A book published in 2001 that delved into the social changes being brought about by the Internet. The question is, is it still relevant in 2012? The answer is a resounding yes!

The first half of the book is truly engaging. It centers around the tales of a couple of teenagers who managed to make the established authorities in the financial and legal realms seem rather foolish. The SEC, in particular, is portrayed in a rather buffoonish light. Despite being over a decade old, the initial few stories remain fresh, entertaining, and highly relevant.

However, the book begins to show its age a bit in the second half as it attempts to look forward and anticipate the likely outcomes of various trends. It gets more things right than one might have expected. In the chapter that focuses on TiVo and ReplayTV disrupting the TV industry, it comes remarkably close to describing Facebook's advertising system, albeit within the context of TV networks. Nevertheless, I found the second half to be less focused than the first. Additionally, the concluding chapter regarding Bill Joy's essay and the Unabomber manifesto wasn't overly convincing. It essentially boiled down to the argument that since concerns about dangerous technology had been wrong in the past, they must also be wrong now.

Overall, it is a highly insightful read that explores the transformational power of information technology and the breakdown of old structures of authority and power. In some respects, it is an even more interesting read now that its predictions have become history rather than mere speculation.

It was nothing like what I had expected at all. However, I have to admit that I really did enjoy it. It was a bit of a surprise, to be honest. One day, I will make sure to read at least the blurb on the back of the book before picking it up. That way, I can have a better idea of what to expect. Maybe I'll also double-check to ensure that it's not just someone with the same name as the author I'm interested in. :P I don't want to be misled again. It's important to do a little research beforehand to avoid any disappointments. But despite this oversight, I still managed to have a great time reading this particular book.

It might seem rather odd to pick up a book about the Internet that dates back to 2000 - 2001.

However, upon closer examination, one discovers that a significant number of the author's observations remain astonishingly relevant in the present day.

The Internet has evolved at an exponential rate since then, yet many of the fundamental concepts and challenges discussed in the book still hold true.

For instance, issues such as privacy, security, and the digital divide were already being explored over two decades ago, and they continue to be pressing concerns in our increasingly connected world.

Moreover, the author's insights into the social and cultural impact of the Internet provide valuable perspectives that can help us better understand the role it plays in our lives today.

Despite the passage of time, this book offers a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that can enhance our understanding of the Internet and its implications.

Ever wanted to know what had just happened and was about to happen - ten years ago? Well, here's your book!

Michael Lewis has cataloged several bizarre delights from the formative years - have they begun to end yet? - of our beloved Internet.

We get to meet the first 15-year-old to be charged by the SEC with stock manipulation. We also discover the Manchester youth who dreams of the next Napster and helped to promote peer-to-peer computing (that's bit-torrent, n00bs).

Moreover, we consider the ramifications of a little, black box called TiVo on the $50 billion television industry.

Lewis is in his typical top form. While everyone else leaps without looking, he plays with the ripples on the edge of the pool. He carefully catalogs the state of things for the autopsy that is sure to follow.

This book provides a fascinating look into the early days of the Internet and the events and people that shaped it. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the history and future of this revolutionary technology.

I truly relished this book. Essentially, it delves into how novel technologies, predominantly the internet, have disrupted and transformed the world to which we have become habituated.

For instance, the legal profession is gradually being steered towards commercialization and commoditization. Examples include LegalZoom.com and lawyers promoting their services, as well as the vast number of individuals seeking legal counsel from answer websites like askme.com.

In the finance realm, it has been completely overturned. Brokers are becoming redundant or ineffective as etrade and scottrade perform the same functions more cheaply and without conflicts. The 'whisper numbers' are twice as precise as the projections of Wall Street analysts and mainly emanate from people in chat rooms.

TiVo and DVR are revolutionizing the advertising world and altering entertainment and television. Here, the author makes a valid point that the 'old guard' technologies can appropriate the upstarts and impede their progress. Once upon a time, DVR remotes had a "FF30" button enabling you to skip forward 30 seconds. They no longer do, mainly due to the pressure exerted by television, advertising, and major advertisers, primarily by acquiring the new technologies.

Michael Lewis has penned books such as Blindside, Liar's Poker, and Moneyball. Reading one of his books is a sure bet, and you will never experience boredom.

Although the technology reviewed in this article is by now extremely dated, the analysis and predictions it contains are remarkably solid and still hold significant applicability. This is truly very impressive.

The book adheres to the great traditions of excellent journalism. It skillfully mixes the narrative zoom lenses, making the story highly relatable and captivating the reader's interest. Moreover, the analysis presented in the book is far-reaching, delving deep into various aspects.

I also have a great appreciation for the book's length. It doesn't linger or overstay its welcome, but rather presents its content in a concise and engaging manner. Overall, it is a great and thought-provoking read that offers valuable insights and perspectives.

Whether you are interested in the specific technology being discussed or simply in good journalism and thought-provoking literature, this book is well worth your time and attention.

It is always an absolute delight to peruse an "inside story" penned by Michael Lewis. He has once again managed to captivate readers with this fascinating perspective. In this piece, he delves into how the young generation is pioneering new technology trends. Their methods are often so unconventional that they shock and terrify the older generation. The young are fearlessly exploring uncharted territories, pushing the boundaries of what is considered possible. They are bringing about revolutionary changes that have the potential to reshape the world as we know it. Lewis's keen insights and engaging writing style make this a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the evolving landscape of technology and the generational divide that exists within it.

