Release 2.0 : A Design for Living in the Digital Age (Cassette/Abridged) [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Esther Dyson (Author), Candice Agree (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 1997

People all over the world, and the U.S. in particular, are struggling with the enormous business, social, and political implications of the digital age. Those in the technology vanguard want to retain the purity and frontier spirit of cyberspace, while business leaders and entrepreneurs are trying to harness its economic power. Many of us think of the internet as simply a tool for electronic mail, while others see it as a new medium that primarily affects their children. Some worry about threats to their own privacy; others are concerned that criminals may use the new technology to outwit law enforcement. And yet others wonder how requirements for electronic literacy and access to information may affect the gap between haves and have-nots. Many people have discussed the future of the digital age at great length, but, until now, no one has explored the opportunities and trade-offs individuals and governments will face as society moves more fully into the information age. In Release 2.0, Esther Dyson draws on her years of experience analyzing and shaping the computer world as we know it--both in the U.S. and in Eastern and Western Europe--and her close-up knowledge of industry pioneers, business leaders, national policy makers, and local; innovators and activists to explain how this new world works and lay out the possibilities for the future that depend on the choices we make. These choices include privacy, openness, trust, accountability, ownership of ideas and content, access to opportunity, and education. Filled with examples, stories, and Dyson's trademark wit, this will be on of the most talked about audiobooks of 1997.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In her first book, respected digerati opinion-maker Esther Dyson looks at computing and the Internet and how they will profoundly change our business and social lives in a fully wired world. The wisdom of Dyson's view is that, while the digital age will be vastly different from the one we know, it will be governed by the same forces that have always shaped social organizations. She has given lots of thought to how those forces will interact with specific new technologies and does a convincing job of predicting the shape of things to come in considerable detail.

Dyson is the founder of the influential PC Forum conference and her company Edventure Holdings publishes the respected Release 1.0 newsletter, from which her book adapts its title. She is also chairman of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a lobbyist organization that seeks to present a pro-Internet voice in Washington. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

This landmark expedition into the philosophy of life on the Internet (LJ 11/1/97) is excellently read by Candice Agron. Author Dyson has taken an inspired, thoughtful look deep into cyberspace and come up with predictions on the future therein. As many listeners will know, Dyson's credentials are appropriate for making such predictions on the use of the Internet. She is to be commended for making a powerful, reasoned argument for self-regulation of cyberspace by the citizens of the Internet communities. Along the way, Dyson gives the listener a wealth of information on the use and development of the Internet and pertinent insights into the responsibilities of cyberspace citizenry. All ages and even the savvy cybrarian will learn something here.?Cliff Glaviano, Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., Ohio
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Random House Audio; Ex-library/stated first Edition edition (October 13, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553478710
• ISBN-13: 978-0553478716
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,688,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #63 in Books > Books on Cassette > Computers & Internet

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars We either know this or we still don't, May 11, 2000

By 

Doug Vaughn - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Release 2.0 (Hardcover)

I tried hard to appreciate Esther Dyson's book Release 2.0: A Design for Living in the Digital Age, but failed. Briefly stated, the problem for me is that the topics she deals with, while important, are presented in a rather bloodless, chatty techno-speak, that either states the obvious or leaves the reader wondering what she is talking about. I kept going, hoping to discover what the buzz was about this book but only succeeded in achieving that brain dead state one can reach after hours of reading business memos and reports. I didn't find it informative, provocative, helpful, or clear. Certainly not fun. There are better, less self-centered, books about the implications of living in a digital age. Dysons 'Design' reads like it was formulated by committee. I wouldn't want to base my life on it.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars You'll pay to hear what you already know!, May 12, 1999

By 

Sean Burke (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Release 2.0 (Hardcover)

An old Subgenius adage goes "You'll pay to hear what you already know!" So Dyson apparently decided she could write the /best/ book ever by writing things /everyone/ knows. "Email will change business communication'? Oh my God, Esther, thanks for the news flash! What's next for Release 4.0? A timely pensée on how one day we will all own VCRs (that stands for "video-cassette recorder"!), and how this will change everything, /everything/?

How about this wild futuristic scenario: in the future, you (YOU!) will be able to make a book by just buying a microcassette recorder and some blank tape, taking it home and taping your unorganized frappucino-addled ramblings. You'll mail the tapes to a typing service, and have them send the MSWord documents /right/ to the printers. What about editors? In the future, everything is fast, no time for editing! Have the publisher bankroll the printing of a few hundred thousand, and wham! "Just-in-time" publishing! The question is, just in time for what?

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A useful community-discussion but lacks punch, September 11, 1999

By 

Walter J. Adamson "@adamson" (Black Rock, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Release 2.0 (Hardcover)

Because I'm in the industry of know OF Esther Dyson, and have ocassionally read her stuff in the computer press. To be honest I bought this book expecting more, and found it disappointing. What I found was a columnist making her living. We learnt about her network building, her "names" and could see how she developed those into an income stream of words covering the last 10 years of the Internet.

On the other hand I thought her discussion of "communities" was thoughtful. It made me stop and think about relationships and contributing.

In my opinion there's little in this book for thoughtful people who are already in the IT industry. But perhaps for people who are looking for a "humanist" view of the Internet and don't know where to start, this book would be quite useful. I was thinking here of an Adult Education class or night class. The jargon might be a bit tough in places, but with a guide this book might suit that audience.