The best 27 The Internet books

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1
The Internet Books: SuperFreakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

SuperFreakonomics

Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance
4.1 (82 ratings)

What's SuperFreakonomics about?

SuperFreakonomics (2009) explains why thinking like an economist can help us understand our modern world. These blinks illustrate key economic principles and the importance of collecting data with colorful stories from human history, and offers surprising solutions for the global problems that we face today.

Who should read SuperFreakonomics?

  • Anyone interested in entertaining, statistical facts about human behavior
  • Math buffs who believe in the power of statistics
  • Anyone curious about a very cheap way to stop global warming

2
The Internet Books: The Future of the Professions by Richard Susskind and Daniel Susskind

The Future of the Professions

Richard Susskind and Daniel Susskind
How Technology Will Transform the Work of Human Experts
3.7 (80 ratings)

What's The Future of the Professions about?

The Future of the Professions (2015) examines how modern technology and the internet have revolutionized our society. These blinks in particular address how technology has changed the way society views the work of experts, the so-called professionals. The role of such experts is evolving quickly; here you’ll discover just what the future of professions will look like.

Who should read The Future of the Professions?

  • Entrepreneurs and managers in the tech business
  • Coaches who work with C-level executives
  • Anyone interested in how technology is changing how we work

3
The Internet Books: Reading the Comments by Joseph M. Reagle Jr.

Reading the Comments

Joseph M. Reagle Jr.
Likers, Haters and Manipulators at the Bottom of the Web
3.2 (22 ratings)

What's Reading the Comments about?

Reading the Comments (2015) delves into the social phenomenon of online commentary. These blinks explore how online commenting became the force it is and examine commenting’s positive and negative influence on communication at large. Importantly, these blinks encourage you to think about the implications of online comments for the modern internet user.

Who should read Reading the Comments?

  • Readers fascinated by online commentary
  • People keen to learn about new modes of communication
  • Students majoring in communication studies

4
The Internet Books: The Dark Net by Jamie Bartlett

The Dark Net

Jamie Bartlett
Inside the Digital Underworld
3.1 (57 ratings)

What's The Dark Net about?

The Dark Net (2014) is a window into the internet’s nefarious underbelly. These blinks detail a trove of hidden online activity, from drug deals to illegal pornography to troubling discussions among suicidal teenagers.

Who should read The Dark Net?

  • Adventurous people who want to uncover everything the internet has to offer
  • Anyone concerned about all the terrible things happening online
  • Aspiring porn stars and anyone who wants to buy marijuana from their couch

5
The Internet Books: Everybody Lies by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

Everybody Lies

Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
Big Data, New Data and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are
4.1 (118 ratings)

What's Everybody Lies about?

Everybody Lies (2017) is about the data collected in vast quantities by computers and over the internet. This data can help reveal fascinating information about the human psyche, behavior and quirks, because, as it turns out, people aren’t always so willing to communicate their true hopes and desires to others.

Who should read Everybody Lies?

  • Anyone interested in the complex nature of human behavior
  • Media studies experts and social scientists
  • Anyone concerned about the power of the internet and online privacy

6
The Internet Books: The Seventh Sense by Joshua Cooper Ramo

The Seventh Sense

Joshua Cooper Ramo
Power, Fortune, and Survival in the Age of Networks
3.9 (24 ratings)

What's The Seventh Sense about?

The Seventh Sense (2016) unpacks the positive and negative aspects of today’s interconnected world. Terrorism is on the rise and the global economy is in a questionable state. The Seventh Sense explains how these issues are interrelated, and how society can still prosper in this network-dominated age.

Who should read The Seventh Sense?

  • Anyone addicted to social media
  • Managers of a business or corporation
  • Anyone curious about the impacts of technology on today’s society

7
The Internet Books: Because Internet by Gretchen McCulloch

Because Internet

Gretchen McCulloch
Understanding the New Rules of Language
4.1 (132 ratings)

What's Because Internet about?

It’s common knowledge that the internet has profoundly changed society, and Because Internet (2019) looks at one specific and significant change: how online culture has transformed the English language. These blinks show how the web has created new linguistic rules, remixed old ones and democratized writing itself. Along with these shifts, prepare to explore the memes, emoji and demographic makeup of the internet.  

Who should read Because Internet?

  • Language nerds fascinated by recent changes in English
  • Inflexible grammarians clinging on to past practices
  • Parents consistently baffled by their children’s text messages

8
The Internet Books: Broad Band  by Claire L. Evans

Broad Band

Claire L. Evans
The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet
4.1 (131 ratings)

What's Broad Band about?

