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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Here Comes Everybody summary
The Power of Organizing without Organizations
17 mins
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'Here Comes Everybody' by Clay Shirky is a thought-provoking book that explores the impact of social media on society. It explains how these platforms have transformed the way we communicate, organize and collaborate, leading to both positive and negative effects.
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Here Comes Everybody
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Key idea 1 of 8
The internet has completely changed how quickly and efficiently we form groups.
Have you ever paused to think about how much the internet has changed the way we coordinate with each other?
If you consider our social lives, the change is pretty clear. These days, rather than calling each of our friends individually, we can simply send a group message on Facebook and watch our Friday night plans fall into place. But when you stop to think about how the internet has influenced the way we rally together for a cause, it’s rather remarkable.
For example, take the case of a woman named Ivanna, who left her phone in a New York City cab one night in 2006.
The phone was found by a girl named Sasha but, even after Ivanna and her friend Evan contacted her through Ivanna’s phone, she refused to return it.
In response, Evan created a website with the hope of getting the police and the public interested in returning the phone. In only one day, the website went viral, even being featured on the front page of Digg.com, a popular news aggregator. By that evening, Evan was getting flooded with 10 emails a minute from people wanting to help.
Ivanna’s phone didn’t just gather a few people’s attention; it attracted a huge network, including professionals such as lawyers and police officers.
The website eventually drew in over one million viewers and even The New York Times and CNN reported about it, at which point lawyers, police officers and online detectives were also examining the story.
In the past, assembling such a network of professionals would have cost a considerable amount of money and red tape. Five years ago, it would have been unlikely and ten years ago it would have been impossible.
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What is Here Comes Everybody about?
Thanks to advancements in communication technologies and the widespread availability of the Internet, we can now contact one another and share information at unprecedented rates. Here Comes Everybody explains how these changes aren’t just affecting the way we communicate; they’re affecting the way we organize, too. As the obstacles and expenses of communication diminish and the reach of our communication expands, we’re now experiencing a significant shift in the ways we get together.
Here Comes Everybody Review
Here Comes Everybody (2008) explores how technology has transformed the way people come together and collaborate in the digital age. This book is definitely worth reading because:
- It explores the power of social media and how it has revolutionized the way we communicate, organize, and mobilize for change.
- Through compelling case studies and examples from around the world, Clay Shirky demonstrates how individuals can now participate in group action more easily, leading to new possibilities for collective action.
- With its fascinating insights into the impact of technology on society, this book challenges conventional thinking and offers a fresh perspective on the possibilities and challenges of the digital age.
Best quote from Here Comes Everybody
Anything that increases our ability to share, coordinate, or act increases our freedom to pursue our goals in congress with one another.
—Clay Shirky
Who should read Here Comes Everybody?
- Anyone interested in sociology
- Anyone interested in creating a website or app that’s a social tool
- Anyone wanting to know how work-for-free websites like Wikipedia have become such huge successes
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Here Comes Everybody FAQs
What is the main message of Here Comes Everybody?
The main message of Here Comes Everybody is the power of collaboration and organization enabled by modern technology.
How long does it take to read Here Comes Everybody?
The reading time for Here Comes Everybody varies depending on the reader's speed. However, you can read the Blinkist summary in just 15 minutes.
Is Here Comes Everybody a good book? Is it worth reading?
Here Comes Everybody is worth reading as it explores the impact of technology on collaboration and highlights the potential for collective action.
Who is the author of Here Comes Everybody?
The author of Here Comes Everybody is Clay Shirky.
What to read after Here Comes Everybody?
If you're wondering what to read next after Here Comes Everybody, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Lost and Founder by Rand Fishkin
- Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
- The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch
- Radically Happy by Phakchok Rinpoche and Erric Solomon
- Deep Work by Cal Newport
- Trust and Betrayal in the Workplace by Dennis Reina
- Mastery by George Leonard
- It Begins with You by Jillian Turecki
- Who Not How by Dan Sullivan with Benjamin Hardy
- Good Habits, Bad Habits by Wendy Wood