Silicon States, Lucie Greene
Silicon States, Lucie Greene
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Silicon States
The Power and Politics of Big Tech and What It Means for Our Future

Author: Lucie Greene

Narrator: Esther Wane

Unabridged: 11 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/31/2018


Synopsis

Welcome to the Silicon States.

Silicon Valley is imperializing the planet. With nearly bottomless supplies of cash and ambition, a small group of companies have been gradually seizing symbolic and practical civic leadership in America and worldwide. But Silicon Valley does not answer to the electorate; nor have they been voted into office. And the perils of their influence are only now making themselves known. The institutions of Facebook, Google, and Twitter are implicated in the investigation of Russian interference into U.S. elections, providing the public their first opportunity to glimpse the wizards behind the curtain: how these businesses operate, where their interests lie, and the power they wield over an unsuspecting citizenry.

While the promise of Silicon Valley is bold, futuristic, and seductive, it is important to understand these corporations' possible impact on our future. Silicon States emphasizes that before we hand our future over to a rarified group of companies, we examine the world they might build: its benefits, prejudices, and inherent flaws. And to ask, ultimately, if we really want it.

About Lucie Greene

Lucie Greene is the Worldwide Director of the Innovation Group at J. Walter Thompson, JWT's in-house futures and innovation think tank. The Innovation Group's work is frequently cited in publications including the New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, the Guardian, WWD, USA Today, and the London Times. She's a thought leadership columnist for Campaign, writes for the Financial Times on futures, and has spoken at conferences including CES, SXSW, Web Summit, Cosmoprof, and Ad Week, discussing future trends across multiple lifestyle sectors. She has appeared on BBC, Fox News, and Bloomberg TV as an expert on the future.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Nick on May 28, 2023

Was educational, but surprising how dated the book is (2017-2018) given how much has happened in Silicon Valley due to COVID and the 2022-2023 layoffs Preachy, theme was all over the place, pretty bad writing, but I enjoyed the content.......more

Goodreads review by Lynne on August 30, 2018

I received an advanced copy from a friend and Greene's account is a must-read read—not only for those in the industry, but for anyone who wants to know where our country (and world) is headed. As a futurist, Greene has a unique outsider's perspective on the inner workings of Silicon Valley and the c......more

Goodreads review by Lindsey on December 28, 2018

As a millennial who’s spent the entirety of my career in the tech industry, this was a book that put to words many of the thoughts, concerns and questions I’ve had. As tech rapidly outshines government in its advances and the future overtakes us, how can we enact systemic change, hold big business a......more

Goodreads review by Suraj on April 05, 2020

The general thrust of Ms. Greene's argument rang true, but many of her specific lines of reasoning were vague. She had a very ambitious aim: examine how Silicon Valley is affecting almost every part of the economy and society. That meant diving into healthcare, hospitality, travel, infrastructure, e......more

Goodreads review by Alicia on September 17, 2023

With technology changing constantly I know at the time in which I read her book its naturally already 5 years out of date. I still found the book an undertesting insight into the world that is not my own yet affects me greatly. The dialoge of interviews the author conducts are interesting and projec......more