Cyberselfish: A Critical Romp through the Terribly Libertarian Culture of High Tech

by Paulina Borsook

Twenty-six years after its original publication, Borsook’s “smart, funny and irreverent” (The New York Times) critique of high-tech has proved a prescient assessment of a toxic ethos which has seeped into every corner of our world.

Cyberselfish saw the warning signs about a culture violently lacking in compassion, tremendously opposed to regulation, more comfortable with computers than people, and surprisingly ignorant. An ironic position, given this cohort was perhaps the single biggest recipient of the greatest government subsidy of technology and expansion in history. But it is also a culture that believes in Ayn Rand and the stockholder theory of value and acts as if privacy isn't for the Little People.

Borsook foresaw that once tech boomed to new heights of financial success, those at the helm would feel their achievement in one sphere should result in greater power and influence in others. Today, as titans of the tech world have inserted themselves even further into all aspects of society, Borsook’s insights have become more universally applicable than even she could have imagined. But what will result if the people who shape public policy know nothing about history or political science or, most importantly, how to interact with other humans? Cyberselfish posits this is the true revenge of the nerds.

Genres: Technology, Nonfiction, History, Politics, Business, Economics, Contemporary

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2000

Reviews

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A FORMER WRITER FOR "WIRED" MAGAZINE CRITIQUES IT, AND CYBERCULTURE

The author wrote in her Preface to the paperback edition of this 2000 book, "This is a book about people and culture, not about computer hardware and software. It's about a culture that existed before the creation of Silicon Valley and the Internet and that will be around long after high tech has retreated to being just one industrial sector among many and has ceased being regarded as sacred fire."

She notes, and laments, that "high tech's dominant libertarian mind-set is less well known than the obvious wealth and new ways of living and working it keeps spinning off... It manifests itself in everything from a rebel-outsider posture common in high tech... to an embarrassing lack of philanthropy (unless it involves the giving away of computers)." (Pg. 3)

Concerning 'Wired' magazine's "packaging of the libertarian mix," she admits that she was "seduced by the magazine... It took me awhile to realize how tunneled was the 'Wired' vision of digital culture Wired was selling." (Pg. 122) She and fellow female workers at Wired had a "love-hate, we-are-hurt-and-angered-by-what-it's-turning-out-to-be-but-there's-no-greater-publication-on-the-planet-right-now," and admits that "the many public and private squabbles I had with Wired were about this codependency." (Pg. 147)

Ultimately, she suggests that "PC-based libertarianism ... (is) the mind-set of adolescents, with their deep wish for total rampaging autonomy and desire for simple, call-to-arms passionate politics, where Good and Bad are clearly delineated---taking for granted that someone else does the laundry and stocks the refrigerator." (Pg. 235)

Borsook's book is an entertaining "insider's" perspective on not only Wired magazine, but many other aspects or the high-tech culture.

[grundoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose you're going to either really enjoy this, or grudgingly acknowledge that she's at least a competent writer, depending on your own views. Which is pretty much the entire point. I've been in tech some way or another for going on three decades, and have quite a few libertarian (lower case intentional) views, but "Libertarian" has very much been co-opted by attitudes and values which could not be further from my own. Over a dozen years old now, this book-length essay takes an informed, critical look at a male-dominated, often misogynistic, arrogant, I've-got-mine, short-sighted culture of self-interest. I happen to find her observations as spot on today as they were then. Others will surely dismiss it out-of-hand, or be too infuriated to even give it some thought.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthwhile read for anyone looking at the state of the tech industry in 2026 and wondering "was it always like this?" Borsook makes a compelling case (from way back in 2000) that the anti-social and authoritarian inclinations of tech were already well developed and an encroaching threat on democracy and basic humanity. A sometimes difficult read for how much her worst case predictions resemble the world we now live in.

[Someone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libertarians Mad about this one in reviews. Borsook is a great author with a sharp critical mind. There is an antilibertarian perspective in this book to which the author owns up and for which she argues eloquently throughout.
Worth reading, even in 2022

[Caelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very prescient dispatch from the early days of the Silicon Valley tech boom. The gender issues & flavors of libertarian are uncannily similar to today’s tech overlords, only now they have more money and power.

[Llewellyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Repeating what was said on the Amazon review - painting with way too wide of a brush, very dismissive, and generally kind of insulting without any basis or evidence. I thought this would be more about the libertarian financial world of Oracle and others, but it's more about putting down "neopagans who go to Burning Man". I will say I thought she did have a way with words, but it was mainly to insult people who responded to a dating profile.

[Mark Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a delightfully trenchant and hilarious narrative Paulina Borsook presents a much needed woman's perspective on the computer industry from the inside—this book has stood the test of a quarter-century, and it's as true or more today than when it was first written. Those who lived through the 1990s as adults will likely recognize the types of people, events, and publications chronicled in this book. The obvious composition of this tech bro culture is almost exclusively white and male, with its toxic mixture of Calvinist work ethic and sense of predestination for the worthy ones to rule the world—while this culture may be artificial its existence is also historical prior to the advent of cybertech, and it has permeated everyone's perception of what are healthy relationships more than many people are aware or willing to admit. Although it's easy (and fun) to laugh at the antics, hangups, and distorted societal views of tech industry executives, their contribution to the erosion of free time and family life as well as their unhealthy accumulation of wealth is no laughing matter—the proto-Nerd Reich they spawned then is killing us today.

Borsook skewers the related start-up culture, with its fixation on the venture capital driven frenzy to deliver a profitable unicorn primarily through low overhead software development alone—and the focus on an early high return cash out exit strategy over nurturing a firmly established business. The norm in these cases is too often sleepless all night coding sessions, calling out for pizza at 1 AM, and foregoing any semblance of a personal life, all for the rush and high of moving fast and breaking things (and dreams of getting rich)—then doing it all over again with a new venture. One doesn't have to step back very far to see the insanity of this race to the life-sucking pot of gold at the end of the cyber rainbow, with leisure time and even community service belittled as meaningless and unproductive. From the societal benefit and human well being aspects (for founder and tech grunt alike) the whole process is senseless, even as its touted to would-be techies as the only cool way to live.

Throughout the book Borsook exposes the corrosive effects of reducing everything to its market value—allowing to no other metric any meaningful significance (there's little room for art and music, and original research—the latter of which is happily delegated to taxpayer supported endeavors, and then glommed on to when proven profitable from others' inventions). In the tech world the philistines really do rule due to their being smarter than everyone else—just ask them. With the market as their beacon, fake philanthropy abounds. Giving is done from overstocked inventory to reduce taxes and make the books better for the next earnings call. Borsook mocks this attitude with effect, comparing it to the cat dropping a dead rat on your doorstep because in her world it's an item of value (yours, not so much)—the tech bros only give things that they think are important, such as computers and even routers that are of little use to schools that are instead in dire need of funding for teachers in a high cost area.

The false axiom that greed is good has long since worn out its welcome—real world events have exposed both neoliberal economics and tech fascism as just two sides of the same coin. Wealthy tech executives are numb to the sufferings of the people who make their success possible—the humanity of persons who are not them is not a factor in their universe. There is ample evidence that capitalism works only when it's choke chain is yanked by moral decency and effective protection of common human well being. Borsook has revealed the selfish cyber-child as a self-selected lone wolf who is oblivious to the real world communal support that continues to feed and sustain him. To stop the selfish child from eating his own house (and ours too!) it's time to take away his toys until he learns to value all of his fellow humans—as well as his own humanity.

[Gette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahead of its time. Would’ve preferred reading vs audiobook - I lost track a few times

Rating system:
5 - Absolutely loved it!
4 - Enjoyed it / Interesting read
3 - Good / It was okay
2 - Could be better / Wasn’t that interesting
1 - Why did this even get published?

[Thomas Schulte · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published 2000, it could be argued that this book may be more of historical interest and rather devoid of current relevance. I was fine to enjoy it as a time capsule and consider if the extreme libertarianism, 'bionomics' Darwinian view of economic competition that manages to ignore the necessary role of government, and polyamory ever evidenced in colleagues as worked at the time of publication. Well, maybe some gun-loving libertarians I recall, bionomics seems a completely new word to me, but the polyamory has resurfaced in the saved tale of Sam Bankman-Fried: "Polyamory, penthouses and plenty of loans: inside the crazy world of FTX". So, I guess that is still a thing.

There is also a lot here on the history of Wired magazine. Borsook was involved from the earliest days. There she saw first hand the boys' clubhouse it was becoming in reflection of its subject area. I was myself, an avid reader of the magazine Boing Boing and even sometimes of Ray Gun. I liked what I saw in them as subversive, anti-establishment. Wired smelt elitist or at least smug to me.

