logo
pagesback-cover
58
Reddit meter
all mentions

The Net Delusion

449 pages, 2012

economics & politics

economics & politics

987 books
technology

technology

392 books
Takeaways
Description

“ The revolution will be Twittered! ” declared intelligencer Andrew Sullivan after demurrers erupted in Iran. But as intelligence and social judge Evgeny Morozov argues in The Net vision, the Internet is a tool that both revolutionaries and authoritarian governments can use. 

For all the talk in the West about the power of the Internet to homogenize societies, administrations in Iran and China are as stable and cathartic as ever. Social media spots have been used there to lodge tyrants and hang dissentients, making it harder, not easier — to promote republic. 

Marshaling a compelling set of case studies, The Net vision shows why the cyber-utopian station that the Internet is innately liberating is wrong, and how ambitious and putative noble enterprise like the creation of “ Internet freedom ” is deceived and, occasionally, dangerous. 

The Internet is Not Always a Force for Good

Evgeny Morozov challenges the popular belief that the internet is always a force for good. He argues that while it can promote democracy, it can also be used by authoritarian regimes to suppress dissent and control information.

The 'Net Delusion' Concept

The book introduces the concept of 'Net Delusion', which is the misguided belief that the internet can solve all of the world's problems. Morozov urges readers to take a more critical look at the role of the internet in society.

The Dangers of Cyber-Utopianism

Morozov warns against 'cyber-utopianism', the idea that the internet will inevitably lead to a more open and democratic society. He argues that this belief can blind us to the potential dangers and downsides of the digital age.

The Internet's Role in Politics

The Net Delusion explores how the internet can both empower and hinder political activism. It shows that while the internet can help activists organize and spread their message, it can also be used by governments to track and suppress opposition.

The Need for a Balanced View of the Internet

In the book, Morozov emphasizes the need for a balanced view of the internet. He encourages readers to see the internet not as a panacea for all societal ills, but as a tool that can be used for both good and bad, depending on who is using it and how.

Quotes 4

The Net Delusion is a powerful and provocative challenge to the assumption that the internet is a force for good in the world.

Malcolm GladwellMalcolm Gladwell - Journalist, Author

Evgeny Morozov's The Net Delusion is a brilliant and courageous book that challenges the conventional wisdom about the role of the Internet in the new world order.

Zadie SmithZadie Smith - Novelist, Essayist

The Net Delusion is a sharp, witty and brilliantly researched critique of cyber-utopianism.

Clay ShirkyClay Shirky - Writer, Consultant

The Net Delusion is a sobering and insightful book that challenges the conventional wisdom about the role of the Internet in society.

Tim WuTim Wu - Law Professor, Author
Malcolm GladwellZadie SmithClay ShirkyTim Wu

Recommendations

1
authorRyan Holiday

Ryan Holiday

entrepreneurjournalistmarketerauthor