Networked: The New Social Operating System (Mit Press)

I got myself Networked by Lee Rainie and Barry Wellman as a sort of Christmas present based on its good reviews on Amazon. I expected it would be a comprehensive, informational book about contemporary social structures how consumer ICTs influence them. Having read it, I can say I wasn't disappointed, even though the content turned out to be slightly different than what I had expected.The authors explore how the shift in the structure of society from groups toward networks has been affecting how people form and maintain relationships, and how the rise of modern technologies (internet, mobile devices) comes into play.In the first part of the book, you'll find a short analysis of each of the "revolutions", as the authors call them - the network revolution, the internet revolution, and the mobile revolution. Each chapter of the second part then elaborates in more detail on how these factors influence a specific area of our everyday life (family life, work, contact with friends, etc.). In the last part, the authors imagine two rather sci-fi scenarios of possible future development, an optimistic one and a dystopian one, and analyze which way we might be heading.Most of the text refers to various surveys conducted by Pew Internet and several other similar groups, and the authors present quite a lot of data to support their analysis. The research data are generally from the US and Canada, but the conclusions are often applicable to similarly developed countries. I would personally prefer slightly less statistics in favor of a little more analytical commentary, as I sometimes found the text a little too descriptive, but the amount of research is digestible and if you're a fact-oriented reader, you may actually find it to be one of the book's strong points.Although the writing style is a little academic, and may not suit everybody, the book reads very well and anyone with a slightly serious interest in the subject should find the book pretty informative. I think it could serve as a good starting point for anyone trying to get oriented in this area.I find worth mentioning that the text is well balanced and does not tend to be overly enthusiastic about the current trends, nor is the commentary on them unnecessarily pessimistic or negative.Despite my general praise, not everyone will find Rainie and Wellman's work so enlightening, as you might actually be looking for something different. It's not a how-to guide on social networking and use of social media (although some general hints are given), neither is it a business book about social media and their dynamics (although the use of social networking sites is definitely not ignored).Finally, this book is not "modern ICTs and society for dummies". Although it is well written and generally accessible, without a certain level of general education, ability to read academic text, and a tiny bit of background knowledge of modern ICTs, you'd better look elsewhere for a simpler introductory text. If, however, you do meet the mentioned prerequisites and you are a little curious, this may be a really good book to start with.

Introduces eye opening ideas, stays on message and supports message with extremely well done statistics and research. a good read. Good for those who are on the front end of adopting the new media that is defining our world or those who are lagging behind.One small critique would be that at some point it feels like it does plow the same field over and again - thus failing to follow its own warnings about too much information. They make their point then make it again, both times with lots of evidence and solid theories.

This is an outstanding book on the topic of networking based on recent and current research on the topic with a particular emphasis on the role of information technology today and into the future. Although the authors draw on the academic literature in this field which they both know well, they have managed to produce a book that is both readable and understandable by the general public. Moreover, they successfully present a balanced picture of the role and impact of information technology in our lives and inspire critical thinking about both the positive and negative implications of such technology for the future. I recommend it highly for anyone who is interested in understanding the role of information technology today and in the future.

The book was interesting. The only reason I gave this 3 stars is because it wasn't organized very clearly as an ebook. The table of contents wasn't organized clearly and there weren't any page numbers. I often had to write papers for class and citing the book was difficult without the page numbers. Overall it was fine. As you can see from my picture, the table of contents lists major headings but it doesn't link you to specific chapters. That could be annoying, but I used bookmarks and the search tool.

These two towering intellects collaborate to give readers a fresh perspective on what is happening all around us. Rainie and Wellman have been studying human communication for decades, so they have the context to perceive change better than most researchers. Their characterization of the Triple Revolutions of social networks, the Internet, and mobile connectedness reveals that networked individualism is the trend to watch. The central message is the increasing capacity of individuals to act independently with great impact. The potent anecdotes and solid data make for a convincing presentation, but in the final chapter on "The Future of Networked Individualism" the authors unleash their imagination by suggesting compelling possibilities and troubling dangers.

Networked is a fantastic book in both what it brings to the table,and the comprehensive review and analysis of the emergence of Web 2.0 that it presents.If you are interested in sociology, political science and technology - this is a worthwhile read. Whether you are a student, researcher or just a general reader, Rainie and Wellman present an articulate argument. I imagine that this will be useful to future historians who are looking to analyse how social media technologies became so successful, through an environment of social, economic and cultural change which enabled people to live 'individually networked' lives.

This is an excellent book about the revolutionary changes brought about by the internet, mobile phones, computers and tablets. The book spells out in detail how everyday life has been influenced by these changes. The book is well written and understandable for a wide audience. I miss two topics. One is a more extensive discussion of possible negative effects of the digital revolution, including the new types of crime that emerged (and how they can be combatted). Another topic that could have been addressed more extensively is to what extent the digital revolution changes or has changed attitudes, preferences, norms and values. For example, do sexual norms change due to more possibilities to meet partners? But perhaps one could argue that a book cannot answer all questions. Anyway, I highly recommend this book. KDO

Rainie & Wellman's "Networked" is one of those books that you can sit and read through on vacation but also sit down with a pen and paper and annotate to death. It provides a great commentary and analysis on the current landscape of Internet-mediated culture (including mobile phones).I really appreciate the examples that fill the text. They are a lucid illustration of the rigorous theories and ideas presented in the book, yet also hold their own as colorful vignettes reflecting our own reality back to us. See "Interlude: A Day in a Connected Life" and you'll see what I mean.For the sociologists, there's plenty of data and charts and quantitative stats.For the cultural studies folk, there's plenty of discourse surrounding our usage of Internet-enabled technologies and the how's and why's of that use.I am a PhD student in Communication Studies, and have used "Networked" in a variety of my papers and also for conference presentations. I have also recommended this to many of my students. Specifically, the comprehensive and detailed discussion of "networked individualism" provides an important lens with which to look at society today.