A decent summary

A coherent summary of the arguments for the thesis that increasingly seems like common sense: that we are living through a new period of rapidly advancing, potentially revolutionary technological disruption.

The audiobook narrator is OK, but I can see how his cadence can feel jarring to some people.

The authors go through the economic, social and political consequences of the impact of the Second Machine Age. They suggest that governments should not stifle innovation, but they should be sensitive to the negative effects of the technological revolution. In government policy, they propose investing in creative education, basic academic research, social infrastructure and a negative income tax.

Not all of their policy suggestions are that compelling or novel in isolation, but they coalesce together into a steely frame that is fundamentally solid, even if some of their proposals can be questioned or reframed (such as their mistaken view that a basic income guarantee would be suboptimal).

"Will our prosperity be widely shared?" they ask. This is a question that desperately needs an answer. Brynjolfsson and McAfee have correctly framed the question and semi-adequately attempted to answer it.

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3 people found this helpful

Important and thought provoking

The authors argue that digitial technology (in which they embrace computers, networks, the internet, smartphones etc) is accelerating the pace of tehcnologocal advancement at an exponential rate because of the phenomenon of combinatory innovation. So my laptop may not feel radically different to me compared to the one I had three years ago but a combination of it and the internet made it possible for Audible to create a business selling cheap audiobooks. So I can plough through potentially challenging reads like this in a weekend before moving onto whatever I find useful or interesting next. This in turn not only enriches my leisure time but also helps me learn stuff I can put to use at work for career advancement. The downside of that trend is that a few years after, say, the digital camera is invented Kodak go bust and that's not just bad news for Kodak employees; it's part of a wider phenomenon in which well paid jobs for ordinary people disappear and they're not replaced because the internet based enterprises that replace them just don't employ that many people. Worse still while the overall level of cash in the economy (referred to here as the "bounty") might stay the same or even increase it gets shared out in increasingly inequitable ways (a phenomenon called "the spread"). What does it all mean, where will it end up and what can we do about it?

What I really liked about this book was the way the authors set out the issues, illustrate the impact they are already having, predict where it will go next and suggest what we should do about it at the level of public policy, education, planning our own careers and thiking about what to tell our kids (postgraduate qualifications may be the new degree). They identify the types of jobs that might be vulnerable (clerical, manufacturing and increasingly professional jobs requiring repetitive tasks fo areas of accountancy, law and medicine could be under threat) and those which look safer (problem solving or creative roles aided by computers or less well paid service jobs).

Recommended for anyone interested in the future of technology and work.

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3 people found this helpful

Packed with insights and ideas

This book is a must for anyone who is curious about what technology may bring to our lives and the world in which we live. It is packed full of insights and ideas and I for one will listen to it again to ensure I have fully appreciate the landscape it paints. Truly compelling.

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Very interesting and a good starting point, but starting to feel out of date

I read a book recently, published in 2022, that referenced this title, so I thought to expand my knowledge on the subject I’d give it a read. I really enjoyed the content and it was broader in many ways than other books I have read on the subject. However, bearing in mind it will be 10 years old from 2024, I would say it is starting to feel slightly outdated. Given the subject matter, this isn’t a surprise and it isn’t a criticism necessarily, I would just advise potential readers to be aware of that as there are plenty of more recent titles about this subject. Overall I enjoyed it and definitely learnt a few things.

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Everyone should read this book.

From Baxter the robot, surely the embodiment of Asimov's 3 laws, to IT billionaires, to explaining how superstars make so much money today and dealing with the declining economic power of the middle and lower classes, this book covers a huge range, but never loses site of the authors objectives.

These are: to let us know what is happening in the world as affected and supported by current technology,IT and the internet, to let us know the implications of these developments and then to gently suggest how we can deal with them.

If you have even a passing interest in "The Singularity" as described by Verne Vinge, or how we will live with robots and a technological world in the future, then this book is a very real, non Sci-fi handling of the topic.

I love Sci-fi. I've studied and use economics in my daily work. What the authors lay out and then discuss pulls together lots of interesting developments you may have heard about into a compelling and fascinating narrative. They have a positive view of the future whilst not shying away from the "negative externalities" (human and economic effects) of technology and its effect on local, national and global markets..

I enjoyed it so much I've ordered the paper copy to read again, make notes in and reflect on

An excellent book on a vitally important topic. I wish I could make all current and future politicians read it!

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1 person found this helpful

very enjoyable

well researched,written,and presented.Two guys that know their stuff.well worth a read.would definitly reccomend to anyone interested in tech.

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good to read

I suggest don't start a book by saying God creates technology, I know the irony but I tried to convince some people to read/listen to book and as soon as that quote comes up they stop! I know that's just a excuse but ...

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Life changing

Anyone who would like to know what the future brings, with respect to the way machine intelligence is changing the way we work and live, would do well to listening to this magnificent audiobook.

The analysis was easy to understand for readers without deep technical knowledge, but just challenging enough for readers to engage. Excellent overall

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Interesting book. Irritating narration

Insightful book on the exponential growth of technologies and ideas, the economic implications and possible solutions. Very interesting and thought provoking. Let down by irritating American infomercial style narration.

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Wow...a road map for ongoing human success

A totally enjoyable and enlightening walk through where technology came from, how digital IT took off, where it is now, where it’s going and how far and fast it’s doing that...all related brilliantly to us humans and our issues both personal and societal. These guys make the case for a positive future state of humans and machines working in tandem..doing amazing things...all we need to do is grasp the opportunity. Thanks guys..!

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