One of the points Borsook (sounds like a planet named by pulp fiction author Edgar Rice Burroughs) stresses is the lack of charity, especially meaningful charity, by successful and cash-rich tech firms. I wonder what her thought is on Bankman-Fried's "effective altruism". Well, he said he planned to donate the great majority of his wealth to effective charities over the course of his life, but in the end just stole and wasted his customer's money. This seems trued to the mark of Borsook's portrait of a male-dominated space rich in selfishness and poor in humanity. She also decries the focus on liberalness-data retrieval absent of context and narrow in scope:

It's spooky to think of a generation of kids who are deluded into thinking that if something ... isn't available on the Web then it doesn't exist or doesn't have value.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appear to have clicked "audio" and really it's just hardcover. Ain't give a damn.

Written in 2001, read in 2013. The more things change, the more they stay the same. I had a hard time reading this for the same reason I had an issue with Steve Jobs' biography: the back-and-forth between "these are amazing times and folks are doing amazing things" and "holy shit some of these folks seem to have been assholes for YEARS" is just disconcerting and makes me want to set fire to something.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cyberselfish: A Critical Romp through the Terribly Libertarian Culture of High Tech is a provocative and thought-provoking examination of the culture surrounding the technology industry and the beliefs that have helped shape its influence on society. Paulina Borsook’s central argument, as presented in this edition, raises important questions about what happens when technological achievement and financial success begin to translate into broader social and political power.

What makes the book particularly interesting is its examination of the contradictions within high-tech culture. The industry has benefited significantly from government support and public investment, yet Borsook questions a culture that can be resistant to regulation while placing considerable emphasis on individualism, shareholder value, and personal freedom. This tension provides a compelling starting point for reflecting on the relationship between private enterprise, public responsibility, and the wider consequences of technological progress.

I also find the book’s focus on compassion, privacy, and human connection especially relevant. Technology is often discussed in terms of innovation, efficiency, and economic growth, but Borsook challenges readers to consider the values guiding the people and institutions behind it. Her concerns about technology leaders gaining influence beyond their areas of expertise invite a broader discussion about accountability, civic understanding, and the responsibilities that accompany power.

The fact that this work was originally published in 2000 adds another interesting dimension. Its renewed relevance, as described in this edition, encourages readers to revisit earlier criticisms of the technology industry and consider how those concerns relate to the world today. Rather than treating technological progress as an unquestionable good, the book invites readers to examine its cultural and social implications with a more critical eye.

For readers interested in technology, business, political history, economics, and the social forces shaping the digital age, Cyberselfish offers an engaging starting point for reflection and discussion. Borsook’s irreverent approach, combined with the questions she raises about power, privacy, and public responsibility, makes this a compelling choice for anyone interested in looking beyond the promises of technological innovation to examine the values behind it.

[OvercommuniKate · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book came highly suggested on BlueSky for its prescient capture of Silicon Valley's fascist politics. Written in 2000, it recently got a reprint with a forward. However, I hated the writing style. I consider "Jesus and John Wayne" the gold standard for political analysis because the author chronologically lays out how we got here and then quickly goes through the major players. This book is not that, instead it meanders with the author's musings on life.

First, that forward was highly laudatory and set expectations real high. The forward then casually mentions the author was shot in the head at 14. For as much as this book is a memoir, we don't get any details on the interesting parts of the author's life. I'm fascinated that her parents were horrible, and in 1982 she got shot by her best friend while they had a fight. And that friend's parents are hardcore Christian Fascists back in the 80s. Then at 15, the author runs away to a communal school and then ends up eventually working in tech. Like what? Why did I have to go look up her other articles to get any of that!

Second, we get lots of bits that I think in journalism are called "interesting color " Either give me the details on how Musk and Jobs are fascists or tell me about what's in like being a reporter with a disability. I don't care about the author's musings of what she's literally doing at a conference. An editor at Wired would surely have cut most of these personal opinions and unnecessary reflections. For instance, there's a paragraph about the author's memory of 1960s protest culture fashion just casually in the section about cryptocurrency. That's the entire book! Just random asides!

I'm sure this is enjoyable to some people, but wow, I hated this writing style.

[Dalan Mendonca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is 25 years old; yet it's sort of a mysterious time capsule that only recently surfaced. We (used to) associate Silicon Valley culture with positive California hippie culture, pride flags and all that. This book describes how there is a wide-spread strain of "I got mine, now fuck you" selfishness and libertarianism in the industry. Now prescient as the new money of tech turns into old money and jostles for the political stage and power with little regard for the good of anybody, revealing its true colours. Despite being 25 years old I couldn't help but nod along thinking "Yup! She got that right" many many times as I read the book.

