Content: Selected Essays on Technology, Creativity, Copyright, and the Future of the Future (Paperback)

by Cory Doctorow (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Doctorow here proves he’s smart, funny, and good at accessibly boiling down issues he’s passionate about. On topics ranging from fanfic (readers’ additions to their favorite authors’ creations, usually online) to the terrible business model Microsoft presents by treating customers like potential thieves from the beginning, Doctorow moves to the forefront of conversations likely to determine how creators and audiences are able to use new technologies. He compares Internet content-management problems to similar technological snafus—such as the transition from live performance to radio, and from manuscript to printed books—and how the established order of the day reacted, demonstrating his grasp of the ways in which history repeats itself and how we can use the lessons of history to cope with further changes in the exchange of information. Doctorow excels in writing short forms, the essay no less than the short story, making this collection a pleasure to read, not to mention thought-provoking. --Regina Schroeder

Review

"Doctorow here proves he's smart, funny, and good at accessibly boiling down issues he's passionate about . . . a pleasure to read, not to mention thought-provoking."  —Booklist

"Cory Doctorow straps on his miner's helmet and takes you deep into the caverns and underground rivers of pop culture."  —Neil Gaiman, author, American Gods

"We should all hope and trust that our culture has the guts and moxie to follow this guy. He's got a lot to tell us."  —Bruce Sterling, author, Zeitgeist

"Cory Doctorow is the apotheosis of what we talk about when we talk about the Web."  —SF Site

"If all those Generation Z and proto-Singularity kids reading Doctorow's Little Brother also find their way to Content, this book may well become a classic."  —mattselznick.com

"The most articulate and accessible writer engaged in these topics."  —Time Out Chicago

"A nice collection of essays."  —TeleReads

"More than just insightful, brilliant, and to the point—it's also funny and fun to read."  —Electronic Frontier Foundation

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Tachyon Publications (September 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892391813
• ISBN-13: 978-1892391810
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #43,652 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cory's book is a great resource on DRM and copyright problems., October 19, 2008

By	FrankT (Orange County, California USA) - See all my reviews

I've read or seen most of the material in this book online and am a big fan of Cory's work. I thought this would be a great resource to have instead of a bunch of print outs or bookmarks. Cory Doctorow has some of the best thought out arguments against DRM and for digital freedoms, pointing out tons of interesting historical examples along the way. Great read!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great overview of Doctorow's non-fiction work, September 18, 2008

By	Ken Kennedy - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Excellent way for someone relatively new to Cory's non-fiction to come up to speed quickly. A great overview of his thoughts on copyright, the Internet, and society. And even if you're a dyed-in-the-wool True Fan (like me), you'll probably find something new, and you'll definitely enjoy having the essays collected in one place. His Microsoft DRM essay is included, which is a favorite of mine. Well worth picking up if you have any interest whatsoever in topics like the future of copyright, media and the Internet, etc.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars DRM rants, September 11, 2008

By	Alex Tolley (Los Gatos, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Most of this collection of "rants" is about the stupidity of DRM for digital content. The rants are both witty and have a seriousness that befits this topic. Unlike most authors, Doctorow actually has "skin in the game" and puts his money where his mouth is by offering free digital versions of many of his books. His argument that paper books are not the same as digital ones, each having different features that meet different needs is very persuasive. However, we should be very careful of extending this argument to other media, like music, where this distinction is not clear at all.

The only issue I have with this collection is that it is a little repetitive, some rants being just reworkings of other ones.

Overall, a good, quick read, offering a fairly simplistic take on DRM in an amusing style.