34 Books like Mood Machine

Chokepoint Capitalism

by Rebecca Giblin • 2022

A few corporations hold the gates between artists and audiences. The plan to pry them open.

4.25

1k+

🧠 Creative Industries 💻 Digital Platforms 🏢 Corporate Power

Chokepoint Capitalism 95%

A few corporations hold the gates between artists and audiences. The plan to pry them open.

by Rebecca Giblin 2022

4.25

1k+ ratings

🧠 Creative Industries 💻 Digital Platforms 🏢 Corporate Power

The Spotify Play

by Sven Carlsson • 2019

How Spotify used a free music catalog to outmaneuver Apple, Google, and Amazon.

3.53

2k+

🎵 Music Industry 🚀 Startup Playbooks 💻 Digital Media

The Spotify Play 95%

How Spotify used a free music catalog to outmaneuver Apple, Google, and Amazon.

by Sven Carlsson 2019

3.53

2k+ ratings

🎵 Music Industry 🚀 Startup Playbooks 💻 Digital Media

The People's Platform

by Astra Taylor • 2012

Digital abundance set culture free and made it cheap. Platforms got rich; creators got precarious.

4.04

610

🖥️ Internet Culture 🏭 Platform Capitalism 👁️ Attention Economy

The People's Platform 95%

Digital abundance set culture free and made it cheap. Platforms got rich; creators got precarious.

by Astra Taylor 2012

4.04

610 ratings

🖥️ Internet Culture 🏭 Platform Capitalism 👁️ Attention Economy

Move Fast and Break Things

by Jonathan Taplin • 2017

How three digital monopolies gutted music and news, and why democracy is their next casualty.

3.59

2k+

🏢 Platform Capitalism 🔗 Tech Monopolies 🎨 Creative Economy

Move Fast and Break Things 94%

How three digital monopolies gutted music and news, and why democracy is their next casualty.

by Jonathan Taplin 2017

3.59

2k+ ratings

🏢 Platform Capitalism 🔗 Tech Monopolies 🎨 Creative Economy

The Song Machine

by John Seabrook • 2015

Pop hits aren't moments of genius; they're manufactured on an assembly line that began in Stockholm.

3.93

5k+

🎯 Hit Making ✍️ Pop Songwriting 💻 Digital Disruption

The Song Machine 94%

Pop hits aren't moments of genius; they're manufactured on an assembly line that began in Stockholm.

by John Seabrook 2015

3.93

5k+ ratings

🎯 Hit Making ✍️ Pop Songwriting 💻 Digital Disruption

Rockonomics

by Alan B. Krueger • 2019

Why do the top 1 percent of musicians earn almost everything? The answer reaches far beyond music.

3.91

875

🎬 Entertainment Economics 🏆 Winner-Take-All Markets 📊 Economic Inequality

Rockonomics 94%

Why do the top 1 percent of musicians earn almost everything? The answer reaches far beyond music.

by Alan B. Krueger 2019

3.91

875 ratings

🎬 Entertainment Economics 🏆 Winner-Take-All Markets 📊 Economic Inequality

How Music Got Free

by Stephen Richard Witt • 2015

A CD plant worker leaked 2,000 albums from the factory floor. The mp3 did the rest.

4.24

7k+

🎧 Digital Music 🏴‍☠️ Digital Piracy 📡 Digital Disruption

How Music Got Free 94%

A CD plant worker leaked 2,000 albums from the factory floor. The mp3 did the rest.

by Stephen Richard Witt 2015

4.24

7k+ ratings

🎧 Digital Music 🏴‍☠️ Digital Piracy 📡 Digital Disruption

Get Rich or Lie Trying

by Symeon Brown • 2022

The influencer dream is built on sweatshops, bot farms, and surgical debt the camera never shows.

3.85

922

🤑 Influencer Economy 🏗️ Platform Capitalism 👁️ Attention Economy

Get Rich or Lie Trying 94%

The influencer dream is built on sweatshops, bot farms, and surgical debt the camera never shows.

by Symeon Brown 2022

3.85

922 ratings

🤑 Influencer Economy 🏗️ Platform Capitalism 👁️ Attention Economy

Filterworld

by Kyle Chayka • 2024

Your Netflix queue reshapes what artists make: the global aesthetic is now algorithm-friendly.

