Review by Michael Smith
Details:
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Wiley (November 10, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0470375043
ISBN-13: 978-0470375044
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1 inches
The book was only recently launched and the copy that I had for review was not the hardback version but a paperback advance uncorrected proof. Hence there were a few spelling a printing mistakes in that version. This copy also appears to have somewhat fewer pages than are claimed for the hardback version of the book. That said, however, the book is great.
In his book “CauseWired” Tom Watson is trying to map the impact of social networks in Web 2.0 on charity, politics and consumer movements.
Here the author tries to explain the trend by offering real world stories and by introducing the reader to some of the people, famous and almost unknown, that are powering the CauseWired movement, for lack of, I should think, better word, and this book is very much the product of the movement.
The book is the story of what people do online to change the world for the better. “Be the change!” Gandhi said, and those people are just trying to be that, using the latest methods available. The Internet has given causes the greatest platform ever available but the platform can also be used to malintent, as I mention a little further on.
“CauseWired” is a landmark guide to the next major technological and cultural shift. That of online social activism.
Let's face it, many Blogs are just intended to be that, that is to say, “social online activism” - in one way or the other. This can, obviously, also, though, be a double edged sword that cuts both ways in that it can be used for good but also for “malintent”. In other words; it could be used equally by people wishing to influence folks in a positive way as well as by those who want to rile up the masses against a particular race or groups of people, whether Blacks or Gypsies, against a religion, or against a political persuasion. Recently there have been a number of Facebook pages that were anti-Gypsy and, so it appeared run from Italy (no surprise there after the recent happening against Gypsies in that country) which called for the destruction of all Gypsies. After complaints by Gypsy groups to the Facebook management those pages have been, since, removed. This example was, however, from my side, intended to show that “social online activism” can cut both ways, for the good and for evil.
The book, however, gives a great insight into the capabilities of online activism through direct stories of how things started and how the developed, such as “Facebook”, for instance, and Causes.
For today's super-wired, always-on, live-life-in-public young people, whether in the USA or elsewhere, the causes they support define who they are. Societal aspirations have so permeated the "net native" population that causes have become like musical tastes. CauseWired illustrates wired causes in action, bringing real-world stories to readers.
This is the first book to track the massive societal impact on causes of online social networks – from Blogs, to video, to the rise of social networks, CauseWired reveals the extraordinary influence of online social networks--in raising money for charity, in changing the political climate and electing candidates, and in raising consciousness for causes.
From Facebook causes and campaigns on MySpace, to a raft of new startups and innovative projects, and political movements like the Obama campaign and Save Darfur, this immensely relevant book delivers actionable research and recommendations to help readers launch their own successful wired social campaigns.
The Internet is not so much a mass medium but rather a medium of the masses and while it is true that the CauseWired causes may not raise hundreds of dollars from their individual “members” and “subscribers” it is all more about building an audience than a base for fundraising.
“CauseWired” offers a fascinating insight into the rapidly evolving world of the Internet, of social networking, and that of social change.
The author demonstrates how individuals are using new digital outlets and tools – most important here, Blogging, social networking, and online giving platforms – to explore how we may each act to impact the critical events of our day from the 2008 election to Hurricane Katrina and Darfur.
With his engaging writing style and breadth of perspective he helps the reader to see not only what is happening today, but also allows us a glimpse into the possible future of what will happen in the years to come as we each act upon our potential to change our world and communities.
For anyone not wanting to be left behind in our new wired society – or for those that may already be behind – this book is an absolutely must-read.
Tom Watson has produced here what could be described as a marketing bible for the field of philanthropy and a primer for individuals who want to help change the world.
This is one of those books that was filling up very fast with post-it notes while I have been reading it. There is so much information there that also will come in useful for the causes that Tatchipen Media represents and is involved with.
Tom Watson is a journalist, media critic, entrepreneur, and Blogger with a twenty-five year professional career that includes the co-founding of two companies and several popular online publications, bylines in more than a dozen major newspapers and magazines,and a history of innovation in media technology and online communities.
His Blog and other materials are well worth a read as well, and a regular one at that. “CauseWired” most certainly is a book that I can but recommend to our readers, whether or not they are intending to set up their own CauseWired platforms.
Anyone interested in causes and in the how-to of using the Internet for the promotion of same will do well to get this book and give it a thorough reading. It may take the interested reader a while for, I am sure, he or she will end up like me, pasting annotation notes all over the place.
