“The most important book I read [this year] . . . Provocative, unconventional ideas for ensuring that the inevitable dominance of software in every corner of society will be healthy instead of harmful.”
– Joe Nocera, The New York Times
“Daringly original . . . Lanier’s sharp, accessible style and opinions make Who Owns the Future? terrifically inviting.”
– Janet Maslin, The New York Times
“Lanier’s career as a computer scientist is entwined in the central economic story of our time, the rapid advance of computation and networking. . . . [Who Owns the Future?] not only makes a convincing diagnosis of a widespread problem, but also answers a need for moonshot thinking.”
– The New Republic
"Lanier has a mind as boundless as the internet . . . [He is] the David Foster Wallace of tech."
– London Evening Standard
“Lanier has a poet’s sensibility and his book reads like a hallucinogenic reverie, full of entertaining haiku-like observations and digressions.”
– Financial Times
"Everyone complains about the Internet, but no one does anything about it . . . except for Jaron Lanier."
– Neal Stephenson, bestselling author of Reamde and Cryptonomicon
"Who Owns the Future? explains what’s wrong with our digital economy, and tells us how to fix it. Listen up!”
– George Dyson, bestselling author of Turing's Cathedral
"Who Owns the Future? is a deeply original and sometimes startling read. Lanier does not simply question the dominant narrative of our times, but picks it up by the neck and shakes it. A refreshing and important book that will make you see the world differently."
– Tim Wu, author of The Master Switch
“This book is rare. It looks at technology with an insider’s knowledge, wisdom, and deep caring about human beings. It’s badly needed.”
– W. Brian Arthur, economist and author of The Nature of Technology
"One of the triumphs of Lanier's intelligent and subtle book is its inspiring portrait of the kind of people that a democratic information economy would produce. His vision implies that if we are allowed to lead absorbing, properly remunerated lives, we will likewise outgrow our addiction to consumerism and technology."
– The Guardian
"This ambitious book is about how to help ordinary people survive and prosper at a time when advances in computer technology make it increasingly difficult for some people to find a job."
– USA Today
"A smart, accessible book that takes a critical look at our online state of affairs and finds it out of balance."
– Carolyn Kellogg, The Los Angeles Times
"One of the best skeptical books about the online world."
– Salon
“Brilliant.”
– Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times
”Lanier’s book mixes scholarly analysis with a series of intriguing ideas on how to take back control of our virtual identity.”
– TechGenMag.com