3.62

5k+

🔄 Algorithmic Curation 🏛️ Cultural Homogenization 👀 Attention Economy

Filterworld 94%

Your Netflix queue reshapes what artists make: the global aesthetic is now algorithm-friendly.

by Kyle Chayka 2024

3.62

5k+ ratings

🔄 Algorithmic Curation 🏛️ Cultural Homogenization 👀 Attention Economy

How Music Works

by David Byrne • 2014

Cathedrals demanded chant. Car stereos demanded bass. The spaces we build write the music we hear.

4.00

29k+

🎶 Music History 💿 Music Industry 🎛️ Music Technology

How Music Works 93%

Cathedrals demanded chant. Car stereos demanded bass. The spaces we build write the music we hear.

by David Byrne 2014

4.00

29k+ ratings

🎶 Music History 💿 Music Industry 🎛️ Music Technology

Like, Comment, Subscribe

by Mark Bergen • 2022

Three PayPal coworkers built a dating site. It became the algorithm deciding what the world watches.

3.72

1k+

💹 Platform Economics 🏢 Tech Company Histories 🤖 Algorithmic Influence

Like, Comment, Subscribe 93%

Three PayPal coworkers built a dating site. It became the algorithm deciding what the world watches.

by Mark Bergen 2022

3.72

1k+ ratings

💹 Platform Economics 🏢 Tech Company Histories 🤖 Algorithmic Influence

TikTok Boom

by Chris Stokel-Walker • 2021

China built the world's most addictive app. The algorithm knows you better than your friends do.

3.72

191

🏛️ Tech Geopolitics 💰 Creator Economy 🤖 Algorithmic Curation

TikTok Boom 93%

China built the world's most addictive app. The algorithm knows you better than your friends do.

by Chris Stokel-Walker 2021

3.72

191 ratings

🏛️ Tech Geopolitics 💰 Creator Economy 🤖 Algorithmic Curation

Survival of the Richest

by Douglas Rushkoff • 2022

Tech billionaires build escape pods, not solutions. Rushkoff was invited to help plan one.

3.83

3k+

💻 Digital Capitalism 🖥️ Tech Criticism 👁️ Surveillance Capitalism

Survival of the Richest 93%

Tech billionaires build escape pods, not solutions. Rushkoff was invited to help plan one.

by Douglas Rushkoff 2022

3.83

3k+ ratings

💻 Digital Capitalism 🖥️ Tech Criticism 👁️ Surveillance Capitalism

Intention Economy

by Doc Searls • 2012

The market flipped: when customers bring the data and set the terms, everybody wins.

3.71

177

🌐 Internet Commerce 💪 Customer Empowerment 🔐 Data Ownership

Intention Economy 93%

The market flipped: when customers bring the data and set the terms, everybody wins.

by Doc Searls 2012

3.71

177 ratings

🌐 Internet Commerce 💪 Customer Empowerment 🔐 Data Ownership

World Without Mind

by Franklin Foer • 2017

A counterculture dream of global harmony became a corporate machine for total surveillance.

3.63

2k+

🏢 Big Tech Critique 🧱 Monopoly Power 🤖 Algorithmic Control

World Without Mind 93%

A counterculture dream of global harmony became a corporate machine for total surveillance.

by Franklin Foer 2017

3.63

2k+ ratings

🏢 Big Tech Critique 🧱 Monopoly Power 🤖 Algorithmic Control

Team Human

by Douglas Rushkoff • 2019

Technology promised connection but atomized us. The fix is not code; it is reclaiming our humanity.

3.83

1k+

📱 Digital Criticism ⚠️ Algorithmic Bias 🧬 Social Creatures

Team Human 93%

Technology promised connection but atomized us. The fix is not code; it is reclaiming our humanity.

by Douglas Rushkoff 2019

3.83

1k+ ratings

📱 Digital Criticism ⚠️ Algorithmic Bias 🧬 Social Creatures

The Age of Surveillance Capitalism

by Shoshana Zuboff • 2018

Your private moments are now raw data, harvested without consent to predict and sell your future.