I yapped my mother’s ears off about this book. I simply couldn’t put it down. In fact, I stayed up until 4 am to finish it. I really gotta give it to Michael Lewis for writing an incredibly entertaining book and being a fantastic storyteller.

The book makes you think about the wider society’s instinctive attitude towards knowledge. Are we willing to look for it wherever it might be found, or only from the people who are supposed to possess it? Does the world want to be a pyramid or a pancake?

It’s crazy to read about the beginning of the internet and how people reacted to its rise in the early 2000s. Comparing this to current events, like the US banning TikTok, where plenty of people are exposed to a huge amount of information, it shows how much our relationship with the internet has changed over time. In the early 2000s, people had askme.com, but now we have google, ChatGPT, Reddit, and people on TikTok sharing their own personal experiences.

The access we have to information on the internet really does close the gap between ordinary people and experts in a field. Those in higher positions, who feel they’re the only ones entitled to information that benefits them, feel threatened when a regular person or an “amateur” has the same access. Back then, those not ready to engage or adapt to the rapid growth of the internet were constantly confused by what was happening online, just because they couldn’t keep up. The same could still be true today.

The book also has some really thought-provoking quotes. For example, “While you may not be able to put an end to capitalism, you might well be able to infect it with new attitudes.” And “The ever-evolving relationship between American consumers and producers inevitably spills over into American politics.”

Another interesting quote is “When highly self-conscious, highly intelligent, perfectly nice men chuck the principles on which they have built their careers, and reinvent themselves as qualified enemies of their own idea of progress, it is as disconcerting in its way as gray goo on the kitchen floor. You see it and you know something is up.”

And “The success of those selves depended on their remaining in a child-like state of perpetual flux waiting to jump the next time technology signals a new direction, and suddenly they sense they don’t have quite have it in themselves to do this. They’ve grown up. And they know it. And they know what that means.”

Finally, “You can’t stop time. You can only simulate it by stopping change.” Maybe I’ll bring up the topic of gray goo during my next hangout with friends.

It was a nice look back at the internet boom.

However, he did not really provide any truly interesting ideas.

The review of the internet boom was somewhat enjoyable, yet it lacked the depth and innovation that could have made it more engaging.

Perhaps the author could have delved deeper into the various aspects of the boom, explored the trends and technologies that emerged, and offered some unique perspectives or insights.

As it stands, the piece feels a bit shallow and fails to capture the full essence and significance of the internet boom.

It would have been great to see more in-depth analysis and thought-provoking ideas presented to make the article more valuable and interesting for the readers.

Overall, while the look back was nice, it could have been so much more with a bit more effort and creativity.

Hello world,

behold the new possibilities that lie ahead. In a world where technology often finds itself in the cracks of human ambitions and the grey areas, one has to wonder what could go wrong.

The characters we encounter in this book are at the very bleeding edge of this brave new world. They are like voracious beings, eating away at the future with an unsated hunger, all within the present boundaries.

Take, for example, the legal expert who claims to be such just from watching TV and googling. Well, why not? In this age, if you have bandwidth, everyone seems to think they can be an expert.

It's a fascinating and somewhat alarming look at how our relationship with technology is shaping not only our present but also our future.

As we continue to push the boundaries and explore new frontiers, it becomes increasingly important to question and understand the implications of our actions.

After all, with great power comes great responsibility, and in this case, the power of technology.

We must ensure that we use it wisely and ethically, or else we may find ourselves facing consequences that we never could have imagined.

Only time will tell what the future holds, but one thing is for sure: it's going to be an exciting and challenging ride.

Technology has been evolving at an astonishing pace, and there is an interesting theory that attempts to explain this phenomenon. According to this theory, the evolution of technology is similar to the process of natural selection in biology.

Just as in nature, where only the fittest organisms survive and reproduce, in the world of technology, only the most useful and innovative technologies manage to thrive and spread. New technologies are constantly being developed and introduced, but only those that meet the needs and demands of society are able to gain acceptance and become widely adopted.

Moreover, the evolution of technology is also influenced by various factors such as economic, social, and cultural conditions. For example, the development of the Internet was made possible by the availability of advanced computer technology and the growing demand for global communication. Similarly, the popularity of smartphones can be attributed to the combination of their convenience, functionality, and social status.

In conclusion, the theory of the evolution of technology provides an interesting perspective on the development and spread of technology. By understanding this process, we can better anticipate future technological trends and make more informed decisions about the adoption and use of new technologies.

Michael Lewis is truly one of my all-time favorite writers.

In this concise and engaging read, he delves deep into the profound impact that technology can have on an industry almost instantaneously.

The book kicks off with a powerful example. It tells the story of a 14-year-old teenager who managed to turn a mere eight thousand dollars into a whopping eight hundred thousand dollars. This was achieved by cleverly utilizing the internet to promote stock picks.

Next, he explores how a 15-year-old teenager was able to provide legal advice through a website and, in the process, gain the unwavering confidence of a large number of fans.

He also discusses the phenomenon of peer-to-peer file sharing and its significant implications for digital property rights.

Furthermore, he covers TIVO's revolutionary video recording technology and how it transformed both the television and advertising industries.

However, after this, he seems to lose his focus. He meanders through several different issues without really tying them together or providing a proper conclusion to his thought process.

Overall, I would rate this book 3.5 stars. It had a strong start but unfortunately, it slowly lost its momentum and failed to deliver a truly satisfying ending.