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The Digital Mystique: How the Culture of Connectivity Can Empower Your Life Online and Off
In The Digital Mystique , Sarah Granger—a nationally recognized expert on online culture and social technology—shows us how digital media is shaping our lives in real time. Whether it's how we raise our children, communicate in love and partnerships, support causes, or establish friendships and trust, Granger pinpoints the best ways to seize digital opportunities to make our lives richer and fuller.
While the Internet era is one that is frequently criticized as undermining our health, privacy, concentration, and ability to sustain real-world relationships, Granger takes a more optimistic and empowering view. She shares real-life stories and surprising facts about our lives—both online and off—to shed new and fascinating light on the positive effects of the digital media revolution, showing us how we can personally learn, grow, and thrive by engaging in our digitized world.
The Digital Mystique includes the following
Connecting Is Just the Beginning
.YOU
Friending Is Trending
Love in the Time of Messaging
The Kids Are Online
The Senior Moment
The Passion of the Web
There’s No Business Like E-Business
Community Is the Key
The Difference a Tweet Makes
What We Leave Behind
A Stitch in Digital Time
While the Internet era is one that is frequently criticized as undermining our health, privacy, concentration, and ability to sustain real-world relationships, Granger takes a more optimistic and empowering view. She shares real-life stories and surprising facts about our lives—both online and off—to shed new and fascinating light on the positive effects of the digital media revolution, showing us how we can personally learn, grow, and thrive by engaging in our digitized world.
The Digital Mystique includes the following
Connecting Is Just the Beginning
.YOU
Friending Is Trending
Love in the Time of Messaging
The Kids Are Online
The Senior Moment
The Passion of the Web
There’s No Business Like E-Business
Community Is the Key
The Difference a Tweet Makes
What We Leave Behind
A Stitch in Digital Time
- GenresTechnologyNonfiction
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2014
About the author
Sarah Granger
1 book83 followersSarah Granger is an award winning digital media innovator, who writes and speaks on the impact of information technology on our lives and our world. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including The San Francisco Chronicle, Harvard Business Review, The Huffington Post, BlogHer and Forbes. She was a contributing author of three books: Ethical Hacking, Shift & Reset, and Diplomacy, Development and Security in the Information Age. She lives in Silicon Valley.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 18, 2014
This is the perfect book to give as a gift to anyone who is struggling with how to make their lives better through technology (instead of worse!). With different sections for different areas of life, it's an easy read and Sarah has a great voice. If you're currently reading this review on your Goodreads app and pinning its cover at the same time, you're not the target audience for this book. Buy it for your mom.
May 10, 2017
As a web consultant, I was already familiar with much of the material, but I loved how Granger was able to break it all down into simple, easily digestible bites. I coach clients on how to use various aspects of the web, and some of them are brand spanking new, without so much as a Facebook account. I've been looking for a source I can refer my clients to for an overview, and now I've found it.
The book hits upon most every use of the internet, from personal connections to activism, so it can really help newbies broaden their digital horizons. Anyone looking to get more involved online should read this book first.
The book hits upon most every use of the internet, from personal connections to activism, so it can really help newbies broaden their digital horizons. Anyone looking to get more involved online should read this book first.
October 16, 2014
Writer and digital strategist Sarah Granger grew up with the Internet, beginning with BBSes (Bulletin Board Systems), learning HTML and building websites, and eventually graduating into the modern online social landscape. As someone who lives and works in the world of social media, Granger is the ideal person to write the guide for the uninitiated into a realm of social networks, avatars, and a digital world of people.
While it’s easy to be overwhelmed with information on a daily (or hourly) basis, Granger takes a gentle stance on how to enter the world of social media for those who are not online. Her advice is simple, and good natured, outlining the basics of multiple online platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, dating websites, and Pinterest, among others. But the real meat of this book isn’t the introduction into how to use social networks. It’s in the narrative that Granger constructs of her own story building communities and relationships online. Online relationships can take many forms, from friendships based on interests, groups of neighbors, or support groups around specific issues. Granger describes her early experiences building online relationships, meeting up with other teenagers in her native Kansas City. As the internet flourished, Granger met more and varied people, building personal relationships with other bloggers, or people interested in the same topics, like web design.
She also shares the story of her struggles with a medical condition, loss of a parent, and other intimate episodes in her life, and how her online community helped her navigate these difficulties. She found support groups and information about her particular medical problem, which helped her both physically and mentally. When her father passed away, and she shared the news via (Facebook), suddenly she was inundated with messages from people expressing their sympathy. These were her offline friends, online friends, clients—social media had helped Granger create a massive community across various networks and multiple aspects of her life.
What is particularly striking about this book is the underlying lesson of positive interaction on the Internet. Granger is focused on positive interactions: helping other people, developing projects for clients, and sharing her thoughts and opinions in the pursuit of open discussion and sharing. There is plenty of coverage today about the negativity that pervades life on the Internet, and she acknowledges this, but her larger point is that if you create a positive presence online, the rewards are overwhelmingly large.
Beyond relationships, Granger also spends some time covering issues that aren’t always thought of when people begin the adventure of social networking. For example, many people today share photos of their children online, which means that they will have a digital footprint that they can’t necessarily control. Previously, naked tub pictures used to be reserved for sharing from a photo album when a new boyfriend or girlfriend was introduced to the parents. Now anyone might be able to find those photos and use them against those children, even when they are grown up. Granger sets the example that she shares very few photos of her daughter, and writes about her rarely on her blog, but only after asking for permission to do so. Anything that is posted on the Internet is cached somewhere, so what you post should be posted with consideration of the future.
