Stream Big - by Nathan Grayson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Told through the diverse and fascinating careers of nine streamers, this is a "timely and insightful dive into the players and politics of one of the twenty-first century's most influential modes of media" (Brian Merchant, author of Blood in the Machine), examining how Twitch has revolutionized technology, entertainment, business, and pop culture.

With 2.5 million viewers at any given moment, the streaming platform Twitch is in the lead and often well beyond mainstream networks like CNN and Fox during primetime. On Twitch, the Amazon-owned tech behemoth, the biggest personalities, like Kai Cenat, Félix "xQc" Lengyel, and Hasan "HasanAbi" Piker, can earn millions per year by firing up their internet connection and going live.

Veteran technology and gaming journalist Nathan Grayson "captures the multitudes contained within Twitch while offering a captivating window into content creators' lives" (Publishers Weekly), especially those who helped make the platform into a billion-dollar global business. From Twitch's early days of rapid growth to acquisition by Amazon to the defection of creators and rival platforms, Grayson makes the radical argument that many social technology companies are far more dependent on their creators than the creators are on their platforms.

Told through nine exceptional Twitch creators whose on-screen personalities helped the company grow into a powerhouse, this is the explosive and "necessary" (Mark Bergen, author of Like, Comment, Subscribe) story of when entertainment meets the internet in the era of social and video content domination.

Review Quotes

"A timely and insightful dive into the players and politics of one of the twenty-first century's most influential modes of media." --Brian Merchant, author of Blood in the Machine and The One Device

"Finally, a book that understands streaming isn't just about watching others play--it's about the birth of an entirely new form of human interaction. Grayson masterfully chronicles how Twitch creators have pioneered new ways to foster belonging, create shared purpose, and generate collective joy at massive scale." --Jane McGonigal, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World

"Grayson captures the multitudes contained within Twitch while offering a captivating window into content creators' lives...Readers will want to tune in to this." --Publishers Weekly

"Less a chronicle of Twitch's ascent than a cautionary tale about the hopefuls caught up in its wake. [Grayson] has a talent for transforming incisive interviews into captivating prose. His subjects come across as evocative characters."--The Wall Street Journal

"Nathan Grayson is an empathetic, inquisitive reporter with an eye for great stories and the rare ability to make every sentence interesting." --Jason Schreier, nationally bestselling author of Blood, Sweat, and Pixels

"Nathan Grayson's Stream Big is an authoritative and comprehensive exploration of the gaming world and a must read for anyone seeking to understand the streaming landscape today. Grayson's unique access to key figures in the industry, along with his years of experience as a journalist, allows readers an inside look at the forces shaping modern gaming and internet culture." --Taylor Lorenz, host of Power User

"This is not a tech book full of inaccessible billionaires or boring suits. Grayson has found the rich, fascinating characters at the heart of Twitch, with all its highs and very brutal lows. A necessary read for anyone who wants to understand the platform." -- Mark Bergen, author of Like, Comment, Subscribe: Inside YouTube's Chaotic Rise To World Domination

About the Author

Nathan Grayson is a founder and reporter at Aftermath, a worker-owned tech, video game, and digital publication from veterans of sites like The Washington Post, Vice, and Kotaku. He has reported on the world of live streaming for half a decade and has conducted interviews with dozens of professional livestreamers. Stream Big is his first book. You can follow Nathan on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @Vahn16.