The Internet Is Not the Answer (Hardcover)--by Andrew Keen [2015 Edition] ISBN: 9780802123138

The Internet, created during the Cold War, has now ushered in one of the greatest shifts in society since the Industrial Revolution. There are many positive ways in which the Internet has contributed to the world, but as a society we are less aware of the Internet’s deeply negative effects on our psychology, economy, and culture. In __The Internet Is Not the Answer__, Andrew Keen, a twenty-year veteran of the tech industry, traces the technological and economic history of the internet from its founding in the 1960s through the rise of the big data companies to the increasing attempts to monetize almost every human activity, and investigates how the internet is reconfiguring our world—often at great cost. In this sharp, witty narrative, informed by the work of other writers, academics, and reporters, as well as his own wide-ranging research and interviews, Keen shows us the tech world, warts and all, and investigates what we can do to make sure the choices we make about the reconfiguring of our society do not lead to unpleasant unforeseen aftershocks. Since Its Creation During The Cold War, The Internet, Together With The World Wide Web, Personal Computers, Tablets, And Smartphones, Has Ushered In The Digital Revolution, One Of The Greatest Shifts In Society Since The Industrial Revolution. There Are Many Positive Ways In Which The Internet Has Contributed To The World, But As A Society We Are Less Aware Of The Internet's Deeply Negative Effects. In 2007, Andrew Keen, A Longtime Silicon Valley-based Observer Of The Digital World And A Serial Internet Entrepreneur, Published One Of The First Internet-sceptic Books, The Cult Of The Amateur, Which Asked How Quality Content Can Be Created In An Online Environment That Demands Everything For Free. In Keen's New Book, The Internet Is Not The Answer, He Offers A Comprehensive Look At What The Internet Is Doing To Our Lives. The Book Traces The Technological And Economic History Of The Internet, From Its Founding In The 1960s To The Creation Of The World Wide Web In 1989, Through The Waves Of Start-ups And The Rise Of The Big Data Companies To The Increasing Attempts To Monetize Almost Every Human Activity. Successful Internet Companies Have Produced Astronomical Returns On Investment, And Venture Capital And The Profit Motive Have Become The Primary Drivers Of Innovation. In This Sharp, Witty Narrative, Informed By The Work Of Other Writers, Reporters, And Recent Academic Studies As Well As His Own Research And Interviews, Keen Shows Us The Tech World, Warts And All--from Hoodie-wearing Misfit Millionaires, To The Nsa's All-encompassing Online Surveillance, To The Impact Of The Internet On Unemployment And Economic Inequality. The Internet Is Not The Answer Is A Big-picture Look At What The Internet Is Doing To Our Society And An Investigation Into What We Can Do To Try To Make Sure That The Decisions We Are Making About The Reconfiguring Of Our World Do Not Lead To Unpleasant, Unforeseen Aftershocks -- Introduction : The Building Is The Message -- The Network -- The Money -- The Broken Center -- The Personal Revolution -- The Catastrophe Of Abundance -- The One Percent Economy -- Crystal Man -- Epic Fail -- Conclusion : The Answer. Andrew Keen. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 231-273). "Since its creation during the Cold War, the Internet, together with the World Wide Web, personal computers, tablets, and smartphones, has ushered in the Digital Revolution, one of the greatest shifts in society since the Industrial Revolution. There are many positive ways in which the Internet has contributed to the world, but as a society we are less aware of the Internet's deeply negative effects. In 2007, Andrew Keen, a longtime Silicon Valley-based observer of the digital world and a serial Internet entrepreneur, published one of the first Internet-skeptic books, The Cult of the Amateur, which asked how quality content can be created in an online environment that demands everything for free. In Keen's new book, The Internet Is Not the Answer, he offers a comprehensive look at what the Internet is doing to our lives. The book traces the technological and economic history of the Internet, from its founding in the 1960s to the creation of the World Wide Web in 1989, through the waves of start-ups and the rise of the big data companies to the increasing attempts to monetize almost every human activity. Successful Internet companies have produced astronomical returns on investment, and venture capital and the profit motive have become the primary drivers of innovation. In this sharp, witty narrative, informed by the work of other writers, reporters, and recent academic studies as well as his own research and interviews, Keen shows us the tech world, warts and all--from hoodie-wearing misfit millionaires, to the NSA's all-encompassing online surveillance, to the impact of the Internet on unemployment and economic inequality. The Internet Is Not the Answer is a big-picture look at what the Internet is doing to our society and an investigation into what we can do to try to make sure that the decisions we are making about the reconfiguring of our world do not lead to unpleasant, unforeseen aftershocks."--Publisher information In 2014, the world wide web will be a quarter of a century old. There is no doubt that the web, and the new businesses it has enabled, has transformed the world forever. But, according to celebrated technology writer Andrew Keen, this disruption has had some extremely pernicious effects. Rather than fostering a new renaissance, it is encouraging a culture of distraction, vulgarity, and narcissism. So what is to be done? Keen systematically explains what must be done in order to change what is increasingly becoming a tool of oppression, normativity, and big business into a tool that fosters art, small business, innovation, and personal freedom From the Preface... The more we use the contemporary digital network, the less economic value it is bringing to us. [...] Rather than creating more competition, it has created immensely powerful new monopolies like Google and Amazon. The Question The Building is the Message The Network The Money The Broken Center The Personal Revolution The Catastrophe of Abundance The One Percent Economy Crystal Man Epic Fail The Answer None None