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The Death of the Gods
A groundbreaking examination of the new centres of power and control in the twenty-first century.
The old gods are dying. Giant corporations collapse overnight. Newspapers are being swallowed. Stock prices plummet with a tweet. Governments are losing control. The old familiarities are tumbling down and a strange new social order is rising in their place. More crime now happens online than offline. Facebook has grown bigger than any state, bots battle elections, technologists have reinvented democracy and information wars are breaking out around us. New mines produce crypto-currencies, coders write policy, and algorithms shape our lives in more ways than we can imagine. What is going on?
For centuries, writers and thinkers have used power as a prism through which to view and understand the world at moments of seismic change. The Death of the Gods is an exploration of power in the digital age, and a journey in search of the new centres of control today. From a cyber-crime raid in suburbia to the engine rooms of Silicon Valley, and from the digital soldiers of Berkshire to the hackers of Las Vegas, pioneering technology researcher Carl Miller traces how power – the most important currency of all – is being transformed, fought over, won and lost. As power escapes from its old bonds, he shows us where it has gone, the shape it now takes and how it touches each of our lives.
Astounding opportunities are at our fingertips. But are we more powerful as individuals than ever before? Or more controlled?
The old gods are dying. Giant corporations collapse overnight. Newspapers are being swallowed. Stock prices plummet with a tweet. Governments are losing control. The old familiarities are tumbling down and a strange new social order is rising in their place. More crime now happens online than offline. Facebook has grown bigger than any state, bots battle elections, technologists have reinvented democracy and information wars are breaking out around us. New mines produce crypto-currencies, coders write policy, and algorithms shape our lives in more ways than we can imagine. What is going on?
For centuries, writers and thinkers have used power as a prism through which to view and understand the world at moments of seismic change. The Death of the Gods is an exploration of power in the digital age, and a journey in search of the new centres of control today. From a cyber-crime raid in suburbia to the engine rooms of Silicon Valley, and from the digital soldiers of Berkshire to the hackers of Las Vegas, pioneering technology researcher Carl Miller traces how power – the most important currency of all – is being transformed, fought over, won and lost. As power escapes from its old bonds, he shows us where it has gone, the shape it now takes and how it touches each of our lives.
Astounding opportunities are at our fingertips. But are we more powerful as individuals than ever before? Or more controlled?
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2018
47 people are currently reading
697 people want to read
About the author
Carl Miller
1 book18 followersCarl Miller is a pioneering technology researcher who has thrown himself into some of the most scary, hidden, weird and important parts of the digital age to understand how all of our lives are changing.
He is the co-founder and Research Director of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at Demos, the first UK think tank institute dedicated to studying the digital world, and is a Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College London.
He combines data and analysis with immersive, first-hand reporting. His first book, The Death of the Gods: The New Global Power Grab, was published in 2018 by Penguin RandomHouse. He has written for Wired, New Scientist, the Sunday Times, the Telegraph and the Guardian, appears frequently in the press, and speaks about his work around the world.
He is the co-founder and Research Director of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at Demos, the first UK think tank institute dedicated to studying the digital world, and is a Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College London.
He combines data and analysis with immersive, first-hand reporting. His first book, The Death of the Gods: The New Global Power Grab, was published in 2018 by Penguin RandomHouse. He has written for Wired, New Scientist, the Sunday Times, the Telegraph and the Guardian, appears frequently in the press, and speaks about his work around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 18 reviews
September 4, 2018
A snappy book about power, technology and the internet that fans of Jamie Bartlett's writing will enjoy. Divided up into seven main sections – about people, crime, business, media, politics, warfare, and technology – The Death of the Gods combines observations and vignettes to create a very readable assessment of the changing nature of power in the early 21st century. I found it particularly fascinating to read about the technological innovations/electoral change driving new ways of political decision-making in Taiwan and Estonia. Frightening in parts (especially when Miller talks about the scale of cybercrime) and never less than intriguing.
I received an advance review copy of The Death of the Gods from the publisher through NetGalley.
TinyLetter | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr
I received an advance review copy of The Death of the Gods from the publisher through NetGalley.
TinyLetter | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr
December 15, 2020
The Death of the Gods. This has been a slow read for me throughout the year. A thoroughly interesting and informative book. I kept picking this book up and reading the odd page or chapter here or there, especially whilst on tea/coffee breaks earlier in the year when forced to work online.
The book itself is about computers and technology. How they have evolved and how they have impacted every parts of our lives. It also isn’t limited to one country, it is a cyber globetrotting experience. Working in ICT and being a bit of a techy geek this book was right up my street.
It also works as a bit of a history of computing, the various parts of the internet from its early days to the social media and corporate behemoths. From Microsoft, to Facebook, to Google, the dawn of cryptocurrency and beyond.