© M Smith (Veshengro), November 2008
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Details:
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Wiley (November 10, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0470375043
ISBN-13: 978-0470375044
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1 inches
The book was only recently launched and the copy that I had for review was not the hardback version but a paperback advance uncorrected proof. Hence there were a few spelling a printing mistakes in that version. This copy also appears to have somewhat fewer pages than are claimed for the hardback version of the book. That said, however, the book is great.
In his book “CauseWired” Tom Watson is trying to map the impact of social networks in Web 2.0 on charity, politics and consumer movements.
Here the author tries to explain the trend by offering real world stories and by introducing the reader to some of the people, famous and almost unknown, that are powering the CauseWired movement, for lack of, I should think, better word, and this book is very much the product of the movement.
The book is the story of what people do online to change the world for the better. “Be the change!” Gandhi said, and those people are just trying to be that, using the latest methods available. The Internet has given causes the greatest platform ever available but the platform can also be used to malintent, as I mention a little further on.
“CauseWired” is a landmark guide to the next major technological and cultural shift. That of online social activism.
Let's face it, many Blogs are just intended to be that, that is to say, “social online activism” - in one way or the other. This can, obviously, also, though, be a double edged sword that cuts both ways in that it can be used for good but also for “malintent”. In other words; it could be used equally by people wishing to influence folks in a positive way as well as by those who want to rile up the masses against a particular race or groups of people, whether Blacks or Gypsies, against a religion, or against a political persuasion. Recently there have been a number of Facebook pages that were anti-Gypsy and, so it appeared run from Italy (no surprise there after the recent happening against Gypsies in that country) which called for the destruction of all Gypsies. After complaints by Gypsy groups to the Facebook management those pages have been, since, removed. This example was, however, from my side, intended to show that “social online activism” can cut both ways, for the good and for evil.
The book, however, gives a great insight into the capabilities of online activism through direct stories of how things started and how the developed, such as “Facebook”, for instance, and Causes.
For today's super-wired, always-on, live-life-in-public young people, whether in the USA or elsewhere, the causes they support define who they are. Societal aspirations have so permeated the "net native" population that causes have become like musical tastes. CauseWired illustrates wired causes in action, bringing real-world stories to readers.
This is the first book to track the massive societal impact on causes of online social networks – from Blogs, to video, to the rise of social networks, CauseWired reveals the extraordinary influence of online social networks--in raising money for charity, in changing the political climate and electing candidates, and in raising consciousness for causes.
From Facebook causes and campaigns on MySpace, to a raft of new startups and innovative projects, and political movements like the Obama campaign and Save Darfur, this immensely relevant book delivers actionable research and recommendations to help readers launch their own successful wired social campaigns.
The Internet is not so much a mass medium but rather a medium of the masses and while it is true that the CauseWired causes may not raise hundreds of dollars from their individual “members” and “subscribers” it is all more about building an audience than a base for fundraising.
“CauseWired” offers a fascinating insight into the rapidly evolving world of the Internet, of social networking, and that of social change.
The author demonstrates how individuals are using new digital outlets and tools – most important here, Blogging, social networking, and online giving platforms – to explore how we may each act to impact the critical events of our day from the 2008 election to Hurricane Katrina and Darfur.
With his engaging writing style and breadth of perspective he helps the reader to see not only what is happening today, but also allows us a glimpse into the possible future of what will happen in the years to come as we each act upon our potential to change our world and communities.
For anyone not wanting to be left behind in our new wired society – or for those that may already be behind – this book is an absolutely must-read.
Tom Watson has produced here what could be described as a marketing bible for the field of philanthropy and a primer for individuals who want to help change the world.
This is one of those books that was filling up very fast with post-it notes while I have been reading it. There is so much information there that also will come in useful for the causes that Tatchipen Media represents and is involved with.
Tom Watson is a journalist, media critic, entrepreneur, and Blogger with a twenty-five year professional career that includes the co-founding of two companies and several popular online publications, bylines in more than a dozen major newspapers and magazines,and a history of innovation in media technology and online communities.
His Blog and other materials are well worth a read as well, and a regular one at that. “CauseWired” most certainly is a book that I can but recommend to our readers, whether or not they are intending to set up their own CauseWired platforms.
Anyone interested in causes and in the how-to of using the Internet for the promotion of same will do well to get this book and give it a thorough reading. It may take the interested reader a while for, I am sure, he or she will end up like me, pasting annotation notes all over the place.
© M Smith (Veshengro), November 2008
<>