Another area most people don’t consider is what happens to someone’s online presence after they pass away. Facebook pages often become digital memorials after someone passes away, but at what point would you want to archive the page and take it down? Granger recommends keeping passwords to accounts in a safe place so that they can be used later to archive or delete profiles on sites, or setting down a plan for what will happen to your digital presence when you are gone.
While this book doesn’t give step by step instructions for the technical functions of each network, it does provide an excellent foundation in what social networks do and how to get the most out of them. Granger uses personal stories from herself and others to illustrate the power and potential of what social networking can accomplish, and skips or clarifies industry jargon. She also creates a fairly gender neutral space for this narrative; while she does spend some time acknowledging the harassment and dangers that women specifically face online, for the most part, she is speaking to a non-gendered audience. There are plenty of blogs, books, and articles devoted to teaching women how to use the Internet, usually drenched in pink and couched in clichéd “girl” terms. Granger’s book instead focuses on the benefits of social networking, providing practical advice and guidance for everyone.
July 14, 2014
Remember that little disclaimer on the Marketing Book Reviews page that said the definition of marketing was a little loose? The The Digital Mystique by Sarah Granger is one of those.
What is the Digital Mystique About?
It's a quick book to help you understand social media and everyday online technology. It covers the main social media networks, but also kids online, seniors online, online dating, running a business, and even social media when you pass away.
Who is the Digital Mystique For?
I think it's clear already that this book is not for you (assuming you're a regular Tap Dancing Spiders reader). But it is a book that you would purchase - several times. Buy it for that annoying aunt who keeps peppering you with beginner questions about Facebook. Or buy it for the grandparents wanting to chat to the grandkids online. Buy it for the parents of Tweens who think that because they don't use social media their little darling never will.
This book covers all those demographics and more, possibly a bit too much so. It's a little jumpy with covering so many people and this may change in the final edition. I have an unedited prerelease copy and in some parts it's very unedited, so I'm sure there will be more changes. Get around the jumpiness by marking the chapters applicable to that recipient, and directing their reading.
Another reason why your techno-curious aunt will love this book: she'll feel a connection with the author. Despite being active on BBSs as a young teen, social media and the technology behind it seems to still be a novelty to Sarah. The same as it is for the book's audience.
Save yourself from the frustrating questions this Christmas and put this under the tree. In the meanwhile, if you have a NetGalley account and are curious, head over and request a prerelease copy, like the one they generously gave me in the hope of a review.
Originally published at: http://tapdancingspiders.com/2014/07/...
What is the Digital Mystique About?
It's a quick book to help you understand social media and everyday online technology. It covers the main social media networks, but also kids online, seniors online, online dating, running a business, and even social media when you pass away.
Who is the Digital Mystique For?
I think it's clear already that this book is not for you (assuming you're a regular Tap Dancing Spiders reader). But it is a book that you would purchase - several times. Buy it for that annoying aunt who keeps peppering you with beginner questions about Facebook. Or buy it for the grandparents wanting to chat to the grandkids online. Buy it for the parents of Tweens who think that because they don't use social media their little darling never will.
This book covers all those demographics and more, possibly a bit too much so. It's a little jumpy with covering so many people and this may change in the final edition. I have an unedited prerelease copy and in some parts it's very unedited, so I'm sure there will be more changes. Get around the jumpiness by marking the chapters applicable to that recipient, and directing their reading.
Another reason why your techno-curious aunt will love this book: she'll feel a connection with the author. Despite being active on BBSs as a young teen, social media and the technology behind it seems to still be a novelty to Sarah. The same as it is for the book's audience.
Save yourself from the frustrating questions this Christmas and put this under the tree. In the meanwhile, if you have a NetGalley account and are curious, head over and request a prerelease copy, like the one they generously gave me in the hope of a review.
Originally published at: http://tapdancingspiders.com/2014/07/...
September 16, 2014
This is a wonderful book - full of rich anecdotes from women on the web living lives a little differently that those who came before. Friends, family, business, love, parenting - whatever it is, it has a lively, intriguing chapter. I'm serious - it's a great book. Sarah is a good friend so I know her intellect and deep goodness as a person but believe me - the book is too good to not review here just because of that.
February 14, 2015
I found myself saying: “I wish I had read Sarah’s book years ago”. Her genius is the simplicity of her message: we all have digital lives; and we better take control of it. Sarah can turn anyone into the person:
• Who understands all aspects of their digital lives
• Who understands how to parent in a digital world
• Who can help their parents who are just joining the digital fortress
• Who wants to help transform others
She is such a gem.
• Who understands all aspects of their digital lives
• Who understands how to parent in a digital world
• Who can help their parents who are just joining the digital fortress
• Who wants to help transform others
She is such a gem.
August 14, 2015
Perhaps if I weren't as well versed in social media and Internet technology this book would have been a helpful tool, but it's very rudimentary (e.g.one section explains why Facebook can be fun) and reads like a primer for the web-challenged. Gift it to your grandmother, but skip this read yourself.
September 4, 2014
Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review.
This book is probably best for those who have never gone online or have problems not understanding the Internet or social media. There is plenty of information in it for them. But for everyone else, there's nothing really new here.
This book is probably best for those who have never gone online or have problems not understanding the Internet or social media. There is plenty of information in it for them. But for everyone else, there's nothing really new here.
March 1, 2016
More appropriate for generations older than mine (Gen X), this is a pretty basic primer about the benefits of being online and connecting via Twitter, Facebook, etc. A few sections are more useful for those interested in curating their online presence, but overall I was disappointed.
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January 11, 2016302.231 G758 2014
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews