The Glass Cage: How Our Computers Are Changing Us

I was familiar with Nicholas Carr having read his book "The Shallows", a commentary on the effects on the Internet on the actual functioning and physical structure of the human brain. I found that book to be excellent - this one is, I feel, even better. Carr is remarkably thorough in the research he conducts, as attested to by the lengthy notes and references at the end of each book. His ability to write remarkably meaty yet easy to read pages is but a bonus in his analysis of the effects of automation on we humans faced with interacting with modern computerized/robotic technology, particularly in the workplace. He clearly feels there is considerable dehumanization possible, but does so in a style of oscillation back and forth between lionizing and demonizing technological advances. He gives the reader's brain the encouragement to see the whole picture, to think broadly and with a humanistic focus throughout. His weaving in of the opinions of numerous writers and poets displays this in the impressive manner of a Renaissance man. This should be required reading particularly by those enamored of technological advances as ends unto themselves.

Overall, it's a pretty quick and easy read, and Carr definitely makes some very interesting points along the way. However, as other reviewers have noted, the book could have been reduced by about one half without diminishing any of the author's thoughts. Towards the end of the book, I felt a bit fatigued due to the repetitive nature of the chapters. My guess is that this repetitiveness stems from the book being partly drawn from numerous articles and blog posts that Carr wrote on the topic, many of which presumably harped on the same theme over and over again for different intended audiences.One of the most interesting quotes from the book comes toward the end, and I would love to see Carr or someone else compose a more detailed look at this possible outcome of automation. Arguing against the likelihood of automation liberating all of society from labor and facilitating a life of leisure and bliss, Carr states: "It strains credulity to imagine today's technology moguls, with their libertarian leanings and impatience with government, agreeing to the kind of vast wealth redistribution scheme that would be necessary to fund the self-actualizing leisure-time pursuits of the jobless multitudes." As automation erodes the low-skill, low-wage job base, this hypothetical is going to become a reality, and it could be a huge problem if we don't come up with ways to deal with the implications for inequality.Back to the book review...In sum, it is a worthwhile read for almost everyone, as the topics covered affect all of us. The short time it will take you to read the book will be worth it for Carr's occasionally eye-opening insights.

This book was one I needed for an honors collegiate class. Given I am a computer science student, I assumed this was yet another book that would heedlessly bash technology and this generation. And to some extent it did. However, it took me by surprise and presented quite a bit of information in such a way that I felt concerned for this and future generations rather than attacked for using technology.Granted, Carr certainly proves that he deems many of the technologies of today dangerous, unnecessary and detrimental. But the philosophical and psychological arguments he made regarding our reliance on machines to do things for us (such as finding a significant other, and overall just becoming too involved in the digital world) is sorely detracting from our quality of life.Overall, it was a fantastic read that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I certainly benefited from it.

Too much like reading a textbook. It was thought provoking yes, but it seems he could have made his case with a lot less words. Halfway through the book I skipped to the past chapter, which pulled it all together.

My first question on seeing this book was, is it going to be as successful and thought-provoking as Carr's previous book The Shallows? The answer is an unequivocal, "yes!"If you've not read The Shallows I recommend that you consider reading it first because many of the thoughts and ideas from it are continued, developed and extended in The Glass Cage. It's not a necessary prerequisite but it would enhance your appreciation of Carr's arguments.Carr's central thesis can be summed up in a quote often attributed to Marshall McLuhan, "we shape our tools, and thereafter our tools shape us."Carr's point, which he develops with many intriguing examples ranging from airline pilots, through doctors, photographers, architects, and even to farmers, is that this Faustian pact with technology comes at a cost. The cost, in Carr's view, is a loss of direct, experiential, formative contact with our work. The consequences of this slow loss of familiarity and connection with our work are subtle, insidious and will only increase while we follow this technocentric approach to automation.Carr is excellent at making his case. Most of his examples are familiar and those that less so, such as the automation of legal and medical opinions are interesting in that they affect us all.I felt that where Carr was less strong was in proposing solutions to the problems he raises. He works hard at explaining an alternative vision calling on the poetry of Robert Frost's as a springboard to a more humanistic approach to developing tools, but it is hard work selling an alternative to the easy, convenient future that so many of us seem to crave.Ultimately it may be that Carr's biggest contribution will not be to single-handedly derail the future that Google, Apple, and Amazon wish to sell us, an exceedingly unlikely outcome, but to at least make us aware that there is a choice that we are making when we choose the frictionless path to the future, and that we should carefully consider that choice before we make it.

Must read for insight on automation

Great book and perfectly new

Nicholas Carr beschreibt an den Beispielen der Luftfahrt und der Medizin, welche Auswirkungen Automatisierung nachweislich auf das Arbeitsleben hat. Gerade am Beispiel der Luftfahrt kann er dabei auf über 100 Jahre Forschungsgeschichte zurückblicken und führt diese hervorragend zusammen. Ein generelles Fazit ist, dass vorhandene Abläufe durch Automatisierung nicht 'nur' vereinfacht werden, sondern sich dadurch zumeist auch komplett und oft in unvorhergesehener Weise verändern. So führt der Wechsel vom komplexen dauerhaften manuellen Steuern eines Flugzeugs hin zum Beobachten und Prüfen des Autopilots beispielsweise dazu, dass selbst hervorragende Piloten aus ihrer notwendigen Immerson mit der Maschine fallen und im Notfall so oft völlig falsche Entscheidungen treffen (hier sehr vereinfacht wiedergegeben). Cage führt zahllose Studien an, die die Auswirkungen auf psychologischer, technischer, sozialer und wirtschaftlicher Ebene untersucht haben, fässt die Hauptergebnisse sehr anschaulich zusammen. Cage ist kein Automatisierungskritiker per se, geht das Thema nach der gewonnenen Erfahrung aber äußerst kritisch an, und bewahrt sich so die notwendige Objektivität. Ein Augenöffner, den sich gerade Ingenieure, Vertriebler und Marketingexperten im IT-Sektor zu Gemüte führen sollten.

Interesting read. Really smart approach to important issues of the modern society.In my opinion the book is a bit redundant, but still a good read.

Very informative and analytical book,a must read book for everyone who wants to know what is wrong in this era