The Cult of the Amateur: How today's Internet is killing our culture by Andrew Keen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While a good read the premise of the book concerned me. Essentially the author is concerned that the growing voice of alternative and amateur voices, as opposed to well-trained professional voices, are increasing in volume and opinion on the Internet, sending Western culture into a downward spiral of less knowledge and fact based reasoning. While there is merit in this argument, one of the most interesting parts of the Internet is the multiplicity of varying voices on it and the idea that it was first a place where marginalized, dissenting and alternative voices found a space to be heard. These voices need to be heard as professional voices have often had easier access and better access to education, employment and spaces that train then deem them professional voices, while others have not. Which of these voices is therefore more important? Those who have had priveledge, thise who face added struggles with access, or bot? This author would rather see the amateur voice less audible on the Internet. I disagree. Is needs to remain an open access space for all people to contribute even the nutters out there.

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