Michael Lewis is truly an outstanding storyteller.

His work offers a captivating exploration of four distinct individuals whose lives underwent significant changes and expansions during the nascent days of the Internet.

It is almost难以置信 that these stories are real, yet Lewis's prowess as a reporter is so remarkable that you simply find yourself drawn into them.

He has a unique ability to bring these characters and their experiences to life, making the reader feel as if they are right there with them, witnessing the evolution of the Internet and its profound impact on their lives.

Whether it's the challenges they faced, the opportunities they seized, or the relationships they formed, Lewis's vivid descriptions and engaging narrative style make this a must-read for anyone interested in the early days of the digital age.

His work not only provides an entertaining and informative look at a bygone era but also offers valuable insights into the power of technology and its ability to transform our lives in ways we could never have imagined.

Interesting read...

The author delved deeply into the Internet and its diverse impacts on society. The descriptions of how the Internet revolutionized old social structures and brought about new variables in economics, consumerism, and politics that were non-existent 25 years ago were truly captivating. It was both utterly fascinating and highly entertaining to peruse these accounts.

However, while it was interesting and engaging, I felt that it was lacking in a unified thesis. I struggled to determine the central point of the book or perhaps the underlying idea that connected all these random anecdotes about the Internet. I'm at a loss to figure out precisely what I gained from reading it, aside from a handful of random (albeit extremely entertaining) stories.

While I might have been a bit late in discovering Next, it was truly an interesting experience to read the book with the advantage of that kind of hindsight. Lewis, just as in his other books, is centered on narrating the stories of fascinating individuals who are representative of larger trends. I was especially intrigued by the example of the English prog rock band Marillion and how it managed to eliminate the need for a record contract and a company. This shows the power of innovation and thinking outside the box in the music industry. It makes one wonder what other possibilities exist for artists to break free from the traditional norms and succeed on their own terms.

My only regret is that it took me such a long time to find out about this book. It seems that I have missed out on a wealth of knowledge and inspiration that could have had a significant impact on my perspective. However, better late than never, and I look forward to delving deeper into the ideas presented in Next and seeing how they can be applied in my own life and work.

Michael Lewis is truly in top form in this captivating essay collection.

The book offers a wealth of insights and thought-provoking commentaries. However, it does have a slightly lackluster closing chapter centered around the concept of "gray matter," which perhaps hasn't aged as gracefully as the rest of the work.

Nonetheless, Lewis's commentary intersects with the nascent ideas that eventually gave rise to significant phenomena such as Netflix, targeted advertising, and data science.

Some might contend that this book could have benefited from being left untouched for another decade or so. But in my opinion, it's perfectly fine to open it up now. In fact, I highly recommend reading it in one sitting, preferably while enjoying a glass of wine.

This way, you can fully immerse yourself in Lewis's engaging writing and gain a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of these important topics.

Overall, despite its minor flaws, this essay collection is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of ideas and innovation.

The author firmly believes and eloquently writes that we are currently immersed in one of the most momentous status revolutions in history. In this context, it implies that the technological age that has dawned upon us is being and will persistently be spearheaded by the younger generation rather than the older members of society.

The teenagers, it is asserted, will reign supreme over the world. This is because they possess the abundant time, boundless energy, and unwavering motivation necessary to master the present gateways to an era that is either即将来临 or has already arrived.

This book, depending on one's perspective, can be either a source of terror (for the elderly) or a cause for excitement (for the youth). Nevertheless, it is an engaging and captivating read penned by a renowned author who无疑 knows precisely how to buttress his arguments with cogent reasoning and compelling evidence.

The book's cover, title, and subtitle are truly terrible and outdated. However, the contents within are quite solid.

'Next' should be repackaged with a brand new foreword and a more fitting title such as:

The First Wave:

Profiles from the Rise of the Internet in the 1990s.

Despite what the book's current title might suggest, it isn't really about predicting the future. Instead, it documents the present from a specific vantage point during a time when a great deal of change was taking place.

In this regard, it is a worthwhile addition for a Michael Lewis fan. It may not be his best work, but it's still Michael Lewis.

If you happen to like this book, you might also enjoy reading Po Bronson's 'The Nudist on the Late Shift'.

Overall, although the book has its flaws in terms of presentation, its content offers valuable insights and is definitely worth considering for those interested in the subject matter.

It provides a unique perspective on the events and trends of the 1990s and how they contributed to the development of the Internet as we know it today.

Whether you're a die-hard Michael Lewis fan or simply looking for an interesting read, 'Next' has something to offer.

So, give it a chance and see what you can discover.

You might be surprised by what you find.

