Summaries of books about Internet & Social Media:
The New Digital Age
Transforming Nations, Businesses, and Our Lives
Eric Schmidt|Jared Cohen
The book explores the impact of digital technology on global society, including the political, economic, and social changes it brings. It discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital revolution, offering insights into how individuals, governments, and businesses can navigate and harness the transformative power of technology.
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How the Internet Happened
From Netscape to the iPhone
Brian McCullough
The book chronicles the rise of the internet from the launch of the first widely-used web browser to the advent of the iPhone, detailing the key developments and the entrepreneurs who shaped the web. It explores the impact of pivotal companies like Netscape, Google, and Apple on the digital revolution and how they transformed communication, business, and culture.
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The NFT Handbook
How to Create, Sell and Buy Non-Fungible Tokens
Matt Fortnow|QuHarrison Terry
The book serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding, creating, and trading non-fungible tokens (NFTs), covering the technical aspects, marketplace dynamics, and creative opportunities within the NFT ecosystem. It provides practical advice for artists, collectors, and entrepreneurs on how to navigate the world of digital assets, from minting and marketing to investing and legal considerations.
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Who Can You Trust?
How Technology Brought Us Together and Why It Might Drive Us Apart
Rachel Botsman
The book explores the evolution of trust in society, particularly how digital platforms and the sharing economy have shifted trust from institutions to individuals and algorithms. It examines the implications of this transformation on personal relationships, business, and governance, and how we might navigate trust challenges in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
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Cognitive Surplus
Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age: How Technology Makes Consumers into Collaborators
Clay Shirky
The book explores the impact of digital technology on society, particularly how the internet has transformed passive consumers into active creators and collaborators, leading to an abundance of shared knowledge and collective creativity. It discusses the potential for this "cognitive surplus" to be harnessed for public good, through participatory culture and the collaborative efforts of connected individuals.
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To Save Everything, Click Here
The Folly of Technological Solutionism
Evgeny Morozov
The book critiques the ideology of "solutionism," which posits that all problems can be solved through technology, often ignoring the complexity of social issues. It challenges the assumption that technological innovation always leads to progress, arguing that it can sometimes hinder meaningful engagement and solutions.
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We Are the Nerds
The Birth and Tumultuous Life of Reddit, the Internet's Culture Laboratory
Christine Lagorio-Chafkin
The book chronicles the founding and evolution of Reddit, one of the most influential online communities, detailing the challenges and triumphs faced by its creators and users. It provides an inside look at the platform's impact on internet culture and the behind-the-scenes struggles, including clashes with management and the community's role in shaping digital discourse.
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Googled
The End of the World As We Know It
Ken Auletta
The book chronicles the rise of Google from a simple search engine to a massive global corporation, examining its impact on the technology industry and society at large. It delves into the company's business practices, culture, and the challenges it faces as it redefines information access and advertising in the digital age.
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Landing Page Optimization
The Definitive Guide to Testing and Tuning for Conversions
Tim Ash|Maura Ginty|Rich Page
The book provides a comprehensive guide on how to improve landing pages to increase conversion rates, covering topics such as A/B testing, user psychology, and page design. It offers practical advice and strategies for both novice and experienced marketers to effectively analyze and optimize their web pages to drive better business outcomes.
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Never Lost Again
The Google Mapping Revolution That Sparked New Industries and Augmented Our Reality
Bill Kilday
The book chronicles the development of Google Maps, detailing the journey from its inception as a startup called Keyhole through its acquisition by Google and subsequent transformation into a groundbreaking mapping service. It provides an insider's perspective on the technological innovations, challenges, and business strategies that led to the creation of a tool that redefined navigation and location-based services.
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