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Reviewer: Cecilia G. Manrique

This interesting book belongs to a genre that shows either enthusiasm for or skepticism of the late 20th century's greatest discovery-the Internet [1,2,3,4]. As the long title implies, Carr is leaning toward a negative view. The basic premise of the book is that the Internet not only has a profound impact on the way we do things, but it also shapes what we think as well as how we think. Carr contends that the way we operate when using the Internet, and technology in general, has reshaped the human brain to such an extent that even the act of reading has changed. People no longer read from left to right, top to bottom; instead, we skip around the material, beyond the old linear thought process. Skimming is becoming the dominant mode of reading, and, according to Carr, this is nonlinear reading, which is not really reading but power browsing. Furthermore, while we now have a tendency to know a wide variety of things, we do not have any depth of knowledge about any one thing. Part of this stems from our reliance on the Internet-for example, we can just Google it. Another part stems from our reliance on gadgets that weaken our memory-for example, we use calculators when we could do the math in our head, and our use of global positioning systems (GPSs) hampers spatial relations. The book also serves as a walk down the computing memory lane. The author describes the development of reading, writing, and thinking instruments that brought about changes for human beings, from the oral tradition to the written word to works stored in computer memory, which inhibit individuals' creative juices. Interactivity, hypertextuality, searchability, and multimedia are responsible for changes in reading patterns, and changes in reading patterns brought about changes in writing styles, as exhibited by the language used in texts, blogs, and tweets. The resulting interface on the Web is distracting and limits concentration. According to Carr, the constant use of digital media has a neurological and physiological effect. It causes extensive brain changes that limit rather than expand the acquisition of information. Thus, today's generation is, if not dumber, at least more shallow; basically, their nimble minds hamper their ability to think deeply and creatively. In order to prove his point, Carr relies on data, studies, and surveys, providing extensive footnotes and sources. He refers to the philosophical works of Heidegger, Aristotle, and Descartes, and to the literary works of Ralph Waldo Emerson and W. H. Auden. He provides readers with trivia, too-for example, he explains where the term "Google" was derived from and what could have happened if it had kept its original name, "Back Rub." The book is written for a wide audience. One does not have to be a technology expert to appreciate what Carr is trying to convey. Online Computing Reviews Service