By accident, this is the third book I have finished reading this week on the topic of the social implications of advances in information technology.

It is actually a very far-sighted book considering it was published in 2001. Even after all these years, it feels extremely current. The author has done an excellent job of exploring the various ways in which technology has changed our society and the potential future developments.

However, the ending of the book fell short for me. It introduced two conspiracy theorists, which seemed a bit out of place and didn't quite tie in with the rest of the narrative. But then again, perhaps I am the old-timer who is already a step behind progress. Maybe these conspiracy theories are a legitimate part of the discussion in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Overall, despite the slightly disappointing ending, I would still highly recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding the social implications of information technology. It provides valuable insights and food for thought that are relevant even in the present day.

In 2001, the renowned author Michael Lewis penned the book "Next: The Future Just Happened". This work uncovers truths from nearly a decade ago, many of which still hold significance today. Lewis is widely celebrated for his other notable works like "Liar’s Poker" and "The Money Culture". He primarily focuses on writing about the economy and, more recently, sports. However, "Next" delves into the ever-evolving Internet age.

This four-part book takes readers into worlds that are now distressingly familiar. The first part tells the story of a 15-year-old boy who achieves remarkable success in day trading. His success attracts the attention of the SEC, and he is ultimately accused of stock market fraud. Continuing along the same lines, Lewis transports us across the country, where a 15-year-old disrupts the hierarchy of online legal advice by becoming one of the top three legal advisors among actual lawyers on ASKme.com. The remaining pages present more examples of the Internet and its influence on our reality. Among other things, the Internet blurs the line between professionalism and amateurism.

How is it possible for teenagers to accomplish all this? How has our society, as we know it, created these worlds where anyone, regardless of their background, can become an expert in anything they choose? Lewis understood this even a decade ago. However, not much has changed today. People still struggle to distinguish between what is real and what is not.

Jonathan Lebed, the 15-year-old day trader, was not deliberately trying to disrupt the Internet age. He was simply doing what he was good at. But it turns out that it was not all real; he was a fraud in the online world. The same holds true for the 15-year-old legal advice wizard and the teenage pioneer in music sharing. They all discovered how to manipulate the system to create a world where they had complete control.

The reportage nature of the book can sometimes feel drawn out. The dialogue between a 15-year-old and his clueless parents about his online stock trading or offering legal advice to criminals may not be the most captivating storyline. Then, from one extreme to the other, more dialogue emerges when Lewis chats with a senior citizen about a black box she doesn't even know how to use but is part of a well-funded online survey through her TV. It may not be the most exciting stuff, but Lewis does prompt thoughts about our position in the age of technology, even if the material isn't always the most engaging. Although this book may not be a classic 20 or 30 years from now, it does offer the obvious, even if it's not always obvious to those of us who struggle to understand what is reality.

In typical Michael Lewis fashion, the author endeavors (and accomplishes) to elucidate a particular societal dynamic by closely examining certain individuals and delving deep into their narratives.

Regrettably, when compared to some of his other works, this book now appears untimely and obsolete.

Nevertheless, it remains an engaging read that aims to project some of the societal implications of the growth and dominance of the internet.

The exploration of individual stories provides a unique perspective on how the internet has transformed various aspects of our lives, from communication to business.

Although the book may not be as relevant as it once was, it still offers valuable insights into the early days of the internet revolution and its lasting effects on society.

Overall, it is a worthwhile read for those interested in the history and impact of the internet.

I didn't find Next as captivating as Michael Lewis's other works, which I have truly relished. Maybe it simply hasn't endured the test of time as effectively as many of his other books. For instance, Liar's Poker could just as easily have been about the recent financial meltdown. The initial couple of characters depicted in Next are outstanding and splendidly emphasize his overall themes. However, the book doesn't maintain its strength towards the conclusion. Or perhaps I just believe that I know too much about Danny Hillis and Bill Joy for his rather concise characterizations to have a profound impact. In any event, it is a short book and is written proficiently, but it doesn't seem as if it will leave any lasting memories.

This has aged surprisingly well.

It truly deserves a re-examination in light of the remarkable developments that have taken place in the fields of AI and machine learning.

The advancements in these areas have opened up new possibilities and perspectives, which might offer fresh insights into this particular matter.

Moreover, it is also quite funny.

The combination of its unexpected aging gracefully and its humorous aspect makes it all the more interesting and worthy of further exploration.

As we continue to witness the rapid progress of AI and machine learning, it becomes increasingly important to look back at such things and see how they fit into the new landscape.

Perhaps there are hidden gems or lessons within it that can contribute to our understanding and utilization of these cutting-edge technologies.

So, let's not overlook this and give it the attention it deserves.

It's truly incredible to observe how this book has become even more relevant and true since the year 2001.

Many authors are capable of penning a narrative that remains valid for a period of 20 years. However, very few are able to consistently produce explanatory narratives with the same level of depth and accuracy as Lewis.

