Rating: 
Summary: A brief note
Review: Pundits and politicians speak in broad-brush terms about an information revolution or a communications revolution. But I never really understood those terms. To me, revolutions are all about struggle and crisis, a clash of values, and ultimately a fragile reordering of the social landscape.Is that what the Internet is doing to society? I was skeptical at first. But after five years of study, I have come to believe that new technology is enabling fundamental changes, particularly regarding the status of the individual in society. The Net is giving each of us the ability to control aspects of life that were previously controlled by our most powerful institutions: government, corporations, and the news media. We can decide for ourselves what information we're exposed to; how we learn and work; whom we socialize with; and even how goods are distributed and political outcomes are reached. This development deserves to be seen as revolutionary. But it's not a revolution we can yet celebrate -- for it has all the tenuous attributes of any political upheaval. There is resistance from institutions struggling to maintain their authority. And there is a grave danger that we will push the revolution too far, blinding ourselves to the need for balance between personal indulgence and commitment to something more. Technology bestows great privileges upon us. The question is whether we will shoulder the responsibilities that accompany them.
Rating: 
Summary: You say you want a revolution...
Review: 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)
Rating: 
Summary: An Instant Classic
Review: Several years from now it will become clear that "The Control Revolution" itself played an important role in defining, questioning and, ultimately, influencing the role of the internet in everyday life. You must read this instant classic.
Rating:
Summary: The Internet....NOW
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A penetrating survey.
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Pessimistic point of view
Review: The only new thing I learned with this book is: "Don't ever buy a book without taking its wrapping off and reading a few lines first." Except for the chapter about Microsoft (about 20 pages), I consider this book useless. Seems like the author grabbed a list of all the advantages that can be found on the use of the internet and formulated a number of weird reasons to question each one of them. Some of those "reasons" were just so small and insignificant that his efforts to fill 10 pages with it 'no matter how' are so evident. For example, in one part he critizes the capability that the internet has when finding the meaning of a specific word, without having to browse an entire list of words in a place like a dictionary. His "reason"? He says that "we might lose the pleasure of those strange accidents when we look for a word but find another one on the road that leds us to new and unexpected feelings" or something like that. Give me a break. Yup, that old saying "don't judge a book by its cover" fits perfectly here. The title is somewhat tricky.
Rating:
Summary: Pessimistic point of view
Review: The only new thing I learned with this book is: "Don't ever buy a book without taking its wrapping off and reading a few lines first." Except for the chapter about Microsoft (about 20 pages), I consider this book useless. Seems like the author grabbed a list of all the advantages that can be found on the use of the internet and formulated a number of weird reasons to question each one of them. Some of those "reasons" were just so small and insignificant that his efforts to fill 10 pages with it 'no matter how' are so evident. For example, in one part he critizes the capability that the internet has when finding the meaning of a specific word, without having to browse an entire list of words in a place like a dictionary. His "reason"? He says that "we might lose the pleasure of those strange accidents when we look for a word but find another one on the road that leds us to new and unexpected feelings" or something like that. Give me a break. Yup, that old saying "don't judge a book by its cover" fits perfectly here. The title is somewhat tricky.
Rating:
Summary: bellkissimo
Review: veramente una ficata
Rating:
Summary: The Emperor Wears No Clothes
Review: WARNING: There is much hype surrounding this book. I searched for meat on the bones of this tome and was left hungry. It reads like a term paper: always talking but not saying very much. At the end there are 40 pages of notes and bibliography listings that had me wondering where all the results of this extensive research went. Honestly, this entire piece of writing could have been condensed into a solid magazine article, bit instead was stretched out for the sake of filling 2 covers. In conclusion, if you want to read on the legal issues created by the internet, surely there must be something better out there. If you are looking for a book that talks of the effects of technology on society, try The New Renaisance by Douglas Robertson.
Rating:
Summary: The Emperor Wears No Clothes
Review: WARNING: There is much hype surrounding this book. I searched for meat on the bones of this tome and was left hungry. It reads like a term paper: always talking but not saying very much. At the end there are 40 pages of notes and bibliography listings that had me wondering where all the results of this extensive research went. Honestly, this entire piece of writing could have been condensed into a solid magazine article, bit instead was stretched out for the sake of filling 2 covers. In conclusion, if you want to read on the legal issues created by the internet, surely there must be something better out there. If you are looking for a book that talks of the effects of technology on society, try The New Renaisance by Douglas Robertson.
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