How often do we hear about the Sharing Economy, either through daily reports of the transformation it is constantly causing in markets and long incumbent firms, or the numerous debates between its proponents and skeptics? Very, if you read news outlets like the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, or if you are an entrepreneur, researcher, or executive. Even if not, you probably have already used a Sharing Economy platform (as has a whopping 70% of the US population).

Arun Sundararajan, a professor who is an expert on the Sharing Economy, opens up by drawing from personal experience to motivate the questions that this book seeks to answer. I find his proposed “Crowd-based Capitalism” term to be a much more accurate and clear description of this economic model, but (as he does) I’ll be referring to it by the more popular Sharing Economy denomination.

The first part of the book masterfully lays out foundations that should greatly benefit anyone attempting to delve into the Sharing Economy. The journey begins with the important lessons that the evolution of Sharing Economy thinking has taught us. Sundararajan then proceeds to uncover the factors that enabled the proliferation of these platforms, centering on digital technologies and on socioeconomic drivers such us the emergence of large urban centers - cities are, after all, Sharing Economies in and of themselves. A very intuitive framework is then constructed, that allows us to treat Sharing Economy platforms as structures spanning the spectrum between hands-off marketplaces and the traditional firm hierarchy. This part concludes by giving as a sneak-peek at a fast-approaching future, where blockchain technologies promise to further empower Sharing Economy platforms and even transfer a larger share of power into the hands of the people. It is not possible to overstate the importance of the first part to anyone who wants a firm grasp of the drivers of the Sharing Economy, as well as to those who have to predict whether such platforms are likely to succeed or fail.

The second part is devoted to studying the impact that the Sharing Economy has been shown to have on the economy and the workforce. The excellent discussion of regulatory issues is one of my favorite parts of the book; Sundararajan carefully examines why current regulation can be ill-suited and might stifle innovation in Sharing Economy platforms and hinder economic growth. He then provides well-thought and innovative suggestions towards a better regulatory framework which highlight the need for worker protections and rights. I found these suggestions not only particularly interesting, but also potentially applicable outside the Sharing Economy context.

I could go on for much longer, but I will stop the spoilers here. It should be clear from the above that this is not another hagiographic book touting the latest fad. Instead, Sundararajan provides us with a concise, deep, and multidimensional study of the Sharing Economy, pointing out both the tremendous potential benefits and perils. The arguments he makes are careful and detailed, always grounded on academic research and made clear through numerous examples.

Among the strongest points of this book is that it does not only impart deep knowledge about the inner workings of this new economic system, but will also unavoidably kindle your enthusiasm for the future that the Sharing Economy promises. Sundararajan is an affable optimist, and makes an important case why we should join him.