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The Social Life of Information: Updated, with a New Preface
“Should be read by anyone interested in understanding the future,” The Times Literary Supplement raved about the original edition of The Social Life of Information. We’re now living in that future, and one of the seminal books of the Internet Age is more relevant than ever.
The future was a place where technology was supposed to empower individuals and obliterate social organizations. Pundits predicted that information technology would obliterate the need for almost everything—from mass media to bureaucracies, universities, politics, and governments. Clearly, we are not living in that future. The Social Life of Information explains why.
John Seely Brown and Paul Duguid show us how to look beyond mere information to the social context that creates and gives meaning to it. Arguing elegantly for the important role that human sociability plays, even—perhaps especially—in the digital world, The Social Life of Information gives us an optimistic look beyond the simplicities of information and individuals. It shows how a better understanding of the contribution that communities, organizations, and institutions make to learning, working, and innovating can lead to the richest possible use of technology in our work and everyday lives.
With a new introduction by David Weinberger and reflections by the authors on developments since the book’s first publication, this new edition is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the human place in a digital world.
The future was a place where technology was supposed to empower individuals and obliterate social organizations. Pundits predicted that information technology would obliterate the need for almost everything—from mass media to bureaucracies, universities, politics, and governments. Clearly, we are not living in that future. The Social Life of Information explains why.
John Seely Brown and Paul Duguid show us how to look beyond mere information to the social context that creates and gives meaning to it. Arguing elegantly for the important role that human sociability plays, even—perhaps especially—in the digital world, The Social Life of Information gives us an optimistic look beyond the simplicities of information and individuals. It shows how a better understanding of the contribution that communities, organizations, and institutions make to learning, working, and innovating can lead to the richest possible use of technology in our work and everyday lives.
With a new introduction by David Weinberger and reflections by the authors on developments since the book’s first publication, this new edition is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the human place in a digital world.
286 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
17 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
John Seely Brown
40 books35 followersI'm a visiting scholar at USC and the independent co-chairman of the Deloitte Center for the Edge.
In a previous life, I was the Chief Scientist of Xerox Corporation and the director of its Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). I was deeply involved in the management of radical innovation and in the formation of corporate strategy and strategic positioning of Xerox as The Document Company.
Today, I'm Chief of Confusion, helping people ask the right questions, trying to make a difference through my work- speaking, writing, teaching.
I've also received a few honorary degrees along the way, and in 2004 I was inducted into the Industry Hall of Fame; I was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2009.
In a previous life, I was the Chief Scientist of Xerox Corporation and the director of its Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). I was deeply involved in the management of radical innovation and in the formation of corporate strategy and strategic positioning of Xerox as The Document Company.
Today, I'm Chief of Confusion, helping people ask the right questions, trying to make a difference through my work- speaking, writing, teaching.
I've also received a few honorary degrees along the way, and in 2004 I was inducted into the Industry Hall of Fame; I was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 12, 2018
Well, this is a book written from the point of view of information management and not information science.
If you read the previous edition it might be ok if you skip this one, since they authors only added introductions to the chapters.
The examples might be view as outdated. And the book in general felt boring, maybe more to me because I didn't learn anything new. The reality exemplifying is always American, which what the authors know. It might help people to understand the share of knowledge within a corporation.
It's not an essential book for these days.
If you read the previous edition it might be ok if you skip this one, since they authors only added introductions to the chapters.
The examples might be view as outdated. And the book in general felt boring, maybe more to me because I didn't learn anything new. The reality exemplifying is always American, which what the authors know. It might help people to understand the share of knowledge within a corporation.
It's not an essential book for these days.
May 18, 2017
I first encountered this title in graduate school, my copy of the second edition is full of notes and flags; it is a book I’ve recommended to others over the years. Why? It’s a good introduction (albeit with a scholarly bent) to how we arrived at our current information universe.
Have the authors succeeded in revising this classic to our contemporary context and still providing the value found in the original edition? Yes. I think it will help those who are curious about information and how we got to today. Specifically I think it will help those who want to learn how trust is gained and lost in a variety of context.
I think this is still a useful book to read. There is optimism of the “ability of information and its related technologies to change the social world for the better” but to do so, we need to understand that information and its social connectedness and consequences.
I received an eARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for a review. The FTC wants you to know. This review also appeared at pennywise consulting.
Have the authors succeeded in revising this classic to our contemporary context and still providing the value found in the original edition? Yes. I think it will help those who are curious about information and how we got to today. Specifically I think it will help those who want to learn how trust is gained and lost in a variety of context.
I think this is still a useful book to read. There is optimism of the “ability of information and its related technologies to change the social world for the better” but to do so, we need to understand that information and its social connectedness and consequences.
I received an eARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for a review. The FTC wants you to know. This review also appeared at pennywise consulting.
June 17, 2018
It is an okay book. If you have no idea about the Information Age and trying to educate yourself maybe this can be helpful but other than that it does not offer much.
March 16, 2019
Interesting read
Alternative way of thinking about technology solutions. The update overviews help, but gist of book holds up well without them.
Alternative way of thinking about technology solutions. The update overviews help, but gist of book holds up well without them.
March 3, 2021
An interesting read which looks into what information and knowledge do for people and how to get the most out of that information.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews