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Sale

Silicon Snake Oil: Second Thoughts on the Information Highway

by Clifford Stoll
$10.00 Now $7.00 Save 30%
Compare to estimated retail price: $22.00 USD  

The item you've got your eye on is secondhand. You probably already know that, but just in case!

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Silicon Snake Oil: Second Thoughts on the Information Highway
Silicon Snake Oil: Second Thoughts on the Information Highway

Critical examination of internet's overhyped promises.

If you've ever found yourself skeptical about the unending praise of the digital age or if you feel that technology might be encroaching too much on the simple pleasures of life, Clifford Stoll's Silicon Snake Oil could offer you a thoughtful perspective. It invites a look behind the screen, questioning the true value of being perpetually plugged in. You might find this read a refreshing counterpoint to the tech-utopian narratives.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
Sale

Silicon Snake Oil: Second Thoughts on the Information Highway

by Clifford Stoll
$10.00 Now $7.00 Save 30%
Compare to estimated retail price: $22.00 USD  

The item you've got your eye on is secondhand. You probably already know that, but just in case!

The estimated retail price shown next to any listed item represents the first-hand prices we've seen elsewhere, or the estimated original retail price of a comparable item of the same quality, construction and material offered elsewhere in new condition.

Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

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This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

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We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780385419949
Author: Clifford Stoll
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Date of Publication: 1996-03-01
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Creative Nonfiction, Business, Science, Philosophy
Related Topics: Essays, Technology, Computers
Goodreads rating: 3.35
(rated by 438 readers)

Description

In Silicon Snake Oil, Clifford Stoll, the best-selling author of The Cuckoo's Egg and one of the pioneers of the Internet, turns his attention to the much-heralded information highway, revealing that it is not all it's cracked up to be. Yes, the Internet provides access to plenty of services, but useful information is virtually impossible to find and difficult to access. Is being online truly useful? "Few aspects of daily life require computers...They're irrelevant to cooking, driving, visiting, negotiating, eating, hiking, dancing, speaking, and gossiping. You don't need a computer to...recite a poem or say a prayer." Computers can't, Stoll claims, provide a richer or better life. A cautionary tale about today's media darling, Silicon Snake Oil has sparked intense debate across the country about the merits--and foibles--of what's been touted as the entranceway to our future.
 

Critical examination of internet's overhyped promises.

If you've ever found yourself skeptical about the unending praise of the digital age or if you feel that technology might be encroaching too much on the simple pleasures of life, Clifford Stoll's Silicon Snake Oil could offer you a thoughtful perspective. It invites a look behind the screen, questioning the true value of being perpetually plugged in. You might find this read a refreshing counterpoint to the tech-utopian narratives.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

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