Destined to become one of the most talked-about books of 2000, here is a journey into the new world of hyper-capitalism where accessing experiences becomes more important than owning things and all of life is a paid-for activity.
In The End of Work, Jeremy Rifkin argued that computers, robotics, telecommunications, and biotechnologies are fast replacing human beings in virtually every industry and workplace. In The Age of Access, he goes further, showing how … More >>
The Age of Access: How the Shift from Ownership to Access Is Transforming Capitalism
Age of Access Page 248 “…The Gypsy Kings, Puerto Rico’s Ricky Martin, Pakistan’s Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ravi Shankar…and scores of others are routinely turning out popular CD’s with their eclectic blend of native and contemporary music…”.
Ricky Martin?! an eclectic blend of native and contemporary music?! This guy clearly has no problem writing things he doesn’t understand.
A world-pop corporate marketing phenomenon like Ricky Martin would be comparable to a Madonna or a George Michael, but you could never claim his music sounds ANYTHING like native Puerto Rican music (bomba, plena, etc.) .
Oh, and by the way, Mr. Rifkin, Britney Spears is not an ethnomusicologist specializing in blending Appalachian folk tunes with modern pop.
Rating: 1 / 5
Definitely. Rifkin put his finger on it. Or the multiple its that make up life today. Yup, a lot of the disconnected noise of life has strong background patterning. Massive corporate consolidation has turned culture into so much balogna, to be sliced off and piled on your plate in uniform, homogeneous portions, as long as you keep forking over the moolah. No pay, no play. Rifkin dilates on the long term consequences of life as the perectly made franchise outlet meatball. Otherwise perfectly nice people become, eh, Protean. Protean ? Did he mean Cyborgs, perchance? Logic gives way to impressionistic, fashion’n'fad driven consumerism of the most banal sort. Public spaces now feature mental airlocks that keep out the most determined non-rent-paying zealots and petition waving blue faced did-not-get-with-the-program types. And the people love it! Oh, you have an opinion, do you ? Isn’t that charming ! Well, fugedabowdit. Nobody has an opinion any more. Not allowed. Against policy, ya see. Why don’t you go buy yourself a trinket. Like I said, you have to read this book.
Rating: 5 / 5
I liked the book very interesting description of the times we are living in. Helps understand the economic tendencies that are actually occurring around us. I enjoy reading it!
Rating: 4 / 5
I’ve bought this book ’cause I heard a lot of good opinions, considerations about J.Rifkin but never read one of his books. So….I’m sorry but it was been a sort of delusion! Nothing new, just simple considerations about everyday life…everybody can get the same ideas and stimulations reading newspapers…in short a try to describe the new anthropological scenario,but since last years I’ve personally understood (also in my job) that things are going in the way he explains…so, for me it was not necessary to take 400 pages to say obvious things! Celebrity it’s not enough to get 5 stars!
Rating: 2 / 5
Indeed an outstanding analysis of capitalist transitions. Very infomred study of how the mode of reproduction in capitalist society is redefining itself and who the agents of change are.
A must read for all students of politcal and social sciences; a strong recommednation for everyone who wants to step back and reflect on where we are heading and how things got rolling. The only short-coming I see, is that Rifkin strangely avoids building on marxist thought, hardly any references and it seems he tried to “skip” Marxism in an effort to stay popular amongst a largely US readership. Still, a most important book, any current day social researcher and political analyst should make this book a key reference point.
Rating: 4 / 5