Broad Band (2018) tells the story of the women who played significant roles in the evolution of computers and the internet. It examines how these women became trailblazers in fields of work that were initially considered boring – but later proved to be of great importance.

Who should read Broad Band ?

  • Young women interested in pursuing a career in computer science
  • Computer scientists and engineers
  • People interested in how women have shaped our world

9
The Internet Books: Deepfakes and the Infocalypse by Nina Schick

Deepfakes and the Infocalypse

Nina Schick
What You Urgently Need To Know
3.8 (113 ratings)

What's Deepfakes and the Infocalypse about?

Deepfakes and the Infocalypse (2020) is an urgent warning about the dangers posed by fake – but extremely realistic – audiovisual material called deepfakes. They are powered by artificial intelligence, and scammers and hackers are already using them to defraud businesses and harass individuals. Governments are joining in, as well; the use of deepfakes for propaganda is growing. We need to actively prepare for a time when deepfakes become commonplace. If we don’t, we’ll barrel headfirst into an information apocalypse.

Who should read Deepfakes and the Infocalypse?

  • Anyone who hasn’t heard of deepfakes
  • Citizens concerned about political polarization and the breakdown of trust in society
  • Tech-savvy individuals who feel they can’t be fooled by fake content

10
The Internet Books: Blockchain Chicken Farm by Xiaowei Wang

Blockchain Chicken Farm

Xiaowei Wang
And Other Stories of Tech in China's Countryside
3.8 (76 ratings)

What's Blockchain Chicken Farm about?

Blockchain Chicken Farm (2020) is an examination of the way technology is entangled with everyday life. This sweeping survey of life in rural China unpacks the social, political, and economic changes we can expect in the twenty-first century.

Who should read Blockchain Chicken Farm?

  • Luddites skeptical about the impact of new technologies
  • Techno-utopians eager for more critical insights
  • Anyone interested in forecasting the future

11
The Internet Books: The Data Detective by Tim Harford

The Data Detective

Tim Harford
Ten Easy Rules to Make Sense of Statistics
4.4 (233 ratings)

What's The Data Detective about?

The Data Detective (2021) is a smart, practical guide to understanding the ways in which statistics –⁠ and our reactions to them –⁠ distort and obscure reality. Using psychological research and illuminating examples, it reveals some of the ways our brains influence how we see data and statistics and how we draw incorrect conclusions as a result. By picking apart our cognitive biases and misconceptions, we gain the ability to see data, and in turn, the world, for what it really is.

Who should read The Data Detective?

  • News and social media addicts
  • Avid consumers of scientific articles and research
  • Anyone who regularly comes into contact with data or statistics

12
The Internet Books: This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends by Nicole Perlroth

This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends

Nicole Perlroth
The Cyberweapons Arms Race
4.6 (171 ratings)

What's This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends about?

This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends (2021) takes a deep dive into the ongoing global cyberweapons arms race. It explains how the unregulated market for destructive weapons began, how nations are buying and using these weapons, and why they represent a threat to our immediate future.

Who should read This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends?

  • Anyone who uses a computer or smartphone
  • Security- and privacy-minded people
  • Taxpayers curious about how their money is spent

13
The Internet Books: Google Leaks by Zach Vorhies and Kent Hecklively

Google Leaks

Zach Vorhies and Kent Hecklively
A Whistleblower's Exposé of Big Tech Censorship
3.5 (341 ratings)

What's Google Leaks about?

Google Leaks (2021) is the no-holds-barred story of one former Google employee, who claims that the search giant has been corrupted by political bias and is pursuing a course of deliberate online censorship. It details the author’s journey after Donald Trump’s election from satisfied employee to unflinching corporate whistleblower .

Who should read Google Leaks?

  • Tech lovers concerned by the the growth of online megacorporations 
  • Political aficionados interested in the years of Trump’s presidency
  • Free-speech advocates concerned by the erosion of civil liberties

14
The Internet Books: Privacy Is Power by Carissa Véliz

Privacy Is Power

Carissa Véliz
Why and How You Should Take Back Control of Your Data
4.5 (208 ratings)

What's Privacy Is Power about?

Privacy is Power (2020) is a shocking exposé of the inner workings of surveillance capitalism. It reveals how, every day, hundreds of interested parties are violating your privacy and capitalizing on your personal data. Corporations, governments, and criminals alike are all busy collecting and exploiting your data in an effort to influence the way you think and behave. In these blinks, you’ll learn why your privacy is so important and what you can do to protect it.

