Understand Before Judging
The debate on digital technology is often polarized: on one side, enthusiasts who see the internet as a paradise of free information, on the other, catastrophists who warn of the end of attention, privacy, and democracy. The reality is more complex — and the best books on the subject help navigate it.
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The Age of Surveillance Capitalism — Shoshana Zuboff (2019)
The "surveillance capitalism" explained in detail. Heavy, but transformative. After this book, you won't look at free services the same way again. -
Weapons of Math Destruction — Cathy O'Neil (2016)
Algorithms are not neutral: they discriminate, amplify inequalities, and make life-changing decisions. O'Neil documents this with real cases. -
The Shallows — Nicholas Carr (2010)
Is the internet changing our brains? Carr's answer, based on neuroscience, is more nuanced than one might think — but the question remains fundamental. -
The Alignment Problem — Brian Christian (2020)
Before understanding the artificial intelligence of 2025, one must grasp the fundamental problems raised here: how do you teach a system to want the right things? -
Alone Together — Sherry Turkle (2011)
The pioneer of digital identity studies reflects on what it means to be constantly connected yet alone. Outdated in references, but highly relevant in questions. -
A Hacker's Mind — Bruce Schneier (2023)
It’s not just about cybersecurity: it explains how "hacker thinking" is reshaping politics, finance, and society. -
The Filter Bubble — Eli Pariser (2011)
How recommendation algorithms select the reality you see. The book that anticipated the echo chamber problem before it became mainstream.
For Those Who Want to Dig Deeper
Add Gödel, Escher, Bach by Hofstadter for the philosophical foundations of artificial intelligence, and The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Zuboff for the complete picture of data capitalism.
