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mereadsforfun's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed it quite a bit. Interesting topics brought up in terms of how technology can impact the economics of income inequality.
derekge's review against another edition
4.0
Dated (reading in 2023) but very interesting nonetheless.
kahht's review against another edition
3.0
The Second Machine Age gave me an interesting perspective on the rise of technology and what it could mean for work, progress and prosperity. Not coming from an economics background meant that a few of the concepts presented were quite new to me. While I felt some ideas weren't explained fully enough for my liking, I was able to grasp most of what the book was getting at, thanks to its straightforward language.
There were moments in the book where I became irate, disputing with the ideas Brynjolfssson and Mcafee laid out, but by the end of the book I appreciated what they were going for. I enjoyed the solutions offered to the potential problems they present.
Coming from a technology background, the book gave me a different insight into how today's technologies are changing and could change the world we live in. While I don't agree with everything the author's say, I think there are a lot of good arguments that I need to explore further.
There were moments in the book where I became irate, disputing with the ideas Brynjolfssson and Mcafee laid out, but by the end of the book I appreciated what they were going for. I enjoyed the solutions offered to the potential problems they present.
Coming from a technology background, the book gave me a different insight into how today's technologies are changing and could change the world we live in. While I don't agree with everything the author's say, I think there are a lot of good arguments that I need to explore further.
troutgirl's review against another edition
Writing books about technology that are both timely and timeless is a near impossibility, but this one is now a little bit of a sunshiny relic before the storm. There's a lot of relatively unfocused "wow how cool is this technology?" here, and not nearly as much about the dark side of Tesla, social media, or virtual reality -- which makes sense given that the book came out in 2012, when the tech sector was the shining star of the economy rather than reviled for its ethical shallowness.
It's hard not to like the authors and their arguments, because they're so smart and optimistic; but their evident love of advanced capitalism makes them come off as a little lacking in imagination. I'm particularly troubled by their deep rooted faith in what you might call the SPIRITUAL power of work -- the Protestant Ethic is alive and well in America's top econ departments, I guess. In Brynjolfsson and McAfee's less data-driven moments, they seem to presuppose that a lack of paid labor -- via guaranteed income, for instance -- will certainly result in a bunch of obese video-game playing layabouts popping opioids in their mama's basements. Certainly the data suggest that it can be an issue, but that scenario is far from the only outcome of guaranteed income.
For instance, in the authors' own social class you can find an enormous number of women who -- through the magic of husband's income, family money, and investments -- have given up their high-powered jobs to engage in competitive childraising, the adoption of shibboleth hobbies, and a surprising rise in anti-scientific thinking. Do I approve of these developments? No, but I see them as absolutely embodying a search for social meaning that is equally as deep as that of their counterparts toiling away in the office or the university. And the fact that the "guaranteed income" comes from personal ties rather than the government isn't the gigantic differentiator to me as it seems to be to these men.
Still, a cut above most "business" books and despite the sunny technophilia worth a read so you can gauge their thoughts before they -- and we all -- really had to start grappling with the oncoming shadows.
It's hard not to like the authors and their arguments, because they're so smart and optimistic; but their evident love of advanced capitalism makes them come off as a little lacking in imagination. I'm particularly troubled by their deep rooted faith in what you might call the SPIRITUAL power of work -- the Protestant Ethic is alive and well in America's top econ departments, I guess. In Brynjolfsson and McAfee's less data-driven moments, they seem to presuppose that a lack of paid labor -- via guaranteed income, for instance -- will certainly result in a bunch of obese video-game playing layabouts popping opioids in their mama's basements. Certainly the data suggest that it can be an issue, but that scenario is far from the only outcome of guaranteed income.
For instance, in the authors' own social class you can find an enormous number of women who -- through the magic of husband's income, family money, and investments -- have given up their high-powered jobs to engage in competitive childraising, the adoption of shibboleth hobbies, and a surprising rise in anti-scientific thinking. Do I approve of these developments? No, but I see them as absolutely embodying a search for social meaning that is equally as deep as that of their counterparts toiling away in the office or the university. And the fact that the "guaranteed income" comes from personal ties rather than the government isn't the gigantic differentiator to me as it seems to be to these men.
Still, a cut above most "business" books and despite the sunny technophilia worth a read so you can gauge their thoughts before they -- and we all -- really had to start grappling with the oncoming shadows.
msrdr's review against another edition
4.0
The Second Machine Age is a book that authoritatively summarizes our experiences of the present technological age with research, data, and clarity that illuminates. Aided by proven academic voices this book illuminates through a tying together of what we sense to be the case with a clearly laid out plan of reportage on advancements, economic data, and then prescriptive recommendations. This structure envelopes these common sense views in such way that the information offers a deeply real perspective, it is filled with, "Yes! Exactly!" moments.
As one of my fellow reviewers has remarked, its weak point is its style. It is very accessibly written and, commendably, very clearly explains some difficult theories, however, the authors' voices are just a touch simple. Perhaps, my fellow reviewer alludes, this is a factor influenced by their field of expertise. It behooves me to my remark upon this in writing a review, but do not let it stop you from reading this rewarding book.
As one of my fellow reviewers has remarked, its weak point is its style. It is very accessibly written and, commendably, very clearly explains some difficult theories, however, the authors' voices are just a touch simple. Perhaps, my fellow reviewer alludes, this is a factor influenced by their field of expertise. It behooves me to my remark upon this in writing a review, but do not let it stop you from reading this rewarding book.
martinbihl's review against another edition
4.0
to see my review, please visit http://the-agency-review.com/second-machine-age
jochemdeen's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting summary on how the current increase in AI technology might introduce a new age for mankind and the impact it might have on economies and social structure. The first part of the book introduces some of the newly introduced technologies in the past years and is a bit shallow, don't expect too much detail here. The second part of the book is more interesting and discusses some of the potential changes that can be expected and offers some possible solutions. Overall I would say it is a good read. My biggest complain would be lack of detail.
mrstein's review against another edition
4.0
This was good. Thought provoking about he next age of computing...not the automation of tasks but cognitive work, and the impact on society, economics and markets.