Who should read Privacy Is Power?

  • Those perturbed by governments and corporations snooping on our private lives
  • People untroubled by digital surveillance because they believe they have nothing to hide
  • Anyone looking for actionable ways to protect their privacy now

15
The Internet Books: An Ugly Truth by Sheera Frenkel and Cecilia Kang

An Ugly Truth

Sheera Frenkel and Cecilia Kang
Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination
4.0 (261 ratings)

What's An Ugly Truth about?

An Ugly Truth (2021) is a critical look behind the scenes of Facebook. This in-depth investigation reveals the politics and personalities animating the rise and subsequent missteps of this controversial social media behemoth.

Who should read An Ugly Truth?

  • Internet addicts looking to understand cyberspace
  • Political junkies addicted to their News Feed
  • Anyone who has ever logged on to social media

16
The Internet Books: Attention Span by Gloria Mark

Attention Span

Gloria Mark
A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity
4.5 (829 ratings)

What's Attention Span about?

Attention Span (2023) examines the connection between the digital age and our capacity for attention. As digital devices have become inextricable from our lives, our attention spans have shortened and our stress levels have risen. Drawing on scientific research, it debunks modern myths about attention and explains how we can reclaim it for better well-being. 

Who should read Attention Span?

  • Anyone worried about their decreasing attention span
  • Those who have trouble disconnecting from their phone
  • People who feel stressed, exhausted, and burned out

17
The Internet Books: Free Speech by Jacob Mchangama

Free Speech

Jacob Mchangama
A History from Socrates to Social Media
4.4 (130 ratings)

What's Free Speech about?

Free Speech (2022) traces the history of this world-defining idea. It provides a soapbox for some of free speech’s greatest proponents and highlights key events that pushed the idea forward from ancient times to the present. Offering an evenhanded treatment of the costs and benefits of free speech throughout history, it’s a powerful retort to all those forces that threaten to erode free speech today.

Who should read Free Speech?

  • Passionate defenders of free speech who could use more argumentative ammunition 
  • Students preparing for campus debates on whether free speech should be limited
  • Anyone on the left or right seeking insight into modern-day debates on free speech

18
The Internet Books: Stolen Focus by Johann Hari

Stolen Focus

Johann Hari
Why You Can't Pay Attention – and How to Think Deeply Again
4.5 (1,719 ratings)

What's Stolen Focus about?

Stolen Focus (2022) begins with author Johann Hari experiencing a common problem: his attention span is diminishing. He can’t seem to focus on much outside of Twitter and online news. Over three years, Hari tries to identify the root causes of this problem. He uncovers a collective attention crisis that’s affecting the entire globe. From social media to the culture of productivity, Hari identifies the culprits behind our stolen focus – and wonders if, and how, we can claim it back.

Who should read Stolen Focus?

  • Anyone who feels like they just can’t concentrate the way they used to
  • Multitaskers with brimming to-do lists who still feel like they don’t get much done
  • Anyone scrolling through social media while they’re reading this!

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The Internet Books: The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is by Justin E.H. Smith

The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is

Justin E.H. Smith
A History, A Philosophy, A Warning
4.0 (140 ratings)

What's The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is about?

The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is (2022) offers startlingly new ways of understanding the world wide web, and strongly challenges us to examine our long-held beliefs about the supremacy of human cognition. It confronts our most closely-held (and least examined) ideas about the internet and social media, and weaves together observations from centuries of philosophy, mathematics, science and history.

Who should read The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is?

  • Those feeling overwhelmed by the pace of life in the information age 
  • Anyone worried about the addictive side of social media 
  • The Zoom-fatigued looking for better ways to connect.

20
The Internet Books: Your Brain on Porn by Gary Wilson

Your Brain on Porn

Gary Wilson
Internet Pornography and the Emerging Science of Addiction
4.3 (228 ratings)

What's Your Brain on Porn about?

Your Brain on Porn (2014) examines the explosion of internet pornography addiction. In the age of high-speed internet, porn is more widespread than ever. And although excessive porn consumption can negatively affect mental health and sexual function, the damage can be reversed. 

Who should read Your Brain on Porn?

  • Anyone who thinks they might be suffering from porn addiction
  • Students of psychology or medicine
  • Internet connoisseurs seeking to understand the effects of excessive porn consumption

21
The Internet Books: Selfless by Brian Lowery

Selfless

Brian Lowery
The Social Creation of “You”
4.2 (33 ratings)

What's Selfless about?

