👁️ Surveillance Capitalism

Critical examinations of how tech companies harvest human experience as raw material for prediction and profit. These books expose the hidden economy of personal data and its consequences for autonomy and democracy.

Stolen Focus

by Johann Hari • 2022

You touch your phone 2,617 times a day. That's not a habit. It's a business model.

4.22

80k+

📊 Attention Economy 📨 Information Overload 📱 Digital Distraction 🧠 Screen Time Effects ⚙️ Tech Criticism

Stolen Focus

You touch your phone 2,617 times a day. That's not a habit. It's a business model.

by Johann Hari 2022

4.22

80k+ ratings

📊 Attention Economy 📨 Information Overload 📱 Digital Distraction 🧠 Screen Time Effects ⚙️ Tech Criticism

Atlas of AI

by Kate Crawford • 2020

Artificial intelligence is not just code. It runs on mines, warehouses, and state surveillance.

3.93

3k+

🔍 Tech Criticism 🏢 Big Tech Critique ⛏️ Extractive Capitalism 📊 Data Ethics ⚖️ Algorithmic Bias

Atlas of AI

Artificial intelligence is not just code. It runs on mines, warehouses, and state surveillance.

by Kate Crawford 2020

3.93

3k+ ratings

🔍 Tech Criticism 🏢 Big Tech Critique ⛏️ Extractive Capitalism 📊 Data Ethics ⚖️ Algorithmic Bias

Careless People

by Sarah Wynn-Williams • 2025

Facebook's growth playbook from the inside: trade free speech, erode privacy, ignore the bodies.

4.12

137k+

🏢 Big Tech Critique 📢 Corporate ExposéS 📱 Social Media Platforms ⚖️ Tech Ethics 🚫 Content Moderation

Careless People

Facebook's growth playbook from the inside: trade free speech, erode privacy, ignore the bodies.

by Sarah Wynn-Williams 2025

4.12

137k+ ratings

🏢 Big Tech Critique 📢 Corporate ExposéS 📱 Social Media Platforms ⚖️ Tech Ethics 🚫 Content Moderation

The Attention Merchants

by Tim Wu • 2016

Your attention has been for sale since 1833. The hidden industry that trades in it.

4.07

5k+

🎯 Attention Economy 📺 Media History 📱 Digital Addiction 📢 Propaganda Studies 🧠 Consumer Psychology

The Attention Merchants

Your attention has been for sale since 1833. The hidden industry that trades in it.

by Tim Wu 2016

4.07

5k+ ratings

🎯 Attention Economy 📺 Media History 📱 Digital Addiction 📢 Propaganda Studies 🧠 Consumer Psychology

Survival of the Richest

by Douglas Rushkoff • 2022

Tech billionaires build escape pods, not solutions. Rushkoff was invited to help plan one.

3.83

3k+

💻 Digital Capitalism 🖥️ Tech Criticism 🏦 Tech Billionaires 💰 Wealth Inequality 🏭 Late Capitalism

Survival of the Richest

Tech billionaires build escape pods, not solutions. Rushkoff was invited to help plan one.

by Douglas Rushkoff 2022

3.83

3k+ ratings

💻 Digital Capitalism 🖥️ Tech Criticism 🏦 Tech Billionaires 💰 Wealth Inequality 🏭 Late Capitalism

Mood Machine

by Liz Pelly • 2025

Your favorite playlist runs on anonymous musicians and ad-tech logic; it was never a music company.

3.83

5k+

🎧 Music Streaming 🏢 Platform Capitalism 🤖 Algorithmic Culture 💼 Music Labor 💰 Commodified Culture

Mood Machine

Your favorite playlist runs on anonymous musicians and ad-tech logic; it was never a music company.

by Liz Pelly 2025

3.83

5k+ ratings

🎧 Music Streaming 🏢 Platform Capitalism 🤖 Algorithmic Culture 💼 Music Labor 💰 Commodified Culture

The Circle

by Dave Eggers • 2013

Mae's dream job at the Circle comes with a catch: complete surveillance, and no way out.

3.43

232k+

👁️ Digital Panopticon 🏢 Tech Campus Dystopia 🧠 Brainwashed Protagonist 📢 Whistleblower Warning 🏘️ Company Town

The Circle

Mae's dream job at the Circle comes with a catch: complete surveillance, and no way out.

by Dave Eggers 2013

3.43

232k+ ratings

👁️ Digital Panopticon 🏢 Tech Campus Dystopia 🧠 Brainwashed Protagonist 📢 Whistleblower Warning 🏘️ Company Town

Mindmasters

by Sandra Matz • 2025

Algorithms read personality from digital traces. The fix isn't privacy; it's collective ownership.

