Name: Present Shock
ISBN: 9781591844761

Douglas Rushkoff

The award-winning author of Life, Inc. examines the pros and cons of today's digitally driven, real-time world, explaining how to safeguard against the vulnerabilities of instant-experience media while maximizing its benefits.

When Everything Happens Now

Present Shock

Beau

This book is big. It did my head in. It will require a second reading. Nonetheless, Rushkoff does that thing he tends to do best - observe society, ponder technology, consider implications, de-construct reality, and speak to great depths on fundamental parts of humanity's psyche that we often don't prod: time, morality, and everything in between. At it's fundamental best, this book is about technology and time. I particularly enjoyed the first section titled 'Narrative Collapse' - where he looks at the current ethos of a post-Aristotelian narrative society; where the non-linear rules, and particular (and beautiful) depths of creativity, knowledge, and cognitive exploration are becoming old world attributes amongst humans.

If you're up for a long but absolutely fascinating read on technology, the philosophy of time, and current socio-tech matters, this is your book. It requires commitment, however. Simply skimming over this one is both an injustice to yourself, and hugely ironic once you reach certain areas of the book. You won't put it down and you'll more than likely pick it up for a second read to get your head around some of the huge areas Rushkoff explores. Bravo.

Luca Conti

Very useful to understand some trends of the modern era, some of them related to social media

Present Shock When Everything Happens Now