Customer Reviews

Deeper: My Two-Year Odyssey in Cyberspace

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I liked it a lot. Why do some reviewers characterize an author as narcisisstic when he talks about himself once in a while? Give me a break. Well rounded perspective of one man's introduction to the cyberworld.

Deeper somehow manages to be quite literate, without being well-written. John Seabrook offers a technically well-constructed commentary on his experiences online, but his defensive tone turned me off. His relationship with technology seems quite religious in nature - simultaneously idolatry and uncomfortable. Not a book I'd recommend for the technologically literate reader, although those who prefer style to substance might enjoy it.

The theme is enticing - baby boomer is sucked into the depths of the net. You imagine a psychological thriller such as Polanski's 'Tenant'. What is found , though, is a rather pedestrian tale of one writer's introduction to computers (? mid life crisis). Such unrealized potential. Lots of boring reproductions (filler) of e-mail. Now John, don't get upset and flame me

Seabrook opens his story by describing the login screen to the WELL, an online conferencing system. He quotes it as saying "you are your words" and, based on this, proceeds to draw a variety of conclusions about the WELL and the online world. Which might be fine, except that the login screen to the WELL reads "You own your words." Big difference there. You'd think a writer for the New Yorker could, when recounting a quote that sets the tone for his book, get the quote right. The book heads steadily downhill from there. Seabrook makes it all about himself. That isn't a bad thing per se, but it doesn't work here. Seabrook's personal journey is not interesting, and he has very little original or interesting to say about the medium. I suppose this book could be useful as an object lesson about the dangers of journalistic narcissism, but that's about it.

As might be expected, the book is very dated now. I was also on the Internet in 1993 and 1994 and don't regard myself as a pioneer of any sort. I did find Seabrook's description of online life accurate and especially the arc of a long-term presence online .. from euphoria and enthrallment to disillusion and disgust finally arriving at a place of balance.

Seabrook, a self-confessed computerphobe and writer for New Yorker magazine, finds himself assigned to interview Bill Gates. In no time the author finds himself purchasing a computer, subscribing to an online service, and going 'deeper' as he finds himself fascinated and immersed in the world of cyberculture. The book, which compares early internet exploration with the early explorations of America's west, is an engaging and fast read that not only chronicles one man's travels but also traces the history of the internet from a mid-1900's military plan to the cultural explosion of today. Seabrook's warm style and the book's plot, which follows the author through every confused moment and awkward discovery from logging on for the first time to becoming a veteran of the World Wide Web, ensure that the book's not just for computer wizards. This is a fine work of general interest and is recommended for anyone currently online, thinking about it, or scared of it

I had read excerpts of this in The New Yorker, where Seabrook is a staff writer, and was interested in seeing the finished product. Reading it bit by bit over time was one thing; reading it all at once was another. John Seabrook is really infatuated with himself. We do not need to know that he went to boarding school and then Princeton, yet he repeats this information again and again. We do not need to know how smart and wonderful he "knows" he is -- but since we're in his head, we're stuck with him. If he is indeed so smart and wonderful, why does he need to hire someone to build a homepage for him? He's insufferable, and readers can do better elsewhere.

An interesting magazine article overdressed as a hard cover book

Man and computer, but this guy is not my idea of a nice person. He has fun faking his identity in a chat. What happened to being honest and not lying to people? He talks about Western pioneer spirit ya well we have heard that by now. Must be the WELL because there seems to be a unity in writers from there. And yes their story dominates too much of the writing about the net. Sorry but I like community I am not a libertarian, thank you very much. It was an interesting read my own grips about the WELL aside. But then we could all write something like this but as a story of one person's personal views on the computer explosion in America and the media business it has merit. Since Bill Gates seems to be known for his relation to computers I guess this writer got to know his subject. I didn't finish it but it has some personality.

Seabrook captures those first steps in cyberspace in a way that is both informative and entertaining. I laughed sometimes at how much he reminded me of my own beginnings online. Anyone who has heard the word cyberspace should pick up this book. Seabrook's enthusiam is contagious. Not only will you find it hard to put down, but you may find yourself wanting to jump in and get your feet wet in the great ocean of the Internet