The book is broken down into 7 clear and distinct sections:
1) People. History of computing development. Specifically hacking and how it has evolved.
2) Crime. How crime has evolved and moved online. Some shocking and eye opening statistics. Uncovering the dark web.
3) Business. Focus and evolution of Silicon Valley and other technology companies. How business has had to change with the online world. Interesting information on social media.
4) Media. Evolution of news and the rise of fake news & clickbait.
5) Politics. How elections have been influenced by tech. Including in depth look at UK and US elections and how political parties have used the online platform to their advantage. The dawn of the online protest.
6) Warfare. Different countries approach to information war fare, propaganda etc.
7) Technology. The addiction of tech. Online profiling. How it continues to evolve.
This book as you can probably tell has a specific audience in mind. If you aren’t interested in computers and technology, this will not be an interesting read! However for those interested and intrigued by the subject this is a must read.
The author does a very good job of discussing the ideas and doesn’t try to blind you with technobabble and jargon. Instead it is broken down and described very well, with information on where to go to find out more on the different subjects.
The book itself is about computers and technology. How they have evolved and how they have impacted every parts of our lives. It also isn’t limited to one country, it is a cyber globetrotting experience. Working in ICT and being a bit of a techy geek this book was right up my street.
It also works as a bit of a history of computing, the various parts of the internet from its early days to the social media and corporate behemoths. From Microsoft, to Facebook, to Google, the dawn of cryptocurrency and beyond.
The book is broken down into 7 clear and distinct sections:
1) People. History of computing development. Specifically hacking and how it has evolved.
2) Crime. How crime has evolved and moved online. Some shocking and eye opening statistics. Uncovering the dark web.
3) Business. Focus and evolution of Silicon Valley and other technology companies. How business has had to change with the online world. Interesting information on social media.
4) Media. Evolution of news and the rise of fake news & clickbait.
5) Politics. How elections have been influenced by tech. Including in depth look at UK and US elections and how political parties have used the online platform to their advantage. The dawn of the online protest.
6) Warfare. Different countries approach to information war fare, propaganda etc.
7) Technology. The addiction of tech. Online profiling. How it continues to evolve.
This book as you can probably tell has a specific audience in mind. If you aren’t interested in computers and technology, this will not be an interesting read! However for those interested and intrigued by the subject this is a must read.
The author does a very good job of discussing the ideas and doesn’t try to blind you with technobabble and jargon. Instead it is broken down and described very well, with information on where to go to find out more on the different subjects.
May 7, 2019
Dit is in meerdere opzichten een zeer verontrustend boek. De studie toont onder andere hoe cybercriminaliteit uitgegroeid is tot de grootste en belangrijkste vorm van criminaliteit terwijl dat door het grote publiek en door de politici schromelijk onderschat wordt. In feite zitten wij allemaal als konijntjes te wachten tot we de pech hebben in het vizier van de cybercriminelen te komen en afgeschoten te worden, terwijl de politie wereldwijd nagenoeg machteloos staat bij gebrek aan middelen en aan een internationaal wettelijk kader. Het is hallucinant…
… en tegelijk ook fascinerend, te lezen over die enkele internetgiganten die de wereld in handen houden. Big business is peanuts vergeleken bij wat Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft betekenen…
… maar voor hoe lang nog?
En hoe zit het met de media? Traditionele journalistiek of getwitter en social media reportage en rapportage? Fake news waar handige bedriegers rijk mee worden op de kap van goedgelovige mensen.
Maar naast het negatieve ziet Carl Miller ook positieve aspecten aan de digitale revolutie, meer bepaald waar het de directe democratie, de inspraak van de burger en zijn invloed op het politieke apparaat betreft… ook al blijft dat “positieve” een wankel vraagteken tegen het licht van al het negatieve.
Want er is ook nog “the dark web”… de vraag is of wij hiervoor wel klaar zijn en of wij ertegen opgewassen zijn.
Voor al wie een ander of dieper zicht wil krijgen op wat het internet nu precies doet met de samenleving wereldwijd, is dit een onmisbaar en verhelderend boek.
… en tegelijk ook fascinerend, te lezen over die enkele internetgiganten die de wereld in handen houden. Big business is peanuts vergeleken bij wat Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft betekenen…
… maar voor hoe lang nog?
En hoe zit het met de media? Traditionele journalistiek of getwitter en social media reportage en rapportage? Fake news waar handige bedriegers rijk mee worden op de kap van goedgelovige mensen.
Maar naast het negatieve ziet Carl Miller ook positieve aspecten aan de digitale revolutie, meer bepaald waar het de directe democratie, de inspraak van de burger en zijn invloed op het politieke apparaat betreft… ook al blijft dat “positieve” een wankel vraagteken tegen het licht van al het negatieve.
