Uncanny Valley
Anna Wiener’s Uncanny Valley gives a glimpse of life in the technology industry, including some surprising revelations about what goes on behind the scenes. The book offers an excellent insight into the world of technology, though you may come away from it more disillusioned with the industry than you’d initially expected.
No Filter: The Inside Story of Instagram
Instagram is a social media giant, so it was inevitable that a book like Sarah Frier’s No Filter would pop up eventually. If you’ve ever wondered how the photo-focused app came to be, then this is definitely worth your attention. It takes you on a rollercoaster ride from Instagram’s small beginnings to its purchase by Facebook, and all the drama that followed.
#HashtagActivism
Activism has played an essential role in 2020, so it makes sense that this book is one of the best this year has to offer. A collaboration between three communication professors, #HashtagActivism examines the role that social media and technology have played in modern activism. It’s an essential read for anyone interested in fighting for justice, especially at a time when leaving the house isn’t always possible.
Lurking
Many people are obsessed with social media, and in Joanne McNeil’s Lurking, we come to understand why that is. The book explores what it is that users crave and how sites like Facebook cater to that. It’s an interesting investigation into why the world has become so reliant on online spaces, and the way that social media has truly affected us all.
Here’s hoping the rest of 2020 offers us more tech books just as captivating as these.