Click on Democracy: The Internet's Power to Change Political Apathy Into Civic Action

Syracuse University professors Davis, Ellin and Reeher have taken it upon themselves to dispel the myth of the creepy, asocial Internet chat-room user by exploring how online communities leapt into action and flourished during the lengthy and confusing 2000 presidential election. While very informative, the book suffers from the penchant of the authors to spend too much time focusing on the life stories of a handful of web provocateurs-making the work drag as the bios progress to no real payoff. But the exposition of how politicians used (or failed to use) the Internet during the 2000 elections and the inside story of the political websites that sprang up to cover the goings-on is itself worth the price of admission. Despite the ""digital divide"" that still frustrates web activists, the authors give a hopeful account of the future of grassroots political action and community building on the Internet.