Want er is ook nog “the dark web”… de vraag is of wij hiervoor wel klaar zijn en of wij ertegen opgewassen zijn.
Voor al wie een ander of dieper zicht wil krijgen op wat het internet nu precies doet met de samenleving wereldwijd, is dit een onmisbaar en verhelderend boek.
May 10, 2019
3.5
A very sobering, as well as occasionally horrifying, look at how new media is transforming the world in a way that established institutions are struggling to keep up with and adapt to. Miller covers several topics throughout the book, from internet giants such as Google, to social media, to the hikikomori of Japan and South Korea. Interviewing a variety of hackers, digital vigilantes, former trolls, and programmers along the way, the author keeps a neutral tone throughout and keeps any editorialising to a minimum, letting the facts speak for themselves which makes them all the more frightening.
While probably not for someone who wants a more in-depth look at the hot topics of the day like troll farms and data mining companies such as Cambridge Anyalitica, Death of the Gods does given an excellent overview of the impact the internet has had on modern life.
Recommended,
With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc.
A very sobering, as well as occasionally horrifying, look at how new media is transforming the world in a way that established institutions are struggling to keep up with and adapt to. Miller covers several topics throughout the book, from internet giants such as Google, to social media, to the hikikomori of Japan and South Korea. Interviewing a variety of hackers, digital vigilantes, former trolls, and programmers along the way, the author keeps a neutral tone throughout and keeps any editorialising to a minimum, letting the facts speak for themselves which makes them all the more frightening.
While probably not for someone who wants a more in-depth look at the hot topics of the day like troll farms and data mining companies such as Cambridge Anyalitica, Death of the Gods does given an excellent overview of the impact the internet has had on modern life.
Recommended,
With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc.
December 27, 2021
Despite the name the book is about the power of the internet, technology, algorithms, big tech companies, and both information and misinformation. The author has met and interviewed many interesting people. Many stories and arguments were the same I've read elsewhere, but the author has also found fresh examples and views.
May 8, 2023
Fascinating and important. I thought I had set up safely on the internet, but after the first chapter I immediately reconsidered! Reading this in 2023, our AI stuff is way ahead of forecasts, but everything else in this book was still timely. Also well written and engaging
May 13, 2022
4.5 stars
Reading this was quite a relearning journey for me, especially when it comes to the intricate workings of the digital realm and how they affect the daily lives of human beings. How those within an arms reach of authority and control with the technology can be both beneficial and harmful. Especially if it’s utilized by seemingly ignorant or clueless individuals.
While I did learn a lot, there are some stories in here that I’m already quite familiar with, such as cryptocurrency, democratic virtual platforms, clickbait in media, and many more I don’t want to spoil. The book seemed to be catered to those who aren’t aware of these digital aspects.
Another thing I like to mention is how the author acknowledges that power is—unfortunately—in the hands of the powerful minority: white, cis-gender men from middle class and up and coming from the Global North. This reality shows that the power dynamics of technology is still quite centralized within that demographic and there is a lot of work to do to swift it. But I believe that we are moving towards a more diverse demographic with Audrey Tang—Taiwan’s first transwoman minister—as one of the figures in this power dynamic swift. She contributed to once again developing Taiwan in becoming a more democratic state.
Overall, I enjoy the stories (more like shenanigans!) and lessons learned from Miller’s work! Would love to see what he has up his sleeves in the future.
Reading this was quite a relearning journey for me, especially when it comes to the intricate workings of the digital realm and how they affect the daily lives of human beings. How those within an arms reach of authority and control with the technology can be both beneficial and harmful. Especially if it’s utilized by seemingly ignorant or clueless individuals.
While I did learn a lot, there are some stories in here that I’m already quite familiar with, such as cryptocurrency, democratic virtual platforms, clickbait in media, and many more I don’t want to spoil. The book seemed to be catered to those who aren’t aware of these digital aspects.
Another thing I like to mention is how the author acknowledges that power is—unfortunately—in the hands of the powerful minority: white, cis-gender men from middle class and up and coming from the Global North. This reality shows that the power dynamics of technology is still quite centralized within that demographic and there is a lot of work to do to swift it. But I believe that we are moving towards a more diverse demographic with Audrey Tang—Taiwan’s first transwoman minister—as one of the figures in this power dynamic swift. She contributed to once again developing Taiwan in becoming a more democratic state.
Overall, I enjoy the stories (more like shenanigans!) and lessons learned from Miller’s work! Would love to see what he has up his sleeves in the future.
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September 21, 2018303.4 M6474 2018
May 8, 2019
A fascinating book, well researched and full of food for thought. I liked how it explains and talks about what is now and what it could be our future.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 18 reviews