Review of 'The Anarchist in the Library: How the Clash Between Freedom and Control is Hacking the Real World and Crashing the System' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
The author brings up very interesting ideas, discussing how culture and technologies are inherently anarchistic, and how oligarchies are constantly trying to harness these for control & profit, which may end up damaging or destroying them in the process. The 'anything goes' trading of Napster wasn't good for artist and content produces, but the tied-down DRM world is even worse in the long run.
He definitely knows his material, but the writing just isn't that clear. He compares things to "Anarchistic Libertarianism" like I'm supposed to instantly know the ramifications of the term. I'd read a paragrah and realize I have no idea what he was trying to say.
There's a great argument to make here, I just don't think Siva Vaidhyanathan presents it very well.
