The Power of Many: How the Living Web is Transforming Politics, Business and Everyday Life - Hardcover

This book describes what happens when ordinary people get convenient, ubiquitous broadband access to the Internet. As the web becomes easier to contribute to, and less of a nerdy gadget, it becomes a social environment - another aspect of our neighborhood. This book is about how these new forms of social networking are changing the way people shop, get jobs, meet each other, do smart business, enrich their lives, and even elect a President. It's a fascinating read and a practical inside look at the common thread behind several of the year's biggest stories. It features firsthand interviews with key players and shows the reader how they can take full advantage of this extraordinary revolution.

"A lot of people are starting to use the Internet to reconnect themselves to their neighborhood, their community, and the world. The Power of Many is a great survey of the way this is really being accomplished by many individuals working together."
—Craig Newmark, founder of craigslist.org

"What a fascinating topic. If you're interested in the future, the past, or the present, then you should read this book."
—Scott Heiferman, Co-Founder of Meetup.com and Fotolog.net

The development of social networks on the Web touches countless aspects of our everyday lives. With instant access to people of similar mindsets, near or far, we can readily form partnerships with more people and in more ways than ever before. It's now possible to use Internet tools to organize a rally, energize a political campaign, arrange a date, join a support group, or sell a product, as naturally as we use a phone.

Through a series of pertinent case studies and interviews with leading thinkers and doers in this rapidly evolving field, Christian Crumlish uncovers universal themes and lessons learned. He illustrates how we use peer-to-peer technologies—web services, blogs, mobile phone SMS, and more—to accomplish widespread goals. He also suggests how we can take even more advantage of these technologies to connect with people who have similar interests.

Discover how Howard Dean's campaign used the Internet to take a little-known candidate a long way. How activists arrange public meetings and drive letter-writing campaigns. How individuals find much-needed help for personal issues. How artists promote and air their creative genius. How business people and singles seek potential partners. And much, much more.

Here are just a few of the more than 60 experts, businesspeople, activists, and writers who share their insights:

• Futurist and best-selling author Howard Rheingold
• Scott Heiferman, founder of Meetup.com
• Executives from the American Red Cross, the Leukemia Society, and the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
• Venture capitalist Joi Ito
• Official and unofficial bloggers for the Bush, Clark, Dean, and Kerry campaigns
• Researchers Elizabeth Lane Lawley and Mary Hodder

The Power of Many explores how people are using new methods of social computing to simplify the ways they locate others who share their interests and kindle face-to-face communication. It reveals the tools that make it nearly effortless for groups and individuals to accomplish significant results in the real world. By understanding these trends and techniques, we can identify where and how to apply them in own lives. See the companion website at http://www.thepowerofmany.com.