Product Description

This book, the first in Castells′ ground–breaking trilogy, is an account of the economic and social dynamics of the new age of information. Based on research in the USA, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, it aims to formulate a systematic theory of the information society which takes account of the fundamental effects of information technology on the contemporary world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #357237 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 594 pages

Review
"A brief review cannot do it justice. No other scholar has approached the subject of the information age in as engaging and innovative a way as this author. Strongly recommended for academic libraries." M. Perelman, California State University.

"We live today in a period of intense and puzzling transformation, signalling perhaps a move beyond the industrial era altogether. Yet where are the great sociological works that chart this transition? Hence the importance of Manuel Castells′ multivolume work, in which he seeks to chart the social and economic dynamics of the information age . . . [It] is bound to be a major reference source for years to come." Anthony Giddens, The Times Higher Education Supplement.

"Adam Smith explained how capitalism worked, and Karl Marx explained why it didn′t. Now the social and economic relations of the Information Age have been captured by Manuel Castells." Wall Street Journal.

"So far, the person who has straddled the world of social theory and Silicon Valley most successfully is Manuel Castells. Castells enjoys a growing reputation as the first significant philosopher of cyberspace." The Economist.

"A must–read." Wired.

"This book goes a considerable way to helping us make sense of today′s global information economy and our place in it." Financial Times.

The Economist
So far, the person who has straddled the world of social theory and Silicon Valley most successfully is Manuel Castells.

Wired
A must-read

Customer Reviews

The academic to end all academics...
Grading and reviewing this work is really a matter of the point of view. In one sense it is the definitive reference of the concepts for "the new economy", "the digital economy", "the network economy" and all other versions. It is a truly solid academic work - far removed from the comparatively trivial business/management literature such as "10 new rules...", "Net Worth", "Blur", "Blown to Bits" and at least 20 more of the same. My critique of this work is not so much the content or even the message, but the fact that never have I encountered such a successfull attempt to hide an important message behind the most extreme forms of complicated language. In fact I admit to not having understood large parts of what is written - although I am quite used to reading all kinds of dense and obfuscated academic and technical work. I am sure that most people having read it, cannot honestly say that they have understood it. For a reasonably bright MBA, this book covers at least one term of full time study - then you may understand it. It does not read like a book! It needs study, discussion, research and so on to be fully understood. Nevertheless it is in many ways a must read for the enlightened person in this new age - and I am sure that it will be heavily referenced and built upon the coming decades. Few works today will have validity in 10 years - this will. So if you are looking for a research subject and are willing to spend a few full time months penetrating this material - this is the book for you. Do not, as I mistakenly did, pick it up and expect a slightly more rigorous presentation of the theories presented in popular mangagement litterature. A typical (not the worst...) passage is: "The space of flows is the material organization of time-sharing social practices that work through flows." - not completetly incomprehensible, but after 480 tightly packed pages it tends to be a bit too much. There are more readable ways to present even stringent theories - that is why the rating is so low. The subject and message is too important to be lost in the authors over-complex script.

The book I have day-dreamed about writing...
"I am convinced that Castell's work is the most illuminating, imaginative and intellectually rigorous account of the major features and dynamics of the world today." [Prof. F Webster; Theories of the Information Society, 2nd Edition; Pg.97]

"Adam Smith explained how capitalism worked and Karl Marx explained why it didn't. Now the social and economic relations of the Information Age have been captured by Manuel Castells." [GP Zachary; Wall Street Journal ; 1 October 1998]

PS: I disagree with the other reviewer re. it's style and content. It is not difficult to read.