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Summary: An essential introduction to the internet
Review: As new societies and relationships are formed in the virtual landscape of cyberspace, we are now having to consider the potential consequences this might have on our own community and societies and reconsider how the concept of community is changing. Leading experts on the internet discuss such issues as race, gender, power, economics and ethics in cyberspace, focusing on four areas: identity, social order and control, community structure and dynamics, and collective action. Clearly written and covering all the main topics, this edited volume is an essential introduction to the internet.
Rating: 
Summary: A good resource for writers and academics
Review: I was introduced to this book because my enlightened sociology prof used it as a text for our discussions of sociology and cyberspace. Some intellectually stimulating articles, like Jodi O'Brien's discussion of gender. It was very stimulating . . . However, the book was far too focused on issues relating to North America and the West generally. What about the rest of the world? Some sections were extremely dull. This is exciting stuff, why must people pervert it into intellectual cheeseburgers?
Rating: 
Summary: Lost in (cyber)space?
Review: I was introduced to this book because my enlightened sociology prof used it as a text for our discussions of sociology and cyberspace. Some intellectually stimulating articles, like Jodi O'Brien's discussion of gender. It was very stimulating . . . However, the book was far too focused on issues relating to North America and the West generally. What about the rest of the world? Some sections were extremely dull. This is exciting stuff, why must people pervert it into intellectual cheeseburgers?
Rating:
Summary: A good resource for writers and academics
Review: This book covers four main areas in regards to online communities: identity, social order and control, community structure and dynamics, and collective action. Like many other texts on community, this book tends to focus on older technologies, i.e. Usenet, and MUDs/MOOs. That said, it contains a lot of good analysis done in these areas, and can provide good background for writing about online community. Note that the articles tend to be from the perspective of sociology. The strongest articles, in my opinion, were chapter 2, "Identity and deception in the virtual community," chapter 7, "Virtual communities as communities: Net surfers don't ride alone," and chapter 10, "The promise and peril of social action in cyberspace." If you are interested in building a community or just in the ideas of online communities, this is probably not the best book for you -- it's pretty academic. Check out Jenny Preece's _Online Communities: Designing Usability, Supporting Sociability_ as an alternative.
Rating: 
Summary: Really good one for researchers
Review: Very good articles above important aspects of virtual communities like identity, gender, sociability and other stuff written by people that really knows about the subject, famous researchers. If you are a researcher, you'll love it.
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