cover image From Gutenberg to Zuckerberg: Disruptive Innovation in the Age of the Internet

From Gutenberg to Zuckerberg: Disruptive Innovation in the Age of the Internet

John Naughton. Quercus, $24.95 (320p) ISBN 978-1-62365-062-9

Naughton, a columnist at the U.K.’s Observer and author of A Brief History of the Future, offers a perceptive primer about the Information Age. Along the way, he provides a savvy historical overview of the information industry, from the printed page to the rapid evolution of the computer, to the WikiLeaks revelations. Naughton dissects the current debates surrounding copyright laws and intellectual property, distilling complex issues into accessible facts and revealing that our relationship with the Internet is indeed a work in progress. Avoiding an abundance of scare tactics found in many books of this type, Naughton offers a practical approach to the ever-evolving Internet and takes “the long view” of coexistence without overplaying the fears of over-dependence, lack of security, and privacy. (Jan.)