I am in the business of publishing since 1975. this is the most practical book I ever read in this critical subject. The author is the Einstein of Advertising. simple yet effective book.

John Chris Jones' "the internet and everyone" is a remarkable new book which gives some much needed perspective to the transformation that has taken place in our culture due to electronic media. Beyond this, it addresses the implications of these changes for society as a whole, suggesting ways through which we might not just be blown by the winds of change, but instead begin to make the weather ourselves. As such Jones' book should become required reading for all those with an interest in taking advantage of all that digitization has to offer, while avoiding the dehumanizing effect that these technologies can sometimes have.

Like the culture it describes, this beautifully designed book is occasionally chaotic and confusing, but Jones provides "reading paths" so that people of different interests can "hop" through the book, finding those aspects that are most relevant to them. In this way Jones mirrors the structure of the internet, presenting multiple narratives to be stitched together by different readers.

In terms of content, Jones has been exploring the social implications of technological development for almost half a century. "the internet and everyone" presents these findings and shows very clearly how, though radically new in many ways, digital technology is in fact an extension of innovations that preceded it. Jones provides what is so rarely found: a presentation of the social implications of technology and, most importantly, specific suggestions for how to adapt these technologies more fully to suit people (rather than our adapting to them). By taking this broader view of technological development, presented from the point of view of one who has very much been part of its development, Jones gives an unparalleled insight into not just the future course of technology but also of our interaction with it .

"the internet and everyone" presents essays, notes, plays, correspondence -- seemingly a hodgepodge. This idiosyncratic presentation, however, is most suitable for the central message that Jones is presenting -- that for technology to be humane it must be decentral, partial, fragmentary. Anything else risks a tyranny, one which begins in the way we shape our technology and which will eventually take root in society, often limiting our options without our even clearly knowing. We can take from Jones' book to begin with what is most of interest to us. With patience and curiosity we can dip back into it from time to time until even the most odd seeming parts make sense.

Jones' book provides what the internet does not -- perspective. Though seemingly weekly the "next big trend" in the internet is reported, the real implications of this development of a "digital nervous system" for society are much broader. For those who would like to get a sense of what is possible, and of how it might be used to fashion a more humane society, Jones' "the internet and everyone" is a seminal work.

Reading this book sort of helps you put things you know in the right perspective in addition to giving you valuable insights into our business. It is a MUST read for any advertising professional, especially those involved in Agency management, client service and media.

This review appeared in Lochaber Life, November 2002:

Wallace Bruce is the pen name of Roy Bridge's Joe Smith. When Mr Smith was a college lecturer, he took a group of students to the USA as guests of Neil Armstrong, and then began his interest in the eighteenth-century American hero.

John Paul was a gardener's son in Scotland, went to sea as a cabin boy and quickly became a Merchant Navy captain. When he was twenty-eight he changed his name to Jones, following the killing of a mutineer off Tobago. He then made his way to Philadelphia and joined the infant American Navy, rising to the rank of Captain by the start of the War of Independence. As well as harassing British shipping, he became famous for leading his men in the raid on the UK mainland at Whitehaven.

The author described all this, Jones's promotion to Commodore, his responsibility for organising the new navy, and his later work for Russia, with admirable respect for the facts along with the ability to pull the reader into sharing Jones's life under sail and in battle.

A great deal of research has obviously been carried out, but Mr Smith still manages to carry the story along in a lively fashion.

From: Lochaber Life, November 2002, No. 121

I like this book because there was this pet contest the kids are going to have at Bailey Elementary School. Kilmer, (a boy that looks kind of like a frankenstein) has a pet named Bruno. His pet is a mysterious pet and noone ever saw it. Ben a friend of Kilmer was going to borrow Kilmer's pet spider because Kilmer's grandmother, a witch put a spell on those spiders. Kilmer didn't take Bruno at the pet contest because it was out of control and wouldn't get on the leash, but Ben shared the spiders with Kilmer.

"Larousse's Dictionary of World Folklore" is nothing short of amazing. More than 1,000 admirably concise but surprisingly comprehensive entries handle everything from folktale motifs to folktale props as well as the significance of certain flowers, foods, and the like.(Check out the article on "Totemism.") The index contains a listing of world folklore events such as holidays and commemorations. Of particular interest is the number of entries on revenants (ie., the walking dead, ghosts, vampires, etc.). Teachers, of which I am one, should find this book of particular interest and great use in the classroom.

Quite simply the best book/catalogue of it's type I have ever seen. The presentation of the book is good, as is the reproduction of the paintings. The short biographies of the artists are quite simply the brilliant, and contain more information than much longer articles. If you only have one book about late romantic art have this one.

Legendary Lighthouses V. II continues the celebration of American lighthouses begun in the first volume, paralleling information presented in the second new PBS series and providing fine color photos of the lighthouses as well as a healthy dose of local and lighthouse history. Any with a fascination for the lighthouse will find this an invaluable guide.

Typically an anthology only holds a story or two that stands out, but this book differs: one, that there are actually 6 stories rather than only 4, and second, all 6 stories are entertaining, well-written, and well-plotted. Dorothea Donley's "Taste of London" is a fairy tale of two cousins spending the season with distant cousin Lord Aldford and his friend, who help Miss Amberly resolve the scandal of her family's past, with help from the Prince Regent. Jean R. Ewing's "Notorious Lord" sends a Viscount in his friend Mr. Grenville's place to woo an "antidote" of a prospective bride, except that the bride has also switched places with her friend Miss Fraser to avoid the expected Mr. Grenville. But the clever Miss Fraser has already recognized Viscount Beaumarais! In Paula Tanner Girard's "A Matter of Honor", a wild Irish princess is forced to marry a duke according to an ancient agreement between the Irish lords and the duke's ancestors. But the language barrier and a little trickery wed the duke to the girl before he can tell her about his betrothed before he carts her to London! In Jenna Jones' "Duke of Diamonds", a duke intends to humiliate a house of scheming, marriage-minded women...then too late discovers the one innocent in the pack of cats. In Meg-Lynn Roberts' "For All Eternity", Christina Granford had seemed to love Viscount Fulbrooke those years ago during the season, but had broken his heart when telling him she was already betrothed. Now a widow, they've been forced to stop avoiding each other... In Marcy Stewart's "Lady Constance Wins", Constance's three adorable older cousins meddle and convince an American to pose as competition to a man informally promised to Constance...but stalling in asking her for a formal pledge. This is a great anthology to curl up with in a warm bed on a rainy day.

This book is very easy reading, with a lot of pictures and charts, and doesn't bore you with pages upon pages on text. It traces the history of the DJIA, showing what was happening in the world when the Dow hit certain benchmarks, and provides a "Readers Digest" version of market trends, biographical profiles, and cycles in the Dow. A great coffee table book.