Joanne McNeil unpacks 30 (plus) years of internet history with the sober pragmatism of a historian and the charisma of a seasoned storyteller. “Lurking” isn’t a history textbook, or at least, it doesn’t read like one. It isn’t a memoir either, yet it feels very personal. McNeil effectively contextualizes the chaotic history of one of the most transformative forces in contemporary times. The Internet.

The book covers a span of three decades worth of history since the early days of BBSes, which hosted early local online bulletin boards, to the raise of the social media giants that fuel their innovation with corporatism, and owe very little accountability to their users. The very same users who they capitalize with every click, post, hashtag, or like. After all, everyone understands by now, if you aren’t paying for it then you’re the product.

You’ll learn about the strategic decisions and questionable corporate practices that resulted in the success, or in many cases, the demise of many of these platforms; some surviving by servicing micro-niches, others long forgotten. On the topic of social media (one of my favorite chapters of the book), McNeil highlights the (sort of) observer effect on how platforms force change upon users, rather than the other way around. This is one of the reasons why social-media newsfeeds (for example) have become echo-chambers for many.

Ultimately, McNeil’s conclusions aren’t avant-garde but they do deviate from the traditional position that many internet historians and tech utopians take on the issue of social media and other intrusive technologies.

According to the author, the answer to an intrusive social media platform isn’t another social media platform, but rather the absence of it. However, she quickly reframes the proposal as an aspirational after-thought.

Given the reach and the Orwellian-like techno-society these platforms have come to achieved (A true mirror of the world), abstinence does not seem like a suitable option for many at this point.

“Lurking” is relevant and highly entertaining read! One we hope you enjoy. #book #internet #socialmedia #hashtag #joannemcneil #nonfictionbooks #reviews

A book about the mechanics of memory (written for the layman) with an interesting commentary on the philosophical aspects of human identity. Rodrigo Quian Quiroga, Director of the Centre for Systems Neuroscience at the University of Leicester, evokes (surprisingly relevant*) pop culture references and delightful passages from Borges to demystify the concepts of synapse, memory, abstraction, and self-awareness.

The book starts with a brief introduction to neurons and synapses, explaining the chemical and electrical signals between nerve cells, and the dichotomy between a vast amount of information that passes thru them, and us ultimately retaining little of it.

The book goes to cover a series of peripheral topics such as the benefits of outsourcing trivial memory tasks to technology, and certain pathologies that seem to enhance brain capabilities, while paradoxically limiting others. It also strongly debunks the pseudoscientific claims about memory enhancement with the exception of mnemonics, to which the author attributes some value due to its use of association, while questioning its practical use.

One of the major themes echoed throughout the book is that something as abstract as the firing of neurons requires interpretation and abstraction in order for us to make sense of the world. Quian Quiroga himself appears to subscribe to the dogma of scientific materialism as he views both the brain and the mind as one in the same. One represented by physical activity in the cerebral cortex and the other as both its fuel and output. All in all, the “Jeniffer Aniston” neuron ended up being the least interesting concept the author had to offer.

The book serves its readers with a plethora of scientific, sociological, and even philosophical ideas about the way in which we consume and rationalize information; and it ultimately makes us realize that we are bound to remember little, and to forget most. Coming to terms with that reality is accepting that we are merely human.