Scan barcode
marmotilla's review against another edition
4.0
Overall a quite interesting read, but I was a bit disappointed by the policy recommendations chapter, which is the topic I was most interested in.
It's ironic how some parts of the book already feel a bit outdated despite it not being old at all. Ah, technology...
It's ironic how some parts of the book already feel a bit outdated despite it not being old at all. Ah, technology...
muthuraj's review against another edition
4.0
There was a time when tractors replaced huge amounts of human labor. There were people who gained, and in some cases, technological innovations including farming machinery, ultimately created more jobs then they destroyed. However, with the advent of digital machines, this is no longer true. A single machine that eliminates thousands of humans, doesn't create ten jobs in that place.
More importantly, in a country like India, where it hasn't been so big a factor in employment, the possible influence of computers as replacement to human labor has been grossly underestimated.
This book is an excellent primer for someone who wants to understand why services companies are hiring less entry level engineers, and why there will be a net decay of employment growth in sectors that can utilize computers and machines.
We start with a tracing of human innovation vs population size. We are swiftly taken through an array of problems that have been conquered by the machines, which was once thought impossible. Moracev paradox is introduced, and the authors even try to make us understand the power of an exponential curve.
From there, there are discussions of progress made, effects of them. There is also an attempt to quantify and assign value to labor in the form of tagging Facebook photos and such misc takes that we perform online.
Employment, it's relation to social and individual welfare and eloquently put across, and the book mentions a variety of suggestions to combat this second machine age. From universal basic income to "Made by humans" label, there is no dearth for plausible and simple ideas.
It could've been more internationalized. It was too focused on America and while that is not a deal breaker, a better version would be to see the world as a whole.
Recommended read.
More importantly, in a country like India, where it hasn't been so big a factor in employment, the possible influence of computers as replacement to human labor has been grossly underestimated.
This book is an excellent primer for someone who wants to understand why services companies are hiring less entry level engineers, and why there will be a net decay of employment growth in sectors that can utilize computers and machines.
We start with a tracing of human innovation vs population size. We are swiftly taken through an array of problems that have been conquered by the machines, which was once thought impossible. Moracev paradox is introduced, and the authors even try to make us understand the power of an exponential curve.
From there, there are discussions of progress made, effects of them. There is also an attempt to quantify and assign value to labor in the form of tagging Facebook photos and such misc takes that we perform online.
Employment, it's relation to social and individual welfare and eloquently put across, and the book mentions a variety of suggestions to combat this second machine age. From universal basic income to "Made by humans" label, there is no dearth for plausible and simple ideas.
It could've been more internationalized. It was too focused on America and while that is not a deal breaker, a better version would be to see the world as a whole.
Recommended read.
jameseckman's review against another edition
4.0
A nice coverage of possible current technology trends including some of the downsides. Some surprises here for me, but I haven't been tracking tech too closely. It might make a good book club selection, though maybe not controversial enough. I probably don't need to reread it either.
banana29's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't expect this book to have such a focus on the economics of technological progress but in doing so, it taught me a thing or two. [a:Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee|7236181|Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] have organized this book in such a way that is much more accessible than the esoteric [a:Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee|7236181|Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and much more optimistic about the future of technology on the human race than [a:Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee|7236181|Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] If you like that happy middle ground that makes Star Trek and The Matrix a bit more accessible, then you will find this book very useful and agreeable.
I particularly enjoyed the parts where the authors talk about how the labour market is being affected by the advances in technology. Here's a good primer: https://hbr.org/2015/06/the-great-decoupling I very much hope that these researchers continue to share their findings and predictions with us as we continue to struggle with this digital infancy.
I particularly enjoyed the parts where the authors talk about how the labour market is being affected by the advances in technology. Here's a good primer: https://hbr.org/2015/06/the-great-decoupling I very much hope that these researchers continue to share their findings and predictions with us as we continue to struggle with this digital infancy.