Cogent and meticulously documented analysis of the conflict between devices and networks that are "generative" (open and unrestricted) and those that are "locked down" ("tethered", "appliancized") to foil spam, malware, privacy invasion, etc. Zittrain sees the Wikipedia phenomenon as offering hints as to how to preserve generativity while containing its pitfalls. (Book freely retrievable from www.futureoftheinternet.org/download)

Zittrain differentiates tethered devices (like the BlackBerry charging on my desk) from generative devices (like the laptop on which I write these words). Argues that much of the innovation that led to the features of the Internet that we enjoy (and that makes it so useful is threatened by the centralization that we see happening (see Nicholas Carr). ( )

Zittrain's book adresses the issue of how to maintain the cooperative, free, uncontrolled internet in an era where it ihas become very profitable to attack it with viruses, bots, spam and all the many things we look on as annoyances but which hav ehte capacity to force people into accepting tethered devices such as iphones and blackberries. Such a step will kill the innovation and creativity that engendered it from the beginnning by giving it over corporations and other interests. These interests will offer tightly controlled and unalterable interent experiences while preventing the "amateur tinkering which created most of the things we like. ( )

Here is an author that has put a ton of data and thought into his argument that the internet is doomed to fail if we all keep buying Xbox's and iPhones. To some degree he is right. There are many more "closed" systems gaining more and more market shares. Though the book was already dated with Zittrain's blasting the iPhone for not being open to third party development. A fact that Jobs deleted with the release of the iPhone SDK in the Summer of 2008.

Zittrain maintains that the internet is only successful because it was formed by thousands of people piggy-backing on each other's work and play. This chain of progress went unchecked by corporate interests and mainstream media. Mix that with some "wisdom of crowds" philosophy and viola, you have the internet. I have to say I agree with just about everything he had to say in the middle of his book.

The last third or the 'solutions' section was good too, but not as realistic (or maybe fair is the word) in regards to businesses and corporate innovators. But it all made for great thinking and discussions.

Zittrain does a good job of explaining "generative" properties and the usefulness of digital technology, in terms of duct tape and vodka. All easy to understand, but a bit long winded. The book would probably be better served if chopped in half. Hence the 3 out of 5 rating. He really makes sure the reader knows how important security features are. Almost every point he makes is drawn with an arrow pointing back to how much consumers treasure security. Which is indeed true and fully understood before you make it to page 100 (much less page 236). But an interesting read if you are at all interested in software or online development. Don't be afraid to skip around and skim parts of this one. ( )

Some good ideas, but probably twice as long as it needs to be. ( )