Overview

One of the world's foremost exponents of anti-monopoly law explains how Big Tech is strangling our economies and how to stop it Today's tech platforms are some of history's most advanced tools for extracting as much as possible - data, attention, profit-margins - from everyone else. As they become essential, we are at risk of building an economy that is perpetually unfair for much of humanity. Places and spaces where people can exchange information and goods have been at the heart of every economy and every civilization in history, but today's global platforms - as provided by Amazon, Google, Apple, Meta and others - are different- instead of providing value they extract it, creating vast disparities in wealth and power between the haves and have-nots. For the first time in history, we have the ability to create sustainable prosperity for all, but currently that wealth is concentrated in a tiny number of hands. It isn't abundance that's the problem; it is distribution. In this brilliantly engaging, frequently surprising account, Tim Wu, one of the world's foremost experts on anti-monopoly law, draws on fascinating case studies in the history of technology's explosive rise to demonstrate emphatically that breaking monopolies will ultimately unleash creativity and growth - and reduce the vast inequality that inevitably leads to social upheaval and political chaos. Wu also sets out an alternative blueprint that preserves the economic flourishing that platforms catalyze, allowing tech platforms to play a major role in creating and sustaining an economic model of prosperity not just for the few but for the many.

Full Product Details

9781847927118

Table of Contents

Reviews

The paradox of the platform: without middlemen, we’d all be stuck, but those same middlemen are forever working to declare themselves to be our bosses. Wu’s characteristically insightful book cuts to the core of these world-consuming, usurping enshittifiers, and tells us how to stop them -- Cory Doctorow, author of Enshittification The magic of Tim Wu’s The Age of Extraction is its simplicity. Wu deftly breaks down one of the greatest challenges of our age—the unaccountable power of tech platforms—into such digestible pieces that the solutions for what to do become dead obvious. Essential reading for anyone looking for the recipe to rebalance the vast inequality in our society and to create a thriving economy that works for everyone -- Karen Hao, author of Empire of AI Tim Wu’s The Age of Extraction is a how-to book on how we can achieve liberty once again. Wu describes why so much in our society feels unbalanced, that the convenience and scale of platforms masks a hidden creeping power over our lives and communities. But he also shows how platforms in one form or another have always been part of human society, and the key is to govern them properly -- Matt Stoller, author of Goliath Tim Wu’s The Age of Extraction is a must-read. This is a book for anyone—from senator to student—who seeks to understand our digital economy and why we need common sense rules of the road. Wu shows us how to protect consumers, workers, small businesses, and even our democracy from dominant platforms that have inserted themselves into nearly every aspect of our lives -- Senator Amy Klobuchar The Age of Extraction is remarkably astute and timely. Wu brilliantly analyzes platform power with great clarity, insight, and moral force, laying out the material stakes for people's lives as well as a roadmap for achieving broad prosperity and economic fairness. A vital book for these troubled times -- Lina Khan, Former Chair, U.S. Federal Trade Commission PRAISE FOR TIM WU'S PREVIOUS BOOKS [Wu] writes books that make a big impact -- John Naughton * Guardian * Wu is much better than most . . . mainly because he has narrative flair and an eye for the most telling examples * Sunday Times * An excellent primer for anyone who wants to understand why corporate wealth and power have grown so concentrated . . . and why that might be a problem for democracy * Financial Times on The Curse of Bigness * Timely and important . . . Wu makes an urgent and persuasive case -- Joseph E. Stiglitz on The Curse of Bigness With The Curse of Bigness Tim Wu helps shape an urgent new global conversation on market democracy, reviving the critical role of governments in curbing corporate power -- Shoshana Zuboff, author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism Original, provocative and stimulating -- Timothy Garton Ash on The Curse of Bigness I couldn't put this fascinating book down. Gripping from page one with its insight, vivid writing, and panoramic sweep, [it] is also a book of urgent importance -- Amy Chua on The Attention Merchants A profoundly important book -- James Gleick on The Attention Merchants Magisterial . . . Wu’s sharp analysis and eye for a good story will impress * Sunday Times on The Master Switch * Wu is the rare writer capable of exhuming history and also interpreting current affairs. In this profound and important book, he excels at both * New Scientist on The Master Switch * Great stories, and Wu tells them expertly * Guardian on The Master Switch *

[Wu] writes books that make a big impact -- John Naughton * Guardian * Wu is much better than most . . . mainly because he has narrative flair and an eye for the most telling examples * Sunday Times * An excellent primer for anyone who wants to understand why corporate wealth and power have grown so concentrated . . . and why that might be a problem for democracy * Financial Times on The Curse of Bigness * Timely and important . . . Wu makes an urgent and persuasive case -- Joseph E. Stiglitz on The Curse of Bigness With The Curse of Bigness Tim Wu helps shape an urgent new global conversation on market democracy, reviving the critical role of governments in curbing corporate power -- Shoshana Zuboff, author of The Age of Surveillance Capitalism Original, provocative and stimulating -- Timothy Garton Ash on The Curse of Bigness I couldn't put this fascinating book down. Gripping from page one with its insight, vivid writing, and panoramic sweep, [it] is also a book of urgent importance -- Amy Chua on The Attention Merchants A profoundly important book -- James Gleick on The Attention Merchants Magisterial . . . Wu’s sharp analysis and eye for a good story will impress * Sunday Times on The Master Switch * Wu is the rare writer capable of exhuming history and also interpreting current affairs. In this profound and important book, he excels at both * New Scientist on The Master Switch * Great stories, and Wu tells them expertly * Guardian on The Master Switch *

Author Information

Tim Wu is Julius Silver Professor of Law, Science and Technology at Columbia Law School. He worked in the White House as special assistant to President Biden for technology and competition policy, and is the author of The Master Switch and The Attention Merchants. He currently splits his time between New York City and Oxford.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available