A potent exploration of the power of blockchains to reshape the future of the internet
'Compelling' Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI | 'Fascinating' Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind | 'A must' Robert Iger, CEO, Disney
The internet of today is a far cry from its early promise of a decentralized, democratic network of innovation, connection and freedom. In the past decade, it has fallen almost entirely under the control of a very small group of companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook. In Read Write Own, tech visionary Chris Dixon argues that the dream of a creative, entrepreneurial internet doesn't have to die and can, in fact, be saved with blockchain networks. He separates this movement, which aims to provide a solid foundation for everything from social networks to artificial intelligence to virtual worlds, from cryptocurrency speculation - a distinction he calls 'the computer vs the casino'.
Drawing on a 25-year career in the software industry, Dixon lucidly shows how the history of the internet has been defined by three distinct eras that have brought us to the critical moment we're in today. The first was the 'read' era, in which early networks democratized information. The second was the 'read-write' era, in which corporate networks democratized publishing. We are now in the midst of the 'read-write-own' era, sometimes called web3, in which blockchain networks are granting power and economic benefits to communities of users, not just corporations.
Read Write Own is a must-read for anyone - internet users, business leaders, creators, entrepreneurs - who wants to understand where we've been and where we're going. It provides a vision for a better internet and a playbook to navigate and build the future.
About the Author
Chris Dixon is a general partner at the storied venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). Dixon founded and leads a16z crypto, its fund dedicated to investing in crypto and blockchain technologies. Dixon has also been an early investor in companies including Coinbase, Kickstarter, Pinterest and Stripe. In 2022, Dixon was ranked #1 on the Forbes Midas List of the best venture capital investors. For a decade, Dixon has been at the forefront of crypto innovation; in Read Write Own, he outlines his vision for the future of the internet.
Industry Reviews
Read this book to understand a compelling vision of where the internet should go and how to get there * SAM ALTMAN, CEO, OpenAI *
A must for anyone who wants to better understand the real potential of blockchains and web3 to drive even greater innovation, inspire more imaginative thinking, and ultimately unlock new growth opportunities in the future * BOB IGER, CEO, Disney *
This is a pivotal moment for the internet. Chris Dixon's fascinating book offers a refreshing and radical new take at a time when we need fresh thinking more than ever * MUSTAFA SULEYMAN, co-founder of DeepMind and Inflection and author of The Coming Wave *
Whether you're already interested in crypto or just curious about blockchains, web3, & the future of the internet, this is the definitive book about the industry * EMILIE CHOI, President and Chief Operating Officer, Coinbase *
This book changed my mind . . . The best positive case for crypto I've seen * KEVIN KELLY, founding editor Wired *
Chris Dixon has always been someone who sees the future with clarity and practicality. He does this once again in Read Write Own making the case for blockchain technology as the fundamental building block of the future and clearly laying out where the internet is going * JOHN DONAHOE, CEO, Nike *
