LikeWar is a book by P. W. Singer about the weaponization of social media. The book explores how social media has been used to spread propaganda, manipulate public opinion, and interfere in elections around the world. Singer offers an alarming look at the capabilities of online disinformation campaigns and argues that we need to find new ways to defend ourselves against them.
For who is this book for ?
LikeWar is for anyone who wants to understand the frightening power of social media and how it’s being used to interfere in elections and spread propaganda. Singer provides a sobering look at the capabilities of online disinformation campaigns and makes a compelling case for why we need to find new ways to defend ourselves against them.
Pros :
- Singer is a well-respected author and thinker on the topic of new media
- The book provides an alarming look at how social media can be used to interfere with elections and public opinion
- It offers strategies for defending against online disinformation campaigns
Cons :
- The first con about this book is that it’s a bit dense. Singer packs a lot of information into his writing, and it can be difficult to keep up with everything he’s saying.
- The second con is that the book feels dated. It was published in 2018, which means some of the examples used are older than they should be.
- The third con is that the book doesn’t offer any real solutions to the problem of online disinformation campaigns
Learn more about the author
P.W. Singer is a strategist for the New America Foundation and Director of its 21st Century Defense Initiative, as well as senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. He has written ten books about security affairs and warfare, including four with Oxford University Press: Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry (2003), Children at War (2005), Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the Twenty-First Century (2009) which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize,[6] and Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War (2015).
Reader Reviews
“LikeWar is an excellent, eