Product Description

The third edition of this classic study brings it right up to date both with new theoretical work and with social and technological changes – such as the rapid growth of the Internet and accelerated globalisation – and reassesses the work of key theorists in light of these changes.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #192112 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

From the Back Cover

Coping in an era of information flows, of virtual relationships and breakneck change poses challenges to one and all.

In Theories of the Information Society Frank Webster makes sense of the information explosion, taking a sceptical look at what thinkers mean when they refer to the 'Information Society' and critically examines the major post-war theories and approaches to informational development. This third edition brings the book right up to date with both new theoretical work and, social and technological changes (such as the rapid growth of the Internet and accelerated globalization), reassessing the work of key theorists in light of these changes.

This book is essential reading for students of contemporary social theory and anybody interested in social and technological change in the post-war era. It addresses issues of central concern to students of sociology, politics, communications, information science, cultural studies, computing and librarianship.

About the Author
City University, UK

Customer Reviews

A good summary of information society theorems
This work covers Daniel Bell, Regulation School theory, Manuel Castells, Herbert Schiller, Jurgen Habermas, Anthony Giddens and Postmodernity. Be warned that the author does not believe we live in an information society. He says on page 5, "...throughout this book, there runs an interrogative and sceptical view of the information society concept itself. One or two commentators complained that the earlier editions of Theories of the Information Society were so critical of the notion of an information society that there seemed no point in writing a whole book about it." The second chapter is dedicated to proving that the information society does not exist.

At this point I felt like putting the book down but I pressed on and was very glad I did. It turned out to be a very interesting book that covered a wide range of views. A good read.