4.05

14k+

👁️ Corporate Surveillance 📊 Data Economy 🔍 Tech Industry Critique

The Age of Surveillance Capitalism Summary

The Age of Surveillance Capitalism 93%

Your private moments are now raw data, harvested without consent to predict and sell your future.

by Shoshana Zuboff 2018

4.05

14k+ ratings

👁️ Corporate Surveillance 📊 Data Economy 🔍 Tech Industry Critique

System Error

by Rob Reich • 2021

Tech companies optimized for growth and broke democracy. The cure is political, not digital.

3.82

608

⚖️ Algorithmic Bias 🔒 Data Privacy 🤖 Automation And Labor

System Error 93%

Tech companies optimized for growth and broke democracy. The cure is political, not digital.

by Rob Reich 2021

3.82

608 ratings

⚖️ Algorithmic Bias 🔒 Data Privacy 🤖 Automation And Labor

WTF?

by Tim O'Reilly • 2017

The economy is now an algorithm, and nobody wrote human well-being into its code.

4.08

2k+

🏗️ Platform Economy 🤖 Algorithmic Management 💼 Future Of Work

WTF? 93%

The economy is now an algorithm, and nobody wrote human well-being into its code.

by Tim O'Reilly 2017

4.08

2k+ ratings

🏗️ Platform Economy 🤖 Algorithmic Management 💼 Future Of Work

An Ugly Truth

by Sheera Frenkel • 2021

Same data that built Facebook's empire fueled election chaos and a genocide. The leaders knew.

3.96

7k+

🏛️ Big Tech Accountability 🔒 Data Privacy ⚖️ Content Moderation

An Ugly Truth 93%

Same data that built Facebook's empire fueled election chaos and a genocide. The leaders knew.

by Sheera Frenkel 2021

3.96

7k+ ratings

🏛️ Big Tech Accountability 🔒 Data Privacy ⚖️ Content Moderation

Behind the Screen

by Sarah T. Roberts • 2019

The open internet is a myth: a hidden workforce decides what you see, for a hidden price.

3.65

168

🛡️ Content Moderation ⚖️ Platform Governance 🖥️ Digital Labor

Behind the Screen 93%

The open internet is a myth: a hidden workforce decides what you see, for a hidden price.

by Sarah T. Roberts 2019

3.65

168 ratings

🛡️ Content Moderation ⚖️ Platform Governance 🖥️ Digital Labor

Listen

by Michel Faber • 2023

Your music taste isn't universal. It's a tribal signal, a traded commodity, and a social weapon.

3.30

374

🔉 Sound Studies 👥 Sociology Of Music 🧠 Psychology Of Music

Listen 93%

Your music taste isn't universal. It's a tribal signal, a traded commodity, and a social weapon.

by Michel Faber 2023

3.30

374 ratings

🔉 Sound Studies 👥 Sociology Of Music 🧠 Psychology Of Music

Working in Public

by Nadia Eghbal • 2020

Open source runs on solo maintainers, not communities. The scarcest resource: attention, not code.

3.92

951

💻 Open Source Software 💰 Creator Economy 👁️ Attention Economics

Working in Public 93%

Open source runs on solo maintainers, not communities. The scarcest resource: attention, not code.

by Nadia Eghbal 2020

3.92

951 ratings

💻 Open Source Software 💰 Creator Economy 👁️ Attention Economics

Privacy is Power

by Carissa Véliz • 2020

Your data is not the product; it's the toxic spill that's eroding your freedom.

4.02

1k+

🔒 Digital Privacy 💰 Data Economy 📹 Mass Surveillance

Privacy is Power 93%

Your data is not the product; it's the toxic spill that's eroding your freedom.

by Carissa Véliz 2020

4.02

1k+ ratings

🔒 Digital Privacy 💰 Data Economy 📹 Mass Surveillance

The Sharing Economy

by Arun Sundararajan • 2016

Trust between strangers, scaled by smartphones, is building an economy that sidesteps the firm.

3.66

491

🤝 Sharing Economy 🔌 Platform Economics 🚗 Gig Economy

The Sharing Economy 93%

Trust between strangers, scaled by smartphones, is building an economy that sidesteps the firm.

by Arun Sundararajan 2016

3.66

491 ratings

🤝 Sharing Economy 🔌 Platform Economics 🚗 Gig Economy

Broken Code

by Jeff Horwitz • 2023

Instagram harmed teen mental health. Facebook buried proof; whistleblower documents forced it out.