3.96

399

💻 Digital Psychology ⚖️ Tech Ethics 📊 Behavioral Data 🔒 Data Privacy 🎯 Online Manipulation

Mindmasters

Algorithms read personality from digital traces. The fix isn't privacy; it's collective ownership.

by Sandra Matz 2025

3.96

399 ratings

💻 Digital Psychology ⚖️ Tech Ethics 📊 Behavioral Data 🔒 Data Privacy 🎯 Online Manipulation

Why Social Media is Ruining Your Life

by Katherine Ormerod • 2018

Social media promised connection; it gave us loneliness, debt, and a fractured democracy.

3.49

801

📱 Social Media Critique 🧘 Digital Wellness 🎣 Attention Economy ⚖️ Social Comparison 🪞 Body Image And Media

Why Social Media is Ruining Your Life

Social media promised connection; it gave us loneliness, debt, and a fractured democracy.

by Katherine Ormerod 2018

3.49

801 ratings

📱 Social Media Critique 🧘 Digital Wellness 🎣 Attention Economy ⚖️ Social Comparison 🪞 Body Image And Media

The Contrarian

by Max Chafkin • 2021

PayPal was the beachhead. Gawker was the warning shot. His real target was American democracy.

3.62

2k+

🖥️ Silicon Valley 🔍 Investigative Biography ⚔️ Culture Wars 💰 Contrarian Investing 🌐 Tech Billionaires

The Contrarian

PayPal was the beachhead. Gawker was the warning shot. His real target was American democracy.

by Max Chafkin 2021

3.62

2k+ ratings

🖥️ Silicon Valley 🔍 Investigative Biography ⚔️ Culture Wars 💰 Contrarian Investing 🌐 Tech Billionaires

The AI Con

by Emily M. Bender • 2025

ChatGPT isn't thinking, the doom-sayers aren't helping, and the real AI harms are already here.

3.69

2k+

🤖 Ai Criticism 🧮 Algorithmic Bias 🔍 Technology Criticism 🔧 Labor And Automation 🏛️ Big Tech Accountability

The AI Con

ChatGPT isn't thinking, the doom-sayers aren't helping, and the real AI harms are already here.

by Emily M. Bender 2025

3.69

2k+ ratings

🤖 Ai Criticism 🧮 Algorithmic Bias 🔍 Technology Criticism 🔧 Labor And Automation 🏛️ Big Tech Accountability

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Power

by Rajiv Malhotra • 2021

Two nations race to own AI. The prize: your job, your mind, and the global pecking order.

4.28

217

🌍 Ai Geopolitics 🛡️ Digital Sovereignty 🏭 Job Displacement 📱 Digital Addiction 🧬 Transhumanism

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Power

Two nations race to own AI. The prize: your job, your mind, and the global pecking order.

by Rajiv Malhotra 2021

4.28

217 ratings

🌍 Ai Geopolitics 🛡️ Digital Sovereignty 🏭 Job Displacement 📱 Digital Addiction 🧬 Transhumanism

The Happiness Industry

by William Davies • 2015

The push to measure your happiness was never about your well-being. It was about control.

3.64

1k+

🏛️ Political Economy ⚖️ Utilitarianism 🧪 Behaviorism 🧠 Behavioral Economics 💊 Medicalized Emotion

The Happiness Industry

The push to measure your happiness was never about your well-being. It was about control.

by William Davies 2015

3.64

1k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Economy ⚖️ Utilitarianism 🧪 Behaviorism 🧠 Behavioral Economics 💊 Medicalized Emotion

Mindf*ck

by Christopher Wylie • 2019

Fifty million profiles. Two elections. One whistleblower who built the weapon and then broke it.

4.36

8k+

🔒 Data Privacy 🗳️ Electoral Interference 🎯 Microtargeting 🧠 Cognitive Biases ⚔️ Information Warfare

Mindf*ck

Fifty million profiles. Two elections. One whistleblower who built the weapon and then broke it.

by Christopher Wylie 2019

4.36

8k+ ratings

🔒 Data Privacy 🗳️ Electoral Interference 🎯 Microtargeting 🧠 Cognitive Biases ⚔️ Information Warfare

Against the smart city

by Adam Greenfield • 2013

Smart cities sell efficiency but deliver surveillance. The real operating system is people.

3.96

132

🏙️ Smart Cities 📐 Urban Planning 🔬 Technological Critique 🤖 Algorithmic Control 💰 Neoliberal Urbanism

Against the smart city

Smart cities sell efficiency but deliver surveillance. The real operating system is people.

by Adam Greenfield 2013

3.96

132 ratings

🏙️ Smart Cities 📐 Urban Planning 🔬 Technological Critique 🤖 Algorithmic Control 💰 Neoliberal Urbanism

Enshittification

by Cory Doctorow • 2025

Big Tech didn't turn evil; competition, regulation, and worker power simply stopped holding it back.

