Wealth of Networks

Yochai Benkler has written a tome that Lawrence Lessig has said is the most important book on the topic in the last decade. Coming from Lessig that is a huge compliment since he has written an enormous amount on related topics. This recommendation will not disappoint. This book is nothing short of the equivalent of Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations for the post-modern information economy. A simple "Gladwell like" writing style coupled with the rigor of academic research makes this book an astonishing achievement. Bits and pieces of accumulated "net wisdom" is found here in one place, with a theoretical underpinning and organizational structure that both pleases and informs.

I must however provide the following warning: the book has an easy style but because of its substance (and length) it is not an easy read. But, want to know all you need to know about the "net neutrality" issue, you will find it here. Want to know why blogs are transforming journalism and becoming the new "fourth estate," you will find it here. Want to know why and how "peer production" (i.e. open source) has transformed software development and is threatening to transform other industries (though clearly only those with certain characteristics), you will find that here as well. In short, this book is a must read for any serious student of the Internet and the transformational qualities of the communications infrastructure that underpins it.

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