In 'Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus', Douglas Rushkoff explores how digital technologies, instead of solving economic issues, often exacerbate inequalities. He critiques the tech industry's focus on growth at all costs and offers a radical reimagining of how we think about money, work, and community. Rushkoff argues for a future where technology fosters genuine connections rather than isolating us in virtual boxes. The book serves as a wake-up call to reconsider our relationship with technology and its impact on our lives. Dive in to discover how we can take back control of our economy and society!
By Douglas Rushkoff
Published: 2017
"In an age where technology is designed to commodify everything, we must remember that the ultimate currency is not money, but human connection and creativity."
Why doesn’t the explosive growth of companies like Facebook and Uber deliver more prosperity for everyone? What is the systemic problem that sets the rich against the poor and the technologists against everybody else? When protesters shattered the windows of a bus carrying Google employees to work, their anger may have been justifiable, but it was misdirected. The true conflict of our age isn’t between the unemployed and the digital elite, or even the 99 percent and the 1 percent. Rather, a tornado of technological improvements has spun our economic program out of control, and humanity as a whole—the protesters and the Google employees as well as the shareholders and the executives—are all trapped by the consequences. It’s time to optimize our economy for the human beings it’s supposed to be serving. In this groundbreaking book, acclaimed media scholar and author Douglas Rushkoff tells us how to combine the best of human nature with the best of modern technology. Tying together disparate threads—big data, the rise of robots and AI, the increasing participation of algorithms in stock market trading, the gig economy, the collapse of the eurozone—Rushkoff provides a critical vocabulary for our economic moment and a nuanced portrait of humans and commerce at a critical crossroads.
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“In an age where technology is designed to commodify everything, we must remember that the ultimate currency is not money, but human connection and creativity.”
Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus
By Douglas Rushkoff
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Douglas Rushkoff is a leading media theorist, author, and documentarian, known for his insightful analysis of modern technology and its societal impacts. He has written several influential books, including 'Program or Be Programmed', 'Present Shock', and 'Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus', where he explores themes of digital culture, economic systems, and the influence of technology on human behavior. Rushkoff's writing style is characterized by its accessibility and urgency, combining deep theoretical insights with practical implications. In addition to his books, he has produced award-winning documentaries and is a sought-after speaker, frequently addressing the intersection of technology, society, and economics.
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