4.06

13k+

🏚️ Platform Decay 🏛️ Digital Monopoly 📱 Gig Economy 🔗 Interoperability 🔧 Right To Repair

Enshittification

Big Tech didn't turn evil; competition, regulation, and worker power simply stopped holding it back.

by Cory Doctorow 2025

4.06

13k+ ratings

🏚️ Platform Decay 🏛️ Digital Monopoly 📱 Gig Economy 🔗 Interoperability 🔧 Right To Repair

Broken Code

by Jeff Horwitz • 2023

Instagram harmed teen mental health. Facebook buried proof; whistleblower documents forced it out.

3.88

677

📱 Social Media Platforms ⚖️ Big Tech Accountability 📣 Tech Whistleblowers 📈 Algorithmic Amplification 🛡️ Content Moderation

Broken Code

Instagram harmed teen mental health. Facebook buried proof; whistleblower documents forced it out.

by Jeff Horwitz 2023

3.88

677 ratings

📱 Social Media Platforms ⚖️ Big Tech Accountability 📣 Tech Whistleblowers 📈 Algorithmic Amplification 🛡️ Content Moderation

Code Dependent

by Madhumita Murgia • 2024

Behind every AI is an exploited, invisible workforce. A reporter traces the human supply chain.

4.03

3k+

⚖️ Algorithmic Bias 🤖 Ai Ethics 👷 Digital Labor 🛡️ Content Moderation 🔐 Digital Rights

Code Dependent

Behind every AI is an exploited, invisible workforce. A reporter traces the human supply chain.

by Madhumita Murgia 2024

4.03

3k+ ratings

⚖️ Algorithmic Bias 🤖 Ai Ethics 👷 Digital Labor 🛡️ Content Moderation 🔐 Digital Rights

Radical Technologies

by Adam Greenfield • 2017

Eight technologies that run your day: the invisible tradeoffs reshaping power, work, and identity.

4.02

1k+

⚡ Tech Criticism ⚖️ Ethics Of Technology 🤖 Automation Anxiety 🖨️ Digital Fabrication 🔢 Algorithmic Society

Radical Technologies

Eight technologies that run your day: the invisible tradeoffs reshaping power, work, and identity.

by Adam Greenfield 2017

4.02

1k+ ratings

⚡ Tech Criticism ⚖️ Ethics Of Technology 🤖 Automation Anxiety 🖨️ Digital Fabrication 🔢 Algorithmic Society

12 Bytes

by Jeanette Winterson • 2021

AI has a history: female, literary, and older than electricity. A novelist connects the dots.

3.90

2k+

🤖 Ai Ethics 💻 History Of Computing 👩‍💻 Tech Feminism ⚖️ Algorithmic Bias 🧬 Transhumanism

12 Bytes

AI has a history: female, literary, and older than electricity. A novelist connects the dots.

by Jeanette Winterson 2021

3.90

2k+ ratings

🤖 Ai Ethics 💻 History Of Computing 👩‍💻 Tech Feminism ⚖️ Algorithmic Bias 🧬 Transhumanism

The End of Reality

by Jonathan Taplin • 2023

Four billionaires want $20 trillion for Mars, the metaverse, crypto, immortality. Who pays?

3.92

540

🏢 Tech Oligarchy 🐍 Libertarian Critique ₿ Crypto Critique 🧬 Transhumanism Critique 🌱 Regenerative Economics

The End of Reality

Four billionaires want $20 trillion for Mars, the metaverse, crypto, immortality. Who pays?

by Jonathan Taplin 2023

3.92

540 ratings

🏢 Tech Oligarchy 🐍 Libertarian Critique ₿ Crypto Critique 🧬 Transhumanism Critique 🌱 Regenerative Economics

The People Vs Tech

by Jamie Bartlett • 2018

Liberal democracy rests on a few fragile pillars; the internet is dismantling every one.

3.90

2k+

🗳️ Digital Politics 🏛️ Tech Monopolies 🎭 Political Tribalism 🫧 Filter Bubbles 🤖 Ai And Society

The People Vs Tech

Liberal democracy rests on a few fragile pillars; the internet is dismantling every one.

by Jamie Bartlett 2018

3.90

2k+ ratings

🗳️ Digital Politics 🏛️ Tech Monopolies 🎭 Political Tribalism 🫧 Filter Bubbles 🤖 Ai And Society

Intention Economy

by Doc Searls • 2012

Customers are worth more unowned. The missing half of the web: tools that make sellers compete.

