by Chris Dixon
First published 2024
The internet has strayed far from its original vision of decentralized innovation and freedom. Today a handful of giants like Apple, Google, and Facebook dominate the digital landscape. Technology entrepreneur and investor Chris Dixon believes blockchain networks offer a path back to the internet's democratic promise. He draws a sharp line between legitimate blockchain applications and cryptocurrency speculation, calling it "the computer vs. the casino." Dixon traces three internet eras: the early "read" phase that democratized information, the "read-write" period when corporate platforms democratized publishing, and today's emerging "read-write-own" era where blockchain networks transfer power and profits to user communities rather than corporations alone. Drawing from his quarter-century in software, Dixon provides both analysis of how we reached this point and practical guidance for building a better digital future.
Genres: business, computers, non-fiction, technology, 21st-century, internet
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: analysis, guidance
320 pages · Hardcover · Random House