Really entertaining, engaging book about how the tech investment boom of the late 1990s changed business models and hierarchies.

It details the fascinating phenomenon of how teenagers could suddenly become perceived as stock market or legal ‘experts’ online during that time.

Despite being written in 2002, the lessons and insights presented in this book remain highly relevant today.

As the old world orders and structures continue to get broken down, the experiences and knowledge from the tech boom era offer valuable perspectives.

The book provides a comprehensive look at the profound impact of the late 1990s tech investment boom, not only on the business world but also on society as a whole.

It serves as a reminder that in a rapidly changing technological landscape, traditional notions of expertise and authority can be challenged and redefined.

Overall, it is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the evolution of business and technology.

He presents 4-5 fascinating case studies of youth's responses to the internet.

However, his predictions and generalizations might seem like significant jumps from the particularity of his examples.

I am eager to know what became of these kids. I also question whether, six years later, the changes he depicted are still as probable.

Now that kids have numerous spaces on the internet that are distinctly their own, are there as many stories about these child prodigies?

Perhaps the internet has evolved in ways that have either enhanced or diminished the prominence of such prodigies.

It would be interesting to conduct a follow-up study to see if the trends he observed have persisted or if new phenomena have emerged.

This could provide valuable insights into how youth interact with the internet and how their experiences may have changed over time.

Overall, while his initial case studies were engaging, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term implications of youth's relationship with the internet.

This was interesting to read well after it was published in 2001.

In some ways, the future depicted in some of the anecdotes has already come to pass and now seems rather antiquated, such as ask.com.

On the other hand, in other aspects, we are still grappling with how to reach a critical mass in terms of some of the networked capabilities of the internet.

Certainly, the data gathering discussed in the Tivo section has flourished and is being fully exploited by businesses to target consumers.

It would have been exciting to have caught this one when it was first released and the ideas were largely novel.

However, any book by Michael Lewis is always a pleasurable read.

The insights and stories he presents offer a unique perspective on various topics, and this particular piece is no exception.

Even though some of the predicted futures may have become outdated, the overall message and the way Lewis presents his ideas still make it a worthwhile read.

It makes one reflect on how far we have come in the digital age and how much further we still have to go.

Overall, it's a fascinating look at the past and a glimpse into the possible future.

It was truly fascinating to read this book almost 20 years after its publication. The year 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in spring, found people worldwide largely confined to communicating via the Internet, relying on programs like Face Time, Skype, and Zoom. In many respects, despite the passage of time and the technological advancements, it seems that in some ways, the more things change, the more they remain the same. Michael Lewis has an extraordinary talent for weaving together the stories of individual people in a way that allows us to glimpse much larger and deeper truths. Even though the book may now be considered "hopelessly out-of-date," I wholeheartedly recommend it. If for no other reason, it is simply enjoyable to encounter such interesting and diverse characters. It makes one wonder what some of the "children" who are prominent in the book are up to in the present day.

Rating: 3.5
Next isn't as good as the Big Short, but it is still solid.
In Next, Lewis delves deep into the lives of four teens who reached adulthood in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Each of these teens managed to disrupt an existing industry.

His central thesis is that kids, having less of an investment in older technologies and identities, are in a better position to wholeheartedly embrace new technologies. They are able to put these new technologies to use in ways that the established order not only fails to conceive of but actively resists.

This gives these young individuals an edge in the rapidly evolving technological landscape. They are not bound by the limitations and preconceptions of the past, allowing them to explore and innovate in ways that can have a profound impact on various industries.

Lewis's exploration of these four teens' stories provides valuable insights into the power of youth and innovation in a changing world.

Lewis is indeed one of the more captivating business writers.

His practical experience as a trader at Salomon Brothers provides a one-of-a-kind "been there, done that, and know what I'm talking about" perspective.

His most outstanding works are centered around financial markets, such as "Liar's Poker" and "The Big Short," along with his incisive portraits of Eurozone casualties in Vanity Fair.

However, despite his numerous talents, he ventures into less certain territory when writing about the high-tech world.

"The New New Thing" and "The Future Just Happened" are entertaining accounts that spotlight the strange and wacky escapades of the New Digerati.

I admit to having a distinct collegiate bias, favoring the musings of Stanford-educated authors Po Bronson and Guy Kawasaki.

They were educated in Silicon Valley, grew up in the business, and offer more profound insights, accompanied by a touch of that unique Stanford humor observable in undergraduate life and the antics of the Band.

Lewis simply isn't crazy enough to pen the best copy about high tech. Nevertheless, this is still a decent read, filled with stories of unique individuals capitalizing on the new technology.