3.71

177

🎯 Attention Economy 🏗️ Platform Economy 🔐 Data Ownership 📢 Advertising Critique 🌐 Internet Governance

Intention Economy

Customers are worth more unowned. The missing half of the web: tools that make sellers compete.

by Doc Searls 2012

3.71

177 ratings

🎯 Attention Economy 🏗️ Platform Economy 🔐 Data Ownership 📢 Advertising Critique 🌐 Internet Governance

Like, Comment, Subscribe

by Mark Bergen • 2022

Three PayPal coworkers built a dating site. It became the algorithm deciding what the world watches.

3.72

1k+

💹 Platform Economics 🏢 Tech Company Histories 🤖 Algorithmic Influence 🛡️ Content Moderation 🎬 Creator Economy

Like, Comment, Subscribe

Three PayPal coworkers built a dating site. It became the algorithm deciding what the world watches.

by Mark Bergen 2022

3.72

1k+ ratings

💹 Platform Economics 🏢 Tech Company Histories 🤖 Algorithmic Influence 🛡️ Content Moderation 🎬 Creator Economy

Road to Nowhere

by Paris Marx • 2022

The tech-driven transportation future is a dead end. The real fix: fewer cars, better transit.

4.16

643

🚗 Car Culture 🏙️ Urban Planning 💻 Techno-Solutionism 🚌 Public Transit 🛵 Gig Economy

Road to Nowhere

The tech-driven transportation future is a dead end. The real fix: fewer cars, better transit.

by Paris Marx 2022

4.16

643 ratings

🚗 Car Culture 🏙️ Urban Planning 💻 Techno-Solutionism 🚌 Public Transit 🛵 Gig Economy

How to Stay Smart in a Smart World

by Gerd Gigerenzer • 2022

AI masters chess but fumbles real life. Why simple human judgment still outperforms algorithms.

3.82

502

🧠 Cognitive Psychology 🧩 Bounded Rationality 🔍 Heuristics And Biases 🤖 Ai Critique ⚖️ Algorithmic Bias

How to Stay Smart in a Smart World

AI masters chess but fumbles real life. Why simple human judgment still outperforms algorithms.

by Gerd Gigerenzer 2022

3.82

502 ratings

🧠 Cognitive Psychology 🧩 Bounded Rationality 🔍 Heuristics And Biases 🤖 Ai Critique ⚖️ Algorithmic Bias

How Data Happened

by Chris Wiggins • 2023

Data was never neutral. How statistics went from serving kings to fueling the attention economy.

3.54

467

🧮 History Of Statistics 🏛️ Data And Society ⚖️ Data Ethics 📊 Algorithmic Bias 📱 Attention Economy

How Data Happened

Data was never neutral. How statistics went from serving kings to fueling the attention economy.

by Chris Wiggins 2023

3.54

467 ratings

🧮 History Of Statistics 🏛️ Data And Society ⚖️ Data Ethics 📊 Algorithmic Bias 📱 Attention Economy

An Ugly Truth

by Sheera Frenkel • 2021

Same data that built Facebook's empire fueled election chaos and a genocide. The leaders knew.

3.96

7k+

🏛️ Big Tech Accountability 🔒 Data Privacy ⚖️ Content Moderation 🗳️ Election Interference 💰 Monopoly Power

An Ugly Truth

Same data that built Facebook's empire fueled election chaos and a genocide. The leaders knew.

by Sheera Frenkel 2021

3.96

7k+ ratings

🏛️ Big Tech Accountability 🔒 Data Privacy ⚖️ Content Moderation 🗳️ Election Interference 💰 Monopoly Power

World Without Mind

by Franklin Foer • 2017

A counterculture dream of global harmony became a corporate machine for total surveillance.

3.63

2k+

🏢 Big Tech Critique 🧱 Monopoly Power 🤖 Algorithmic Control 📱 Attention Economy 🏪 Cultural Homogenization

World Without Mind

A counterculture dream of global harmony became a corporate machine for total surveillance.

by Franklin Foer 2017

3.63

2k+ ratings

🏢 Big Tech Critique 🧱 Monopoly Power 🤖 Algorithmic Control 📱 Attention Economy 🏪 Cultural Homogenization

The Tech Coup

by Marietje Schaake • 2024

When tech companies became the state, democracy became a user agreement no one reads.

3.78

468

🏛️ Tech Regulation 🏢 Corporate Power 🔒 Digital Authoritarianism 🌐 Internet Governance ⚖️ Tech Accountability

The Tech Coup

When tech companies became the state, democracy became a user agreement no one reads.

by Marietje Schaake 2024

3.78

468 ratings

🏛️ Tech Regulation 🏢 Corporate Power 🔒 Digital Authoritarianism 🌐 Internet Governance ⚖️ Tech Accountability

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👁️ Surveillance Capitalism

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