Here Comes Everybody

Clay Shirkey

The most important reading that I have done these past few weeks is Clay Shirkey’s, Here Comes Everybody: The power of Organizing Without Organizations.

 This book gives real life examples of how groups of people working outside established organizations have accomplished tremendously important goals. Creating an all-volunteer online encyclopedia and bringing down the government of East Germany are two stellar examples.

 When learning about new technology applications it is easy to get lost in the excitement of their newness without understanding the big picture. Shirkey’s book lets us understand how networks of people outside organizations have used the latest technology applications.The important point is really what powerful things  networked people can do with technological tools. The book is  an invaluable big picture look at networks and the technology that facilitates their connectivity and effectiveness.