Series in Social Media
Books in Social Media
100 Things We've Lost to the Internet
The acclaimed editor of The New York Times Book Review takes readers on a nostalgic tour of the pre-Internet age, offering powerful insights into both the profound and the seemingly trivial things we've lost. NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY CHICAGO TRIBUNE AND THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS • “A deft blend of nostalgia, humor and devastating insights.”— People Remember all those ingrained habits, cherished ideas, beloved objects, and stubborn preferences from the pre-Internet age? They’re gone. To some of those things we can say good riddance. But many we miss terribly. Whatever our emotional response to this departed realm, we are faced with the fact that nearly every aspect of modern life now takes place in filtered, isolated corners of cyberspace—a space that has slowly subsumed our physical habitats, replacing or transforming the office, our local library, a favorite bar, the movie theater, and the coffee shop where people met one another’s gaze from across the room. Even as we’ve gained the ability to gather without leaving our house, many of the fundamentally human experiences that have sustained us have disappeared. In one hundred glimpses of that pre-Internet world, Pamela Paul, editor of The New York Times Book Review, presents a captivating record, enlivened with illustrations, of the world before cyberspace—from voicemails to blind dates to punctuation to civility. There are the small losses: postcards, the blessings of an adolescence largely spared of documentation, the Rolodex, and the genuine surprises at high school reunions. But there are larger repercussions, too: weaker memories, the inability to entertain oneself, and the utter demolition of privacy. 100 Things We’ve Lost to the Internet is at once an evocative swan song for a disappearing era and, perhaps, a guide to reclaiming just a little bit more of the world IRL.
I Am Not a Cat!
If you’re fed up with technology and sick to death of Zoom calls, this is the laugh-out-loud book for you. We’ve all had to get used to a different way of life in one way or another, whether it’s food deliveries or online banking, technology is taking over – and not always in a good way. But, as this hilarious book shows, there are plenty of examples of tasks – which were once straightforward and now need a degree in computer science – that have wonderfully unintended consequences . From funny Zoom calls such as that endured by the poor Texan lawyer who couldn’t turn off his cat filter, to wilful wifi that cuts you off in mid-stream and from ‘smart’ TVs that outsmart you every time to excruciating Teams calls that make your colleagues wince and titter, I Am Not a Cat! is a call-to-arms for everyone frustrated with twenty-first century living .
Shareveillance
Cracking open the politics of transparency and secrecy In an era of open data and ubiquitous dataveillance, what does it mean to “share”? This book argues that we are all “shareveillant” subjects, called upon to be transparent and render data open at the same time as the security state invests in practices to keep data closed. Drawing on Jacques Rancière’s “distribution of the sensible,” Clare Birchall reimagines sharing in terms of a collective political relationality beyond the veillant expectations of the state.
The Official CaFae Latte Cookbook(With: C.M. Alongi)
It's finally here: the sinister team-up no one demanded! Based on C.M. Alongi's wildly popular TikTok videos and the hilarious characters who frequent CaFae Latte, she and her mother, NYT best-selling author MaryJanice Davidson, have joined forces to bring the cafe's delicious offerings to life. Here you'll find dozens of easy-to-follow recipes, from Gladiator Dates to Grammy's Extra Crummy Apple Crumble, all inspired by Alongi's characters and mocked by Alongi's mother. Each recipe is preceded by a quick essay from each CaFae Latte character, while Davidson explains each recipe with her signature humor. Don't love cooking? Or know much about it? The recipes are simplicity itself, with pictures and easy-to-follow instructions. There's even a pantry/fridge/freezer section so you know what to keep on hand when you've got a craving for Crazy Easy Chewy Chocolate Truffles. There's even a section on how to make homemade syrups and sugars, perfect for gift-giving! So jump in and get reading, and then get cooking. We promise: you'll love it. Or at least not hate it.