Against the Machine

December 3, 2007
Siegel, a controversial former NewRepublic.com blogger and past Slate.com art critic, provides a fascinating look at how the Internet is reshaping the way we think about ourselves and the world. Siegel explores how the Internet affects culture and social life, particularly the psychological, emotional and social cost of high-tech solitude. Arguing that the Internet's widespread anonymity eliminates boundaries, Siegel discusses the half-fantasy, half-realism of online personas. Internet pornography, Siegel intones, collapses public and private, transforming others into the instrument of the viewer's will. By experiencing virtual selves rather than other individuals, a danger arises: people run the risk of being reduced to personas that other Internet users manipulate toward their own ends. Insightful and well written with convincing evidence to support Siegel's polemic, this book is a welcome addition to the debate on the personal ramifications of living in a wired world.

December 15, 2007
Outspoken cultural critic Siegel believes that the Internet is possibly the most radical transformation of private and public life in the history of humankind, yet we succumb to itsaddictive charms without asking what is being sacrificed on its altar of information, convenience, and anonymity. Siegel reminds us that the Internet was developed to serve commerce and capital, not to improve peoples lives; consequently, he believes, the Webs business imperative commodifies and homogenizes every aspect of existence. Involved in a cyberscandal while blogging for the New Republic, Siegel derides the blogosphere for its crude invective and swarming redundancy. He is scathing in his discussion of Wikipedia and far-reaching in his analysis of the narcissism and phoniness of YouTube and similar sites. Pondering the pursuit of mere popularity over excellence, Siegel warns of the consequences of sacrificed journalistic standards.Although his critique is selective to the point of being skewed, Siegels nonetheless incisive, provocative inquiry into how our fascination with the cyberworld is affecting human relations raises crucial questions and is great fun to read and debate.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)