The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is: A History, a Philosophy, a Warning

The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is offers an original deep history of the internet, revealing its surprising origins in nature and centuries-old dreams of radically improving human life. Despite its potential, utopian hopes have died today due to social media, the global information economy, and the attention-destroying nature of networked technology.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 22 March 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Many view the internet as a remarkable and overwhelmingly positive achievement of modern human technology. However, is this truly the case? In "The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is," Justin Smith presents an original and in-depth exploration of the internet's history, spanning from ancient times to the present day. Through his research, Smith unveils the surprising origins of the internet in nature and the centuries-old utopian dreams that drove its development. These dreams envisioned a world where human thinking could be outsourced to machines, enabling seamless communication across vast distances. Despite the internet's ongoing potential, Smith argues that the utopian aspirations behind it have tragically come to an end, victimized by the harsh realities of social media, the global information economy, and the attention-sucking nature of networked technology.

Spanning a vast expanse of centuries in the history and philosophy of science and technology, Smith delves into the intricate connections between internet user experience, artificial intelligence, the invention of the printing press, communication between trees, and the origins of computing in the machine-driven looms of the silk industry. He reveals how the "internet" has been with us for much longer than we commonly assume, drawing fascinating parallels between various aspects of our digital lives. At the same time, Smith challenges the notion of drawing a clear line between technology and nature by highlighting the organic structure and development of the internet, which are rooted in the natural world in unexpected ways.

By combining the broad scope of intellectual history with the sharp insights of philosophy, "The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is" offers a clear-eyed perspective on what the internet truly is, where it originated, and where it may be heading in the future. It cuts through the daily digital clutter to provide a comprehensive understanding of this complex and ever-evolving phenomenon. This book is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to gain a deeper appreciation for the internet and its impact on our world.

Weight: 392g
Dimension: 147 x 223 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691212326