Cyburbia

by James Harkin

Once there was no text messaging. No email and no social network sites like Facebook, Bebo and MySpace. The way we live has apparently been transformed by new ways of communicating. But where did these trends start? And if they can change our behaviour, can they also change the way we think? In Cyburbia James Harkin describes how the architecture of our digital lives was built over seventy years. In a brilliant narrative that encompasses the work of crackpots, inventors and visionaries, it shows how a concept that began with the need to shoot down German bombers has evolved to govern almost everything - from our lives online to modern films like Memento and 21 Grams, from TV shows and plays to military strategy. Gripping, revelatory and fiercely intelligent, this extraordinary book will change forever the way you think about everything you do.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology

274 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots more history about cybernetics and the idea of social connection than the title implied, I feel like the book didn't live up to the clickbait style title. But maybe that was part of the point, to get people to read it? I found it based on the author, but I accept some minority status based on that.

If you really want something the title promises, half my rating, but the book works in and of itself, hence 4 stars out of five.

[Chris Elsden · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't get me wrong, there were some very interesting parts of this book. In particular his diverse discussions of military tactics, gameplay, non-linear story lines and search engines were informative and seemed well researched with accessible examples. But, I felt the book as a whole lacked a clear direction or narrative. Apart from a vague and repetitive link to Cybernetic theory and Norman Weiner, many of the ideas appeared disjointed, or the links between them were tedious or poorly explained. Even in the afterword, I wasn't sure if "Cyburbia" is an inherently good or bad thing, and if it is bad, then what we are supposed to do about it apart from switch it off occasionally? "Cyburbia" itself grated on me as a title, and although not a boring read, I couldn't come away and say that reading this has particularly influenced my thinking on many issues besides a few interesting anecdotes.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this with an eye to learning someone else's position on the general explosion of net culture and social networking, and ended up learning a load of stuff I never expected to learn. It's a really enlightening look at way more than just current internet culture, and it rings so true it's hard to ignore. A fascinating read, well worth it.

[Jimi Bostock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the premier book on the deep changes going on in society through the massive increase in social mmedia and social networking

I read this twice in a row. It is so much a part of my thinking for my new digital Agency, PUSH Agency

Yes, if you really want to get a handle on teh actual effects in society, read this one

[Bernard O'Leary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting ideas, but it's all horribly out of date now.