhaps explicitly Marxist, it certainly bears a number of similarities. The underlying theme is essentially that things cannot continue as they are if human society is to survive.
In short an engaging read, if more like a description of a problematic present than an ordered description of how this will deliver society into a new dark age.
In short an engaging read, if more like a description of a problematic present than an ordered description of how this will deliver society into a new dark age.
mlynes's review against another edition
4.0
The first two thirds of this are compelling and thought provoking, I learnt a lot. The central thesis indicated by the title is credibly posited. Two things let the book down: the final third is a rehash of much that is already known, and the overall tone is too pessimistic. There are many passages worth rereading and reflecting on, but a more balanced approach encompassing the many positives of technology would have given the book more weight.
ethanbb's review against another edition
3.0
This book basically takes a number of disturbing trends related to information in the 21st century and links them together in a way that is somewhat compelling. It was an interesting read throughout, and I believe that both the overall message and many of the cautionary tales supporting it should be better known. The overall picture is very dark, and perhaps it deserves a sequel that fleshes out what we ought to DO about this situation (besides "think" more).
However, it left me wanting more in the way of analysis, as each chapter mainly consists of a series of stories, and their interpretation and connection to the overarching theme is conveyed in vague, subjective language. There are at least a few cases where the author (ironically) asserts a particular explanation for some event or phenomenon that fits with the narrative without mentioning competing explanations. There are also some very forced metaphors that were painful to get through. Thus, I did not come away confident that the author's interpretation was the full and correct story, but it did convince me that things are worse than I thought they were, and gave me some interesting ideas as to why.
However, it left me wanting more in the way of analysis, as each chapter mainly consists of a series of stories, and their interpretation and connection to the overarching theme is conveyed in vague, subjective language. There are at least a few cases where the author (ironically) asserts a particular explanation for some event or phenomenon that fits with the narrative without mentioning competing explanations. There are also some very forced metaphors that were painful to get through. Thus, I did not come away confident that the author's interpretation was the full and correct story, but it did convince me that things are worse than I thought they were, and gave me some interesting ideas as to why.
hothotheat's review against another edition
started in 2021 and now i can't find the book lol
danhf's review against another edition
5.0
The book’s main point — unregulated ‘dark’ technology that has become fundamentally impossible for human minds to grasp, let alone control — doesn’t seem exactly novel. But Bridle’s razor-sharp focus on clearly-explained examples and case studies combines beautifully with his intellectual and theoretical work on how this affects political systems, media infrastructures, children’s entertainment, and many other aspects of 21st century life. It’s a crisply written, forcefully argued book, and essential reading for the digital era’s new dark age.
danatorrente's review against another edition
3.0
This is hard to review. The premise and introduction really grabbed me then it just went all over the place. This feels more like a collection of essays and sometimes the theme connecting them is lost. Is this about tech, or data, cognition, information, or pop culture? Kind of all of them at some points and none at others. There is a ton of interesting facts smattered about confused writing. If you’re a millennial I feel like you’ll have the best hold on this info. Cool, but wouldn’t totally reccomend.