![]() ![]() ![]() This trifecta of troubles is leading us down a "terrifying trajectory," Foer says. It's the title of Franklin Foer's latest book, which follows this familiar techno-panic template almost perfectly.įoer's arguments may not break any new ground, but he has managed to bring together in one tome the three dominant fears of modern tech criticism: the death of journalism and high culture, the growth of unstoppable tech conglomerates, and the rise of isolated, distracted individuals. Maybe something like World Without Mind: The Existential Threat of Big Tech. Be sure to include a litany of woes about cognitive overload and social isolation.įinally, come up with a juicy Chicken Little title. Add a dash of pop psychology and behavioral economics. Then you repackage some old chestnuts about commercialism or false consciousness. ![]() ![]() Paint their CEOs as either James Bond baddies bent on world domination or naive do-gooders obsessed with the quixotic promise of innovation. Google and Facebook should suffice, but if you can throw in Apple, Amazon, or Twitter, that's even better. If you want to sell a book about tech policy these days, there's an easy formula to follow.įirst you need a villain. World Without Mind: The Existential Threat of Big Tech, by Franklin Foer, Penguin Press, 272 pages, $27 Penguin Press ![]()
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