The authors encourage users to give up too much personal information to "trusted" companies. Their position is that in the abscence of law it's best to simply trust capitalism to define and enforce whatever form of privacy prevails. This book is marketing speak meant to lessen privacy concerns of individuals so that companies have greater access to personal data to market/program consumers.

The authors, who are cofounders of TRUSTe, a nonprofit that gives its seal of approval to Web sites that agree to post and adhere to privacy policies. The title of the book comes from the world of security experts who point out that even if you have 99 bars on 100 windows, you're leaving yourself open for a security breach on that 100th window. The authors beseech readers to learn which of their windows are open into the readers' own personal privacy. They include tips and tricks that offer practical solutions in each chapter. And they go beyond discussing personal privacy and include calls for the need of beefed up data protection in businesses as well. Good, approachable book that nicely elevates the argument of how important it is to know when you're being watched and by whom and what to do about it.

The Hundredth Window is a must read for anyone on the Internet today!

Esther Dyson is called the "First Lady of the Internet". She is a specialist in her topic, and no matter what page you're reading: You feel that she's a really competent and skilful writer. I've learned some important aspects about Online-Communities what is my special interest. Unfortunately she doesn't give a survey about the social psychological research about these communities, and it's not really a scientific book. But what I enjoy most, are the permanent "mind-links" between real life and virtual life. It's more similar than we thought before.

Release 2.1 is a great book for how the internet is changing todays world. Many issues are brought up about the proper use and application of the internet and its rescources. A must read for all those interested in the evolution of the internet.

This book, based on Dyton's own enterprises in the international business world, has overwhelming persuasive power. I felt so excited and thrilled on reading through the first 2 chapters; I like them best. I totally agree with her when she says lurkers are not really part of the community of the Internet. She commits herself to networking positively, and succesfully gives explicit advice to ordinary readers. This is the best book that I have ever read dealing with the Internet society. I bought 2 hardcover copies; first in the Japanese, then in English, and I feel richer now. (I read Release 2.0.)

I agree with The New York Times Book Review, Derek Bickerton (see above) - Release 2.0 is a good primer for the neophyte. As someone who is a user of the net and familar with the issues but is not a net expert, I did not find anything new in Release 2.0. Its a regurgitation of old ideas using worn out and obvious examples. In some ways, it presents a simplistic view of the Digital Age. After all the build-up of Dyson as a "respected digerati" who has the gift "for thinking current trends through to the next logical stage" (Business Week, Neil Gross, see above review), I was completely disappointed in the book.

Having anticipated it for several months, I was quite excited when Release 2.0 was, well, released. The book is easy to read and Dyson herself is extremely likeable... likeable enough that I realized as I was reading that I was working very hard to pretend that she was saying things I hadn't been reading for years in alternative publications.

However, to give Dyson her due, she's writing for a relatively mainstream audience, and in this capacity the book is a quite digestible, realistically optimistic, and well-reasoned distillation of a dialogue that's been taking place for some time. Net citizens who've been around the virtual block several times might find that reading the book gives them a sense of deja vu, but I'd still recommend it to my mom, my sister, and the guy at Starbucks who keep asking me about my job "working on the internet."

(if you read the book you will get it)Great, but not the best book I have ever read. I would recommend Being Digital by Nicholas Negroponte over this any day. However, Dyson does show a good view, if regurgitated from others, of our future and how things are changing. People have said it is written both for the digerati and for the unwired novice, however if you aren't on the Net or a digital person I think that the book might be a bit boring to you. Overall a great piece of work.

I read this book and was very disappointed. The title is mis-leading, as there is really very little information about protecting yourself on-line. What little information could be found was introductory to say the least. I also felt that the book was a lobbying tool, trying to bring me over to the civil liberties world. A thumbs down...

If you need a book about how to protect yourself online don't buy this one, it won't help you. The authors are just taking stock of the well-known problems in the Internet and offer some links to other sides.

Sure, it's not too detailed, and sure, a lot of tech people are already going to be familiar with a lot of the information in it, but for novices, it's great. It's a great book to give the uncle who keeps sending you false virus alarms, or the grandmother that doesn't understand the civil liberties implications of the Communications Decency Act -- or the cousin that thinks hackers are going to break into her bank account if she buys a modem.