Lewis seems to have a unique ability to capture the essence of the times and present it in a way that not only makes sense but also stands the test of time.

His work serves as a valuable resource for understanding the complex issues and trends that have emerged over the years.

As we look back on the events and changes that have occurred since 2001, it becomes clear that Lewis' book has not only predicted many of them but also provided valuable insights into their causes and consequences.

It is a testament to his talent and expertise as a writer and thinker.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the world we live in today.

This book, much like the majority of the author's works, has endured the test of time remarkably well.

It is truly a testament to its quality and significance. The epilogue at the conclusion of the book is extremely instructive. It offers a fascinating peek into the author's mindset and his continuous self-critique of his own style. This, for me, is precisely what makes him such an outstanding writer.

Unlike some of his other works that flow seamlessly as a single narrative, this book has a slightly different structure. However, it more than makes up for it with its profound insights.

Particularly, the section on advertising towards the end of the book is astonishingly prescient. It anticipates our data-driven future, where data providers are constantly harvesting our information for advertising purposes.

As we progress further into this digital age, the relevance of this book only continues to grow.

I read this book in 2021. It was truly fascinating to journey back in time and read about what the future held then, and to see if it actually materialized before my eyes.

A particular paragraph from the book caught my attention. It stated that as society and the problems it faces grow increasingly complex, and machines become more intelligent, people will increasingly rely on machines to make decisions for them. This is because machine-made decisions are expected to yield better results than those made by humans. Eventually, a stage may be reached where the decisions required to keep the system running are so intricate that humans will be unable to make them intelligently. At that point, the machines will effectively be in control. People won't be able to turn the machines off because they will have become so dependent on them that doing so would be tantamount to suicide.

Interestingly, this was written two decades ago, yet it feels incredibly relevant in today's context. The advancements in technology and the increasing role of machines in our lives make this prediction seem almost prophetic. It makes one wonder about the potential consequences of our growing reliance on technology and whether we are indeed headed towards a future where machines hold significant power.

This is a very enjoyable read.

I firmly believe that this is the place where Michael Lewis discovered his writing style which ultimately led to masterpieces like The Big Short, Moneyball, and Flash Boys. He did an outstanding job of summarizing the new world of the internet boom and those who managed to position themselves uniquely within this environment.

I found this journalism extremely impressive as he touched upon phenomena that are highly prevalent in today's era. For instance, he talked about the teenage kids who became stock market wizards and a false online attorney. Currently, stocks can be easily researched and sold exclusively online, and catfishing with job credentials is always a common occurrence.

I really liked how they discussed the music industry and the world after Napster. It drastically changed the power that labels had over artists as they were able to release their music more quickly. By building an online following, they could prove their value to record companies faster and engage with their fans promptly. It demonstrated how many companies had to adapt to consumers having access to an unprecedented depth of information.

He also predicted that each person would possess a device similar to our cell phones today. In this new age of AI, there are several things we can learn from this book. Position your company to be as flexible as possible to maximize the advantages offered by new generation-changing technologies. If you don't, others will, and you will end up failing. Those others are usually start-up companies that are more agile in adapting to change. Big organizations must find ways to do the same.

**The Original Article**: This is a simple article. It doesn't have much content. But it can be expanded and rewritten.

**The Expanded and Rewritten Article**:
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I enjoy Lewis' writing in general. However, I particularly liked the direction he took with "Next".

He vividly shows how the Internet boom has brought about a revolutionary change in everything. By telling the tale of this revolution through real-life stories from those at the forefront of it, he makes the narrative both engaging and relatable.

With a 13-year-old son who is not only interested in technology but also already making money from it, the truth of Lewis' words becomes even more evident. The Internet has this dual nature of exposing a vast amount of information while also hiding certain aspects in a way that a pre-teen can seemingly become a legal expert or a stock trader.

After reading "Next", you might find yourself compelled to ask how aware you truly are of the future. Because, as Lewis points out, the future is not some distant concept; it is now.

This thought-provoking book is available on Overdrive, waiting for you to explore and gain a deeper understanding of the impact of the Internet on our lives and the future that lies ahead.

There's a truly valuable lesson to be learned from reading books that were written in the past about the future.

Perhaps when this particular book was first published, I might have had a great liking for it. However, as time has passed, it now appears to be so outdated.

The most interesting and enjoyable parts of the book were actually the aspects of human behavior that could be gleaned from the vivid portrayal of the people within its pages.

These insights into how people interacted, thought, and reacted in the fictional future setting provided a unique perspective.

Despite the book's age and the fact that some of its predictions may not have come to fruition, it still holds a certain charm and offers a glimpse into the mindsets and imaginations of the past.

It serves as a reminder that while the future is constantly evolving, our understanding of human nature remains a constant and fascinating subject of study.