3.88

677

📱 Social Media Platforms ⚖️ Big Tech Accountability 📣 Tech Whistleblowers

Broken Code 93%

Instagram harmed teen mental health. Facebook buried proof; whistleblower documents forced it out.

by Jeff Horwitz 2023

3.88

677 ratings

📱 Social Media Platforms ⚖️ Big Tech Accountability 📣 Tech Whistleblowers

The Anarchist In The Library

by Siva Vaidhyanathan • 2004

The web set free-sharing anarchists against control-hungry oligarchs, and neither side is winning.

3.50

175

🛡️ Digital Rights ⚖️ Copyright Politics 🏛️ Cultural Commons

The Anarchist In The Library 93%

The web set free-sharing anarchists against control-hungry oligarchs, and neither side is winning.

by Siva Vaidhyanathan 2004

3.50

175 ratings

🛡️ Digital Rights ⚖️ Copyright Politics 🏛️ Cultural Commons

Don't Be Evil

by Rana Foroohar • 2019

The internet promised openness. What arrived was surveillance, addiction, and monopoly.

3.85

1k+

🏢 Big Tech Critique 🔒 Data Privacy 🧠 Attention Economy

Don't Be Evil 92%

The internet promised openness. What arrived was surveillance, addiction, and monopoly.

by Rana Foroohar 2019

3.85

1k+ ratings

🏢 Big Tech Critique 🔒 Data Privacy 🧠 Attention Economy

Hit Men

by Fredric Dannen • 1990

Payola never died. It just got a commission, a territory, and a threat of violence.

3.96

975

🎵 Music Business 💵 Payola 📋 Investigative Journalism

Hit Men 92%

Payola never died. It just got a commission, a territory, and a threat of violence.

by Fredric Dannen 1990

3.96

975 ratings

🎵 Music Business 💵 Payola 📋 Investigative Journalism

Who Owns the Future?

by Jaron Lanier • 2013

Free services enter the internet. Middle-class jobs leave. A plan to reverse the pump.

3.77

4k+

💻 Digital Economy 🔍 Big Tech Critique 🔐 Data Ownership

Who Owns the Future? 92%

Free services enter the internet. Middle-class jobs leave. A plan to reverse the pump.

by Jaron Lanier 2013

3.77

4k+ ratings

💻 Digital Economy 🔍 Big Tech Critique 🔐 Data Ownership

No Logo

by Naomi Klein • 2000

Products became logos, logos became lifestyles, and public life became a mall.

3.89

33k+

🌐 Corporate Globalization 🛒 Consumer Culture 🏭 Labor Exploitation

No Logo 92%

Products became logos, logos became lifestyles, and public life became a mall.

by Naomi Klein 2000

3.89

33k+ ratings

🌐 Corporate Globalization 🛒 Consumer Culture 🏭 Labor Exploitation

Code Dependent

by Madhumita Murgia • 2024

Behind every AI is an exploited, invisible workforce. A reporter traces the human supply chain.

4.03

3k+

⚖️ Algorithmic Bias 🤖 Ai Ethics 👷 Digital Labor

Code Dependent 92%

Behind every AI is an exploited, invisible workforce. A reporter traces the human supply chain.

by Madhumita Murgia 2024

4.03

3k+ ratings

⚖️ Algorithmic Bias 🤖 Ai Ethics 👷 Digital Labor

Radical Technologies

by Adam Greenfield • 2017

Eight technologies that run your day: the invisible tradeoffs reshaping power, work, and identity.

4.02

1k+

⚡ Tech Criticism 👁️ Surveillance Capitalism ⚖️ Ethics Of Technology

Radical Technologies 92%

Eight technologies that run your day: the invisible tradeoffs reshaping power, work, and identity.

by Adam Greenfield 2017

4.02

1k+ ratings

⚡ Tech Criticism 👁️ Surveillance Capitalism ⚖️ Ethics Of Technology

Technofeudalism

by Yanis Varoufakis • 2023

Capitalism is dead. The successor isn't socialism but a digital feudalism run by tech platforms.

4.02

10k+

🏛️ Political Economy 💻 Platform Economies 👁️ Surveillance Capitalism

Technofeudalism 92%

Capitalism is dead. The successor isn't socialism but a digital feudalism run by tech platforms.

by Yanis Varoufakis 2023

4.02

10k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 💻 Platform Economies 👁️ Surveillance Capitalism

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