Yochai Benkler’s The Wealth of Networks

A seminal work from Yale Law School Professor, Yochai Benkler, on the information networks, network based economies and the creative commons or peer networks emerging with the help of new media technologies. Benkler's belief is that these collaboration intensive forms are reshaping the social, economic and political landscape of the years to come.

Read (and/or contribute to) the Wealth of Networks Wiki

Download a pdf version (options for a complete version or chapter by chapter)

Support Benkler and the Commons movement by purchasing the book from Amazon.

Participate in (or just listen/watch) an online seminar about Benkler's The Wealth of Networks.

Read several papers inspired by and in response to Benkler's The Wealth of Networks.

Yochai Benkler’s The Wealth of Networks: How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedom is a very exciting book. It captures an important set of developments – how new information technologies make it easier for individuals to collaborate in producing cultural content, knowledge, and other information goods. It draws links across apparently disparate subject areas to present a theory of how these technologies are reshaping opportunities for social action. Finally, it presents a highly attractive vision of what society might be like if we allow these technologies to flourish, as well as the political obstacles which may prevent these technologies from reaching their full potential. If you’re interested in debates on Creative Commons, on Wikipedia, on net neutrality, or any of a whole host of other issues, this is an essential starting point.

Even more Networks from Metafilter.

People you should know:
Yochai Benkler