Read Write Own

Building the Next Era of the Internet

By: Chris Dixon

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff, Chris Dixon

A potent exploration of the power of blockchains to reshape the future of the internet—and how that affects us all—from influential technology entrepreneur and startup investor Chris Dixon

“A must for anyone who wants to better understand the real potential of blockchains and web3.”—Robert Iger, CEO, Disney

“A compelling vision of where the internet should go and how to get there.”—Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI

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 an open network for fostering creativity and entrepreneurship 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.”

With lucid and compelling prose—drawing from a 25-year career in the software industry—Dixon shows how the internet has undergone three distinct eras, bringing us to the critical moment we’re in today. The first was the “read” era, in which early networks democratized information. In the “read-write” era, 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-listen 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.

* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF of illustrations and charts from the book.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Chris Dixon (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Chris Dixon’s Read Write Own is 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

“Chris takes on the challenge and succeeds at explaining just how crypto technology is what’s important to our technological future and how we all can benefit, much like we have from the Internet. I would encourage all regulators and crypto nay-sayers around the world to read this book.”—Mark Cuban, Shark Tank; Dallas Mavericks

“This book changed my mind. It’s a clear manifesto for redeeming the internet, and making it the democratic platform we all want. It’s the best positive case for crypto I’ve seen.”—Kevin Kelly, bestselling author of The Inevitable

The most comprehensive and high level view of the technology

The book is full of interesting ideas and history lessons from the past of the internet connected to the development of crypto industry.

Great intro to why you should care about blockchain tech.

Content like this is what should be part of the school curriculum instead of the nonsense currently being taught.

Great conceptual clarity.

A great resource to those seeking to understand how blockchain technology is positioned to play a role in powering new waves of innovation in a creators led digital first economy

Easy to Follow and Very Informative

As someone with limited background knowledge on this topic, seeking to learn more, this book provided a highly informative explanation of how blockchain technology works, how it differs from existing networks, how it can be applied in practical applications, and how it can benefit society by fostering a better internet based on ownership and trust. Thanks for writing this!

The definitive guide on crypto

Chris does a masterful job of explaining the history of the Internet, the rise of today's modern Tech, Giants, and the promise that lies in blockchain and crypto. This book has become a must read for anyone, not very familiar about how crypto works, or who may even be skeptical about it. The way, Chris describes the "attract and then extract" cycle of FAANG and how eventually these major companies are pitted against their customers is enlightening, and makes you view blockchain differently.

Makes the complex sound simple

This book was a very easy read. it did a great job of making the explaining the complexities of blockchain in a simple way, as well as its use cases.

Hands-down, the best book about Tech history and Blockchain I’ve read to date

I love the way Chris breaks it all down and simplifies it for everyone to understand

Best book about technology

Loved this book so much that I’m buying the hard cover book I highly recommend if you want to learn more about technology

It’s a Doge eat Doge World

The world today is in a watershed moment in its’ history. The decisions made today concerning the burgeoning technologies of AI and Web3 can either lead humanity to a renewed Golden Age or towards a world further consolidated into the hands of mega-corporations; extracting every last drop of profit from the dwindling husk of humanity’s labor force. Blockchain and Web3 can rend democratization and control back from current day tech oligarchs and create a better, more equitable future, for ourselves, and our children. The moment is now and the architects of hope can be us. Chris Dixon’s book is a call to arms and a blueprint to freedom.

Best blockchain book

This is the most comprehensive modern analysis of why blockchain matters. Well beyond just the financial implications, it really addresses how web3 is the future of the Internet