Read Write Own - by Chris Dixon (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - 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, co-founder, 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 twenty-five-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-read 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.

Review Quotes

"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

"Read this book to understand a compelling vision of where the internet should go and how to get there."--Sam Altman, co-founder, OpenAI

"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

"This is a pivotal moment for the internet. Chris Dixon's fascinating book offers a refreshing and radical new take at a time when we need fresh thinking more than ever."--Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI; co-founder, DeepMind; author of New York Times bestseller The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the 21st Century's Greatest Dilemma

"Chris Dixon has always been someone who sees the future with clarity and practicality. He does this once again in Read Write Own making the case for blockchain technology as the fundamental building block of the future and clearly laying out where the internet is going."--John Donahoe, CEO, Nike

"If you want to read the smartest, sharpest, and most balanced take on how blockchains could revolutionize our world, Chris Dixon's Read Write Own​ is the best place to go."--Tyler Cowen, Professor of Economics, George Mason University; author, The Great Stagnation, co-author, Modern Principles of Economics

"I love this book: the history, the insights, the optimism. Dixon does a brilliant job of explaining where the internet went wrong, but does an even better job explaining how to make things right. Every page has important arguments about how blockchains can make technology more democratic, just, and trustworthy."--Nicholas Thompson, CEO, Atlantic; former editor, NewYorkerdotcom

"Whether you're already interested in crypto or just curious about blockchains, web3, and the future of the internet--this is THE definitive book about the industry and beyond."--Emilie Choi, President and Chief Operating Officer, Coinbase

"A sharp-edged manifesto for 'new networks with better architectures'--better because they're free of corporate control."--Kirkus Reviews

"Illuminating . . . Dixon's detailed discussions add nuance to the oversimplified metaphors often used to describe blockchain. . . . A stimulating overview of blockchain's potential."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Chris Dixon is a general partner at the storied venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which he joined in 2013. He has invested there in Oculus (later acquired by Facebook), Coinbase, and other companies. He also placed early bets on Kickstarter, Pinterest, Stack Overflow, and Stripe, all of which have products in wide use today. Dixon founded and leads a16z crypto, a division of the firm that he has grown from $300 million in 2018 to over $7 billion of committed capital dedicated to investing in crypto and web3 technologies. In 2022, he was ranked #1 on the Forbes Midas List of the world's best venture capital investors. Dixon has a bachelor of arts and a master's degree in philosophy from Columbia University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, and has founded two startups (acquired by McAfee and eBay). He grew up in Ohio and lives in California.