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The Age of Surveillance Capitalism

The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power

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The Age of Surveillance Capitalism

By: Shoshana Zuboff
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About this listen

 The “groundbreaking, magisterial, alarming”(Financial Times) exposé of the unprecedented form of power called "surveillance capitalism," and the quest by powerful corporations to predict and control our behavior

The heady optimism of the Internet’s early days has turned dark. Surveillance capitalism has deepened inequality, sown societal chaos, and undermined democracy.

The fight for a human future has never been more urgent. Shoshana Zuboff argues that we still have the power to decide what kind of world we want to live in: Will we allow surveillance capitalism to wrap us in its iron cage as it enriches the few and subjugates the many? Or will we demand the rights and laws that place this rogue power under the democratic rule of law? Only democracy can ensure that the vast new capabilities of the digital era are harnessed to the advancement of humanity. The Age of Surveillance Capitalism is a deeply original, exquisitely reasoned, and spell binding examination of our emerging information civilization and the life and death choices we face. Computer Science Consumer Behaviour & Market Research History & Culture Machine Theory & Artificial Intelligence Marketing & Sales Social Sciences Technology & Society Technology Capitalism Socialism Inspiring Social Capital

Critic Reviews

An International Bestseller

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

A Financial Times Best Book of the Year

A Sunday Times (UK) Best Business Book of the Year

Selected by Barack Obama, Zadie Smith (in the Wall Street Journal), Jia Tolentino (in the
New Yorker), Elif Shafak (in the Guardian), and Ana Botin (in Bloomberg) as one of the
best books of 2019

Finalist for the Financial Times/McKinsey Best Book of the Year Award
“If a book’s importance is gauged by how effectively it describes the world we’re in, and how much potential it has to change said world, then in my view it’s easily the most important book to be published this century... Zuboff is concerned with the largest act of capitalist colonisation ever attempted, but the colonisation is of our minds, our behaviour, our free will, our very selves. Yet it’s not an anti‑tech book. It’s anti unregulated capitalism, red in tooth and claw. It’s really this generation’s Das Kapital.”—Zadie Smith
“Extraordinarily intelligent... Absorbing Zuboff’s methodical determination, the way she pieces together sundry examples into this comprehensive work of scholarship and synthesis, requires patience, but the rewards are considerable ‑ a heightened sense of awareness, and a deeper appreciation of what’s at stake. A business model that seeks growth by cataloging our ‘every move, emotion, utterance and desire’ is too radical to be taken for granted. As Zuboff repeatedly says near the end of the book, ‘It is not O.K.’”—Jennifer Szalai, New York Times
“The rare volume that puts a name on a problem just as it becomes critical... This book’s major contribution is to give a name to what’s happening, to put it in cultural and historical perspective, and to ask us to pause long enough to think about the future and how it might be different from today.”—Frank Rose, Wall Street Journal
“Many adjectives could be used to describe Shoshana Zuboff’s latest book: groundbreaking, magisterial, alarming, alarmist, preposterous. One will do: unmissable... As we grope around in the darkness trying to grasp the contours of our digital era, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism shines a searing light on how this latest revolution is transforming our economy, politics, society ‑ and lives.”—John Thornhill, Financial Times
“One of the most important criticisms of the power of Big Tech.”—Rana Foroohar, Financial Times
All stars
Most relevant
Every person who wants to retain their free will should take heed of this book.

Eye opening and shocking.

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great research and synthesis. we need to regain control of our minds from the data lords hive

important book

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An informative perspective of the prevelance of Big Other and our ability to adapt as a society to the challenger to the traditional capitalistic and democratic forms

Futurists meet realists

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I thought I had a reasonable understanding of the invasion of our privacy by social media! Well this was a shock to me.
I have replaced my iPhone with a Nokia dumb phone that is not linked to the internet and is used for phone calls only.
I am not on social media other than YouTube, which will still expose me to the behavioural theft.
A must read for everyone who believes in individual freedoms!

Outstanding insights into Big Tech

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This should be considered one of the great books of our time.
For all the doom and gloom, Shoshanna does spread a message of hope and the belief that humanity can still prevail against the surveillance aristocracy.
Yes, the book is long. But it's worth it.

A masterpiece spanning past, present and future

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Very profound analysis of the depth in which internet firms and social networks profit from our data , undermine democracy and manipulate our lives. The narration is also great. I enjoyed the book, eagerly awaiting each new chapter.

Great listen

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Zuboff does a great job of recounting the history that led to the rise of Google & Facebook, etc. she clearly identifies the underlying issues & threats related to this new form of power using simple examples that illustrate the point. Her use of newly coined (or self coined) terms makes it important to pay attention to their early definition, but new experiences demand new terms. I was somewhat surprised by her pervasive use of theological terms (eg God-view, free will, sanctuary, utopia etc.) but realised that she does not have a theological view in mind. In fact, I would say that this is the weakness in her work - she has an understanding of human nature that fails to grasp the richness & power of Christian anthropology (biblical view of personhood). Her argument would be enriched by comparing her concepts of, for example, policy & human contract with the biblical tension between law & grace. Still, this excellent book sounds a clear warning and provides enough insight to suggest a clear way forward in the resistance against unrestrained forces of power.

Clear & compelling

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The book explained something I didn't really understand before. It brings clarity to life. Well written, well read.

Best book of the year

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Very disconcerting, a call to action not resignation. Well written and clearly articulated. Will listen again and recommend to friends

Important, must read!

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Zuboff tackles some of the biggest questions of our time: “Who knows? Who decides? Who decides who decides?”

This book is an ambitious and essential examination of a new form of power, surveillance capitalism, and its impact on the individual and society. Deeply introspective, it examines the virtuous and vicious cycle of data gathering, processing, and implementation in the mass influence of behaviour.

The book is dense, and sometimes overwhelming. It presents substantive philosophical, subjective, political and sociological perspectives on the impact of hyper scale tech companies on the world. It is not a cost/benefit analysis of these entities, but rather a deep examination of their nature and impact.

For anyone struggling to come to terms with the bigger meaning of social media, targeted advertising, big data, power and democracy and their interlink, this is a thoughtful and compelling piece to explore. For everyone else, it’s essential reading.

Ambitious, overwhelming, and ever more essential

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