In 'The Big Switch,' Nicholas Carr explores the transformative impact of the internet on our lives and society, likening the shift to the advent of electricity. He delves into how computing has moved from a decentralized model to a centralized system, prompting us to rethink our relationship with technology. Through a mix of historical context and compelling forecasts, Carr warns of the potential consequences of this shift on creativity and thinking. As we increasingly rely on digital platforms, are we becoming slaves to the system that we created? Prepare to question everything you know about technology and its role in shaping our future.
By Nicholas Carr
Published: 2013
""The most profound effects of the internet may not be the ones we expect, but rather the ones we are blind to, as technology gradually transforms our society and our very selves.""
“Magisterial…Draws an elegant and illuminating parallel between the late-19th-century electrification of America and today’s computing world.” —Salon Hailed as “the most influential book so far on the cloud computing movement” (Christian Science Monitor), The Big Switch makes a simple and profound statement: Computing is turning into a utility, and the effects of this transition will ultimately change society as completely as the advent of cheap electricity did. In a new chapter for this edition that brings the story up-to-date, Nicholas Carr revisits the dramatic new world being conjured from the circuits of the “World Wide Computer.”
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“"The most profound effects of the internet may not be the ones we expect, but rather the ones we are blind to, as technology gradually transforms our society and our very selves."”
The Big Switch
By Nicholas Carr
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Nicholas Carr is an acclaimed American author and technology critic, known for his thought-provoking explorations of the intersection of technology and culture. He gained prominence with his groundbreaking book, "The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains", which examines the cognitive effects of digital media. Carr is also the author of "Does IT Matter? Information Technology and the Corrosion of Competitive Advantage" and "The Glass Cage: Automation and Us", where he critiques the implications of automation on human work and experience. His writing is characterized by a blend of deep research and accessible prose, prompting readers to reconsider the impact of technology on society and individual thought.
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