Program or Be Programmed

Ten Commands for a Digital Age

By: Douglas Rushkoff

Narrated by: Douglas Rushkoff

The debate over whether the Net is good or bad for us fills the airwaves and the blogosphere. But for all the heat of claim and counter-claim, the argument is essentially beside the point: It's here; it's everywhere. The real question is, do we direct technology, or do we let ourselves be directed by it and those who have mastered it? "Choose the former," writes Rushkoff, "and you gain access to the control panel of civilization. Choose the latter, and it could be the last real choice you get to make."

In 10 chapters, composed of 10 "commands", Rushkoff provides cyber enthusiasts and technophobes alike with the guidelines to navigate this new universe. In this spirited, accessible poetics of new media, Rushkoff picks up where Marshall McLuhan left off, helping listeners to recognize programming as the new literacy of the digital age - and as a template through which to see beyond social conventions and power structures that have vexed us for centuries. This is a friendly little audiobook with a big and actionable message.

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Excellence again by Rushkoff

Rushkoff does it again. His masterful use of prose excises into the heart of the onion dissecting it into digestible morsels.

Good book, but with some crazy ranting

At times the many historical parallels and comparisons can be insightful and interesting. At other times the comparisons of everything to everything are completely crazy and you catch yourself wondering how you got into listening to it.

The author is no historian, that's certain and a couple of times I just wanted to turn it off in disgust. Many claims lack proper backing and argumentation. I really liked the first part though, so I kept at it. Overall, the book is still worth listening to despite its shortcomings.

i thought everyone could program

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes. rushkoff is so much fun to listen to.

Who was your favorite character and why?

me. cause the book didn't really have characters in it.

Any additional comments?

the book is not a story. its about cultural change, it is about the past, it is about right now, it is about the future.

A pretty convincing case

Rushkoff makes a pretty convincing argument to learn how to code, along with more abstract and insightful maxims for life in the digital age.

Will read again

A very intuitive look at history and how we impact it. I will definitely re read this, more to glean from it.