Selfless (2023) explores the concept of the self as an entity formed by relationships and society in general. It tackles the roles of family, social groups, the country, and technology in shaping the self. 

Who should read Selfless?

  • Social psychology enthusiasts
  • Anyone interested in the idea of the self as a social creation
  • People looking to understand themselves and others better

22
The Internet Books: NFTs Are a Scam / NFTs are the Future by Bobby Hundreds

NFTs Are a Scam / NFTs are the Future

Bobby Hundreds
The Early Years: 2020-2023
3.9 (20 ratings)

What's NFTs Are a Scam / NFTs are the Future about?

NFTs Are a Scam / NFTs Are the Future (2023) is a bold, provocative take on what is either another scam-ridden, superficial digital trend or the future of art and entertainment – depending on who you ask. It considers NFTs from every angle to help you make up your own mind.

Who should read NFTs Are a Scam / NFTs are the Future?

  • Techheads sitting on a tower of NFTs
  • Digital enthusiasts craving NFT gossip and insights
  • Anyone wondering what an NFT is – and why they should care

23
The Internet Books: Tribe of Hackers by Marcus J. Carey, Jennifer Jin

Tribe of Hackers

Marcus J. Carey, Jennifer Jin
Cybersecurity Advice from the Best Hackers in the World
3.7 (154 ratings)

What's Tribe of Hackers about?

Tribe of Hackers (2019) is a comprehensive guide for aspiring and seasoned cybersecurity professionals globally built around enlightening interviews with 70 security experts, including well-known figures such as Lesley Carhart, Ming Chow, Bruce Potter, Robert M. Lee, and Jayson E. Street. It provides valuable advice for everyone hoping to tool up in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Who should read Tribe of Hackers?

  • Aspiring professionals seeking insight into the cybersecurity industry
  • Tech enthusiasts interested in practical cybersecurity knowledge
  • Readers looking for expert advice and real-world experiences

24
The Internet Books: Sexploitation by Cindy Pierce

Sexploitation

Cindy Pierce
Helping Kids Develop Healthy Sexuality in a Porn-Driven World
3.8 (19 ratings)

What's Sexploitation about?

Sexploitation (2015) is an up-to-date take on sexual education, aimed at arming parents, carers, and educators with the best advice for supporting kids to make healthy sexual choices. 

Who should read Sexploitation?

  • Parents who want to support their tweens and teens in exploring their sexuality
  • Educators dealing with the impact of porn and social media on young adults
  • Carers and mentors looking for up-to-date advice on sexual education

25
The Internet Books: The Porn Trap by Wendy Maltz & Larry Maltz

The Porn Trap

Wendy Maltz & Larry Maltz
The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by Pornography
4.1 (163 ratings)

What's The Porn Trap about?

The Porn Trap (2010) is your guide to understanding the powerful grasp that porn can have on people’s lives, and how to escape it. Drawing from real cases, it outlines what porn addiction is and the real consequences it has had. Then it provides six steps for those suffering from addiction to take back control of their lives.

Who should read The Porn Trap?

  • People struggling with their relationship with porn
  • Anyone who suspects their partner has a porn addiction
  • Councilors, therapists and supporters for people with porn addictions

26
The Internet Books: Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

Snow Crash

Neal Stephenson
4.1 (80 ratings)

What's Snow Crash about?

Snow Crash (1992) is a cyberpunk sci-fi novel starring katana-wielding, pizza-delivering hacker Hiro Protagonist and his partner, spunky teen skateboarder Y.T. It features a virus called Snow Crash which pervades both the physical world and the virtual world, also known as the Metaverse. But it soon becomes apparent that Snow Crash is more than just a virus –⁠ as Hiro delves deeper, he discovers a conspiracy that has its roots in ancient Sumerian legends and poses a dire threat to humanity.

Who should read Snow Crash?

  • Science fiction buffs
  • Tech enthusiasts and futurists 
  • Linguistics and anthropology nerds 

27
The Internet Books: Pornland by Gail Dines

Pornland

Gail Dines
How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality
3.6 (195 ratings)

What's Pornland about?

Pornland (2010) invites you to dive deep into the world of modern pornography and its implications. Discover how the industry's evolution has led to the commodification of women, reshaping societal norms and expectations. Embark on a thought-provoking journey that challenges perceptions of intimacy in our digital age.

Who should read Pornland?

  • Students of gender studies
  • Those worried about the media's portrayal of sexuality
  • Advocates for healthier intimacy standards

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