Jarett Kobek: ‘The internet has been enormously detrimental to society’

The author of Silicon Valley satire I Hate the Internet on the evils of social media, and how novelists have failed to tackle itWhen the novel I Hate the Internet came out in the US earlier this year, it had every likelihood of sinking without trace. It was self-published, it was by a young unknown – Jarett Kobek – and its main selling point was naked, gleeful contempt for the devices and technology platforms that are an essential part of all our daily lives. “Nothing says individuality like 500 million consumer electronics built by slaves,” he says at one point. “Welcome to hell.” Hell, for Kobek, a 38-year-old American of Turkish heritage, became daily life in San Francisco, where the novel is set. Along with many of the city’s artists and writers, he found himself driven out by the forces of gentrification, moved to Los Angeles, where he’s now based, set up his own small press, and wrote this book – a scorching satire of how a few hypercapitalist companies in Silicon Valley have come to dominate everything. I Hate the Internet didn’t sink without trace. It found a readership thirsty for its funny, acerbic edge, got a rave review in the New York Times, went to the top of the bestseller charts in Germany and has now been published here by Serpent’s Tail.So, do you actually hate the internet, Jarett?Not particularly. There’s part of it that I find really contemptible. The title is offered like the sneer of a 15-year-old into Twitter, after they’ve just seen a meme of... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #silicon valley #bestseller charts

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Judgment Phase of Internet Archive Copyright Case Appears Imminent

More than four months after finding the Internet Archive liable for copyright infringement, the next phase in the litigation appears to be close. In a July 28 order, judge John G. Koeltl gave the parties until August 11 to deliver recommendations for determining a judgment in the closely watched... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Sorry, Swifties: BTS revealed as authors of mystery book that intrigued the internet

Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS will be out on 9 July, ending feverish speculation that the previously untitled book was a Taylor Swift memoirThe guessing game began this week when a mysteriously untitled book, scheduled for publication in July and known only as “4C Untitled Flatiron... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-05-12 01:34:25 UTC ]
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The Internet Archive’s Literary Civil War

The beloved online athenaeum just lost a big court case. Librarians fear it’ll make ebooks less accessible. So why are some writers cheering? Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2023-03-31 13:00:00 UTC ]
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Internet Archive violated publisher copyrights by lending ebooks, court rules

A federal judge has ruled against the Internet Archive in its high-profile case against a group of four US publishers led by Hachette Book Group. Per Reuters, Judge John G. Koeltl declared on Friday the nonprofit had infringed on the group’s copyrights by lending out digitally scanned copies of... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-03-25 16:46:29 UTC ]
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In a Swift Decision, Judge Eviscerates Internet Archive’s Scanning and Lending Program

After nearly three years of litigation, federal judge John G. Koeltl ruled that the Internet Archive infringed the copyrights of four plaintiff publishers by scanning print editions of their books and lending them online. The ruling comes just days after a March 20 hearing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-03-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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At Hearing, Judge Appears Skeptical of Internet Archive’s Scanning and Lending Program

Over the course of the 90-minute hearing, Judge John G. Koeltl appeared unmoved by the IA's fair use claims and unconvinced that the publishers’ market for library e-books was not impacted by the practice known as controlled digital lending. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-03-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Hachette V. Internet Archive: All Our Coverage

A compilation of PW's coverage of Hachette v. Internet Archive, the closely watched copyright case over the scanning and lending of print library books, with the most recent coverage up top. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-03-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers, Internet Archive Set for Key Hearing Today

After nearly three years of legal wrangling, a federal judge today will hear cross motions for summary judgment in a closely watched lawsuit challenging the legality of the Internet Archive's program to scan and lend print library books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-03-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Folio Society: At Bologna To Meet Illustrators

The 75-year-old Folio Society partnered with Bologna Book Plus to reach out to the book fair's internationally active illustrators. The post The Folio Society: At Bologna To Meet Illustrators appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-03-13 16:48:07 UTC ]
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The Internet Hates Hogwarts Legacy

A new video game set in the Harry Potter universe lays bare the mediocrity of Rowling’s world. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2023-03-04 10:00:00 UTC ]
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London’s Folio Society Teams With Bologna Book Plus on Illustrations

England's Folio Society has partnered this year with Bologna Book Plus on programming and an award in the trade show's Illustrators Café. The post London’s Folio Society Teams With Bologna Book Plus on Illustrations appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-02-22 17:06:35 UTC ]
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Oral Argument Set in Internet Archive Copyright Case

A federal judge is ready to hear oral arguments for summary judgment in a closely watched copyright case over the scanning and lending of library books, some four months after final briefs were submitted by the parties and more than two years since the case was first filed. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-02-21 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Two Supreme Court cases could upend the rules of the internet

The Supreme Court could soon redefine the rules of the internet as we know it. This week, the court will hear two cases, Gonzalez v. Google and Twitter v. Taamneh, that give it an opportunity to drastically change the rules of speech online.Both cases deal with how online platforms have handled... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-02-20 15:00:18 UTC ]
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Internet man uses AI to create a children’s book in praise of AI and it is fatuous and ugly.

What the hell are we doing? All the best things are shutting down and people are out here using computers to make children’s books? Not to get too Jeff Goldblum on you, but just because you build a tool to do something doesn’t make it interesting or worthy. To wit, a product designer named... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-12-13 15:19:23 UTC ]
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England: ‘A (Very) Short History’ Wins the £25,000 Royal Society Science Book Prize

The paleontologist and evolutionary biologist Henry Gee wins the 2022 Royal Society Science Book Prize sponsored by Insight Investment. The post England: ‘A (Very) Short History’ Wins the £25,000 Royal Society Science Book Prize appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-29 20:32:49 UTC ]
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Cover reveal: See the cover for Jai Chakrabarti’s A Small Sacrifice for an Enormous Happiness.

Literary Hub is pleased to reveal the cover for Jai Chakrabarti’s A Small Sacrifice for an Enormous Happiness, forthcoming from Penguin Random House in February 2023. The book, comprised of 14 short stories, details what family means today across cultures, continents, and faith. The title story,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-10-12 15:00:59 UTC ]
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Publishers, Internet Archive Ready for Summary Judgment Hearing in Book Scanning Case

A federal judge is now ready to hear arguments for summary judgment in a closely watched copyright case filed by four major publishers against the Internet Archives over its program to scan and lend library books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The UK’s £25,000 Royal Society Science Book Prize Names Its 2022 Shortlist

Five of the six titles on the UK's Royal Society Science Book Prize list are from independent publishers, two from Profile Books. The post The UK’s £25,000 Royal Society Science Book Prize Names Its 2022 Shortlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-09-27 08:47:37 UTC ]
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Publishers, Internet Archive Trade Reply Briefs in Book Scanning Case

In the lengthy filings, the parties sharpen their arguments for summary judgment in the closely watched copyright case. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-09-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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IPA: ‘Global Significance’ in the Internet Archive Lawsuit

As another court date in the Internet Archive lawsuit approaches this week, the International Publishers Association has led an amicus brief. The post IPA: ‘Global Significance’ in the Internet Archive Lawsuit appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-31 22:11:23 UTC ]
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