A critique of the book can be that it occasionally reads like campy gossip column based on hearsay and anecdotes; but the author does put in the work going through studies and multiple angles; and that's why it still stands correct. Some may be disappointed by the fact that author doesn't offer solutions; but she admits that she's just as perplexed by the state of affairs and it isn't her goal to do so.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well written, and it is aged extremely well. I’m giving it five stars because it’s one of the most succinct encapsulations of the culture driving so many forces in the world now. It’s important and it’s essential that we understand it more deeply.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cyberselfish offers a provocative and deeply engaged examination of Silicon Valley, technology culture, and the ideological ideas surrounding the high-tech industry.
Paulina Borsook combines personal and political writing to explore the relationship between technology, free-market thinking, private enterprise, and the evolving internet.
The book’s return in a 25th anniversary edition gives its earlier critique an opportunity to be encountered by readers navigating a very different technology landscape.
Its 317 pages provide substantial room for examining the cultural and political questions raised by the growth of Silicon Valley and digital technology.
As a newly returning edition expected on September 28, 2026, Cyberselfish presents a timely opportunity to reconnect its ideas with a new generation of readers.

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in tech for a decade prior to her original publication of this book in 2000 and enthusiastically support her conclusions. I wish I'd known of this book back then. In tech in the 90s there was plenty of humour and productivity, and plenty of misogyny, misanthropy, and condescension. Richard Stallman going to bat for Marvin Minsky, and the FSF letting him back on the board, well ... I confess that did not surprise me, as much of an advocate of FOSS as I am. In this case Stallman is just the most visible of many who would choose to defend Minsky's behaviour and demonise Giuffre. Minsky is an exploitative shit. If he was capable of this, then, what else was he capable of, especially when it came to the treatment of women and girls? It diminishes his humanity, and we may also ask, while he undoubtedly made major contributions of his own, what contributions did not get made because he was capable of this?

Borsook's exposure of the cruel calculus at work -- those with the most money, are the best to decide -- was prescient. Though a corollary is necessary -- those with control of the most tech, decide, no matter what the rest of us want.

[martyn benny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cyberselfish is a remarkably prescient and intellectually engaging critique of Silicon Valley culture that feels even more relevant today than when it first appeared. More than a historical commentary on the early internet era, Paulina Borsook's work offers a penetrating examination of the ideas, assumptions, and values that continue to influence the technology industry and, increasingly, society itself.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its willingness to examine technology through the lenses of culture, philosophy, politics, and economics rather than treating innovation as inherently beneficial. Borsook challenges readers to consider how beliefs about individualism, markets, regulation, and human relationships shape the technologies we build and the societies those technologies ultimately create.

I particularly appreciated the book's sharp wit and fearless analysis. Rather than relying on simplistic criticism, Borsook presents a thoughtful exploration of how ideological commitments within the technology sector can influence decision-making, corporate behavior, and public life. Many of the questions she raised decades ago now feel astonishingly relevant in discussions surrounding artificial intelligence, platform governance, privacy, and the growing influence of technology companies.

The writing is intelligent, accessible, and frequently humorous while never losing sight of the seriousness of its subject. Readers interested in technology, public policy, business ethics, political philosophy, or the history of Silicon Valley will find a wealth of ideas worthy of discussion and reflection.

Cyberselfish is not merely a critique of the technology industry. It is an invitation to think more deeply about the values that drive innovation and about the responsibilities that accompany technological power. Its insights remain remarkably timely and increasingly essential.

[Tom S · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author most certainly has expensive experience, knowledge and connections throughout Silicon Valley but appears to have become so intensely stuck in a single-track mindset that everyone in Silicon Valley is "technolibertarian" that she has closed herself off such that no other conclusions can be reached, and any thoughts or ideas otherwise tolerated.

The book provides an interesting insight into the culture and life of high technology in West Coast USA in the 90s with an incredible amount of quoted sources, studies and articles. You definitely come away with a strong image of the pervasive 24/7 working culture and found/test/cash out startup cycle that has produced countless twenty something multi-millionaires.

From a reading perspective I felt the author was out to prove how many contacts she had, name dropping some marginally once important person almost every paragraph., which got very tiring attempting to keep track of hundreds of people.

Overall an interesting insight, but definitely falling into the category of heavily weighted opinion piece.

[Patrick Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

What libertarianism seems like to an outside observer. Some valid points, some outdated. Always good to synthesize multiple viewpoints.

[Colin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Badly in need of an editor

[Eamonn McHugh-Roohr · Rating 3 out of 5]

n/a