Customer Reviews

The Control Revolution: How the Internet is Putting Individuals in Charge and Changing the World We Know

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Being in the industry (Director of Technology at an Internet start-up) and thinking about the impact of the Internet every day, I wouldn't say that I've learned anything terribly new reading this book. On the other hand, I think some of the subtleties in the thesis are quite original. Many technicians in the industry will be amazed with the social, political and economic implications of what they are doing. And if you are NOT in the industry, you will find it VERY interesting.

I really like the overall organization and I find the step-by-step logic very tight, thorough and compelling. Finally, the research Andrew Shapiro has done is wonderful. This is not just breathless techno-hype or theoretical b-shcool drivel; this is real historical literature rich with detail, supporting arguments and rich sources.

The Control Revolution By Andrew Shapiro

The information revolution, brought on by the introduction of the computer, has created tremendous changes to the way information is now receive and sent. If one remembers the impact and the changes in life style brought on first by the radio and followed by the television, one only has to marvel that in just 5 years the effects that the explosion of the Internet has had on the World today. In these last five years, with technology the driving force, the Internet has changed the way governments, business, commerce and educational systems perform. In 19997, President Clinton stated, "It will literally be possible to start a company tomorrow, and next week do business in Japan, Germany and Chile, all without living your home, something that used to take years and years to do. Mr. Shapiro book provides many major areas already impacted stating that there are more than 100 on line brokerage service servicing over 10 million investors. In essence, the day traders are replacing the middlemen. The Internet potential has expanded into every form of communications. Newspapers will be read in different languages, in different countries as soon as they are posted. Instead of waiting for news to be written and printed; those on the Internet will communicate directly to those at the site of, whether it be a natural disaster a revolution or a late breaking story. Mr. Shapiro also strongly cautions users of the Internet the need to demonstrate the capacity for being responsible if users expect governments to accept the individuals right to use the Internet without intervention. The author also takes the reader into each new existing and potential use of the Internet, like surfing the Web globally, linking into one's community, keeping abreast of federal and state happenings, helping students with their homework to seniors chatting with their neighbors. Mr. Shapiro book gives the readers a valuable insight into the present as well as the future of how the Internet is and will continue to change life styles. This book will be especially valuable to those who have doubts or believe that the Internet is a passing fade to be dealt with at another time. I recommend this book especially to those people, to read it before the bullet leaves the gun...then it will be too late to make your move.

If Andrew L. Shapiro's postulation is correct, the rise of the Internet will herald a decline in centralized power and a parallel rise in democratization within the United States and the World Community. Heretofore the exclusive prerogative and the domain of news agencies, publication moguls, politicians and governments, control of information and its use as a tool for control is waning. As the Internet, especially in its more commonly known interface of the World Wide Web, wires our lives and we become more accustomed to its presence, Shapiro presents us with a compelling argument that brings forward ghosts of Rousseau's "The Social Contract" in a newly packaged, computer-esk mantra.

Shapiro produces a compelling argument for the increased democratization of society in the emerging computer and information era. Examining the social, political and economic realms, he highlights the various practices, policies and trends that are providing these arenas with form and content. Addressing a general audience, Shapiro delves away from techno-jargon or legalize that tend to cloud the issues at hand. Relying instead on clear examples in a concise writing fashion, Shapiro positions himself into a controversial position between futurist and alarmist.

Of the myriad of arguments he presents, his discussion on the impact personalization will have on society especially is both exciting and frightening. Increasingly we are witnessing a personalization revolution in all aspects of computer related interfaces. From e-commerce to the "My Computer/My Documents/My Music" icons in Microsoft, delivering individuality to millions is big business and profit share. In the face of the dehumanizing effects of numerical identification, whether it is one's social security number, a PIN number or an IP address, such personalization provides society with a reminder of its human quality. With the same ease one has in individualizing, customizing and censuring their personal news delivery, one can also individualize, customize and censure out the diversity of the society. No longer are we forced to, even in passing, glance over articles and headlines (thus being exposed to them) as we leaf through a newspaper. No longer are we forced to listen to new voices through our radio as we travel (new technology is currently dawning that will allow us to listen to our favorite streaming Los Angeles Stations while sunbathing in Hilton Head). No longer do we have to converse with a wide variety of people, hearing different perspectives and different cultural influences; we can now censure our conversations to only those who fit our criteria. While in keeping with the increased control that the new Control Revolution is placing in our hands, such roses may have some large thorns.

Shapiro's tomb is thought provoking and well worth the time. His organization is easy to follow and his concise chapters are well suited for reading as time allows. As a primer to the new era, this volume should be included in a professional library. Certainly, Shapiro's book will produce enough cocktail conversation to satisfy a season of parties.

It is nice, finally, to read an intelligent book about the Internet - one that is neither overly celebratory nor overly gloomy. Most books written about the 'Net are overly positive, painting the kind of unrealistic picture of the future that one associates with the Worlds Fair of 1939, which, among other things, portrayed the City of the Future as blessedly free of traffic jams. Whoops! That sure didn't happen!

Shapiro uses the term "over-steer" to describe how the 'Net and all its benefits might bring unintended consequences. For example, the 'Net eliminates the middleman, but maybe the middleman offers value that will be sorely missed. The 'Net allows us to personalize information, but maybe an over-personalized world will cut us off from the marvels and pleasures of serendipity - in other words, if we only read the news we want, we might miss something vitally important (I think this is unlikely. Anyone with one molecule of curiousity in their brains will experience mountains of interesting information on the Interent 'by accident.')

Hats off to Shapiro for thinking this technology through. This book is recommended for people who always have second thoughts.

-issue. Shapiro understands his subject thoroughly and has examined both privacy in historic/legal terms and privacy as it is soon to be defined. The implications the reader may infer from his analysis may not agree with Shapiro's conclusions.

This is certainly the case for me. Reasonable people can disagree reasonably. I have immersed myself in these issues. For good or ill, as a result, I consider my opinions both informed and logical. Others not listed in the suggested reading include Viriginia Postrel, Reg Whitaker, Robert Kaplan, and most important, Jerry Furland. Of all these, Furland, in the near future novel, "Transfer-the end of the beginning" really does examine the up and down-side potential for the new economy and digital information technologies. The potential he sees is tempered by an unblinking assessment of people, industry, media and government. He sees us as we are, ethical warts and all. Is he right? Who can say?. Is he probably right? Yes, and it should be a warning to all. If you fail to read "Transfer" you will fail to fully grasp the enormity of what is headed our way.

Regardless of technological denouement, and whatever your position may be on the influence of technology in modern life; whether you are a web-head or deadhead, couch potato or mouse potato, Luddite or acolyte; Andrew Shapiro has framed the crucial questions for the Information Age -- and nailed them to the wall.

He has crystallized what it is we must ask as we inch closer to the precipice of a new era, where the pervasiveness of technology encroaches more and more on our daily lives. Most impressively, though, he has done so in a clear and lucid manner, without sacrificing insight or depth. "The Control Revolution" is your Rand McNally Atlas for The (digital) Road Ahead.

This book is a must read for the digerati, literati, and TomDick'nHarri(s) of the world.

Michael Mehler (The Brennan Center for Justice, 6/18/99)

An excellent book for grasping the power of the net. Allows room for discussing cyberspace's ablility to work for "good" or "evil".

A libertarian approach that guides readers to think indedendently of governments, corporations and other influencing entities.

No offense to the author, or to the readers of this book, or to those who truly believe that due to globalization individuals are finally in control, but, its all a load of crap. The way in which it is putting individuals in charge is by allowing them to maximize off the potential of writing books of how everyone else can become "in charge". This book is typical of the trite nonsense sputtered by those who would like to lead unsuspecting consumers, into believing, that there is in fact a key for understanding the world and getting what you want out of it. There is no such key. This understanding is much harder to derive than simply reading rubbish of this sort. But what do I know anyway?

The Internet is putting individuals in charge of changes in our culture and society, providing a radical shift in who is in control of information and resources and prompting ripples of change in the structure of society. Shapiro argues that individuals and companies who come to control the Internet environment will influence lives and the future in this penetrating survey.

"The Control Revolution" is a top-notch book about the effect of the Internet on people, business and the law.

The author, Andrew Shapiro, is a lawyer with a talent for writing about legal issues in an easy-to-read style.

Shapiro ... explains that, "the Internet, contrary to what some say, doesn't make it impossible for lawmakers and law enforcement officials to do their jobs."