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  • The Digital Republic

  • On Freedom and Democracy in the 21st Century
  • By: Jamie Susskind
  • Narrated by: Jamie Susskind
  • Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (9 ratings)
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The Digital Republic

By: Jamie Susskind
Narrated by: Jamie Susskind
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Summary

Bloomsbury presents The Digital Republic by Jamie Susskind, read by Jamie Susskind.

A Financial Times Book to Read in 2022

The Digital Republic is the definitive guide to the great political question of our time: how can freedom and democracy survive in a world of powerful digital technologies?

Not long ago, the tech industry was widely admired and the internet was regarded as a tonic for freedom and democracy. Not anymore. Every day, the headlines blaze with reports of racist algorithms, data leaks, and social media platforms festering with falsehood and hate. In The Digital Republic, acclaimed author Jamie Susskind argues that these problems are not the fault of a few bad apples at the top of the industry. They are the result of our failure to govern technology properly, a failure derived from decades of muddled ideas and wishful thinking.

The Digital Republic charts a new course, with new legal standards, new public bodies and institutions, new duties on platforms, new rights and regulators, and new codes of conduct for people in the tech industry. Inspired by the great political essays of the past, and steeped in the traditions of republican thought, it offers a vision of a different type of society: a digital republic in which human and technological flourishing go hand in hand.

©2022 Jamie Susskind (P)2022 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Critic reviews

"Jamie Susskind has established himself as one of the foremost thinkers on the transformative impact of the technology revolution. The Digital Republic is as innovative in its ideas as it is sharp with its analysis, offering an important contribution to the future of technology regulation while bridging the gap between changemakers and policymakers." (Tony Blair)

"A deeply engaging and thought-provoking book which should be read by everyone (including those with no technical knowledge) who wants to understand how AI can affect our lives, and how we could rise to the challenges this presents." (Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, President of the UK Supreme Court - 2012-2017)

"In the shadow of algorithmic discrimination, Big Tech's overarching power, and menacing cyberwarfare, Susskind offers an alternative, enticing and convincing in equal parts: digital republicanism. I am sold. Read this book." (Viktor Mayer-Schönberger, co-author of Big Data and Framers)

What listeners say about The Digital Republic

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Thoughtful and thought-provoking

This is an original and timely plea to rethink our approach to digital society - indeed, to think about it at all, rather than being swept along by forces beyond our control.

The central theme of "unaccountable power" is developed compellingly in logical stages, which are helpfully signposted, setting out what the risks are and what the solutions might be. These are a mix of ancient political approaches and modern innovations.

I didn't agree with every argument or every proposal, but all prompted serious thought, and at least helped to clarify my own thoughts on the subject. They are well-researched, and citations allow further exploration of interesting subjects.

It is read fluently and with gusto by the author - the oratorical writing style lends itself well to being read aloud by a professional advocate.

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A Book Everyone Should Read

I really enjoyed this book and found it to be a breath of fresh air from academia. The argument throughout was thought-provoking, logical and very persuasive. It was also extremely well-written and well-narrated.

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