3.0 stars
The Cult of the Amateur: How today's Internet is killing our culture
Book summary at:
http://smurfiechowchow.blogspo
With so many web 2.0 supporters, it is important for someone to raise an opposite perspective of the downsides of this latest technological driver, so as to remind us that things are not as perfect as they seem, and really ask whether we are ready to accept these downsides. The author received many criticisms (as I surveyed the book reviews in Amazon), especially from apparent web 2.0 supporters. I am a web 2.0 supporter and believes that this technology advancement is almost impossible to stop from influencing our daily lives. But there are indeed some measures to be taken to properly manage the downsides and also take the development at a suitable pace. Some issues that were raised were indeed quite eye-opening and including myself, have not thought of them. It does set me thinking of these possible scenarios and what would my reactions be. I greatly dislike the tone of his writing which is very unfriendly and ever so attacking. The book seems to be a pure complain message to the web 2.0 community - which I feel if he wants to ensure the community to take his argument objectively, he could have watched his tone. He has valid points but as I mentioned, he is not putting them across in a proper manner, which makes me feel the points are not strongly justified.