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665 reviews for:
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power
Shoshana Zuboff
3.97 AVERAGE
665 reviews for:
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power
Shoshana Zuboff
3.97 AVERAGE
When I've discussed current surveillance practices of online platforms (whether search or social media) with students, I often encounter an attitude of inevitability. This inevitability is somewhat frustrating for those of us barely old enough to remember a time before it felt this way, and I often end up agreeing with them because I too feel powerless at times. Inevitability is the first of several traits Zuboff identifies in the new social norms that clearly signalled to me how thorough her understanding and theorizing is of this new form of capitalism. The scope of this is impressive and warrants the 500+ pages (excluding notes and an exemplary index). I came of age while all of these historical moments came to pass, and I remember thinking, especially of Facebook, that it could have been radically different if the profit imperative weren't the driver...lol.
I plan to use parts of chapters from this (3,10,16) to supplement a syllabus on algorithms and bias for a first year seminar where we're reading nearly all of Cathy O'Neil's Weapons of Math Destruction. Though I find Zuboff's writing clear and accessible, I realize it's a stretch for college freshmen because there are marxist terms that her audience would most likely find familiar but a strictly general audience would not.
Most engaging theory on inequality leaves me renewed to get angry, find agency, and do something. Zuboff's book, especially those last two chapters, accomplished just that.
I plan to use parts of chapters from this (3,10,16) to supplement a syllabus on algorithms and bias for a first year seminar where we're reading nearly all of Cathy O'Neil's Weapons of Math Destruction. Though I find Zuboff's writing clear and accessible, I realize it's a stretch for college freshmen because there are marxist terms that her audience would most likely find familiar but a strictly general audience would not.
Most engaging theory on inequality leaves me renewed to get angry, find agency, and do something. Zuboff's book, especially those last two chapters, accomplished just that.
challenging
dark
informative
tense
slow-paced
This is an important read.
I have read a lot of nonfiction and a lot of dense and academic nonfiction
It doesn't matter how much I agree with the premise of a book. It needs to be presented well, and it needs to be presented in a way that the argument is convincing.
This information is not presented well, and the author is not here to convince you. To the author, you are already convinced. You are here to commiserate and catastrophize with her.
It doesn't matter how much I agree with the premise of a book. It needs to be presented well, and it needs to be presented in a way that the argument is convincing.
This information is not presented well, and the author is not here to convince you. To the author, you are already convinced. You are here to commiserate and catastrophize with her.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Zuboff puts to rest one of the most nauseating clichés “If its free – You are the Product” an expression born out of neo liberal capitalistic paradigm and repeated by imbeciles in 21st century ; the new version “Its free – You are the chewed up carcass – The “Product” ; was your unique experience , now extracted by highly pervasive algorithms” .
A new virulent form of capitalism which puts Marx’s original critique “reduction of the human to a mere cog – desperate to find real meaning in life” to shame; for this time it’s not Nature in the cross-hairs ; its Human Nature .
Tech behemoths tracking every move of the modern ape from the ubiquitous social media platforms to smart homes to smart toothbrushes; mapping every behavioral aspect and selling it off the highest bidder for this data . Effects of two decades of unbridled invasion of privacy is most evident on “generation Z” Humans whose identity is highly susceptible to market forces ; which may be the latest version of Instagram , imposing a new form totalitarian conformity which focuses on creating a little more predictable , a little more docile ape .
I thoroughly enjoyed this book ; from use of Lacanian concepts like Big Other ( the machine ) & the Gaze to Hannah Arendt’s totalitarianism to BF Skinner’s behavioral modification studies used by as a basis of algorithms which is further exacerbated by Congress appalling lack of understanding of how opaque things are to the general public with no regulation or laws in sight .
A new virulent form of capitalism which puts Marx’s original critique “reduction of the human to a mere cog – desperate to find real meaning in life” to shame; for this time it’s not Nature in the cross-hairs ; its Human Nature .
Tech behemoths tracking every move of the modern ape from the ubiquitous social media platforms to smart homes to smart toothbrushes; mapping every behavioral aspect and selling it off the highest bidder for this data . Effects of two decades of unbridled invasion of privacy is most evident on “generation Z” Humans whose identity is highly susceptible to market forces ; which may be the latest version of Instagram , imposing a new form totalitarian conformity which focuses on creating a little more predictable , a little more docile ape .
I thoroughly enjoyed this book ; from use of Lacanian concepts like Big Other ( the machine ) & the Gaze to Hannah Arendt’s totalitarianism to BF Skinner’s behavioral modification studies used by as a basis of algorithms which is further exacerbated by Congress appalling lack of understanding of how opaque things are to the general public with no regulation or laws in sight .
challenging
informative
reflective
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
A difficult book to review.
The message and information is very important, and I agree with it, but this book desperately needs a stricter editor.
So much of the prose of this book is unnecessary and tedious to read, which is a massive shame, as the message is so important for our time and moment. The analysis of the current moment and the dissection of the nature and objectives of the big tech giants is valuable work. If only this book was half the length.
If I could split my review, the message is a 5, but the prose is a 1.5. I would recommend reading a summary rather than this book.
The message and information is very important, and I agree with it, but this book desperately needs a stricter editor.
So much of the prose of this book is unnecessary and tedious to read, which is a massive shame, as the message is so important for our time and moment. The analysis of the current moment and the dissection of the nature and objectives of the big tech giants is valuable work. If only this book was half the length.
If I could split my review, the message is a 5, but the prose is a 1.5. I would recommend reading a summary rather than this book.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Definitely an engaging read that covers a range of tech surveillance copies; I think calling it anti-capitalist would be a stretch and the focus lays heavily with Tech companies and often seems to be missing a little bit of discussion around how Tech companies are allowed to behave as described.
The language is ornate and academic, and the book is very lengthy which I can imagine would alienate casual readers.
The language is ornate and academic, and the book is very lengthy which I can imagine would alienate casual readers.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
I really really wanted to love this and get a lot out of it. I was exposed to histories I hadn't known before, and for that I appreciate the book. But it was so filled with unnecessarily complicated terminology, and was incredibly repetitive, that it became almost impossible to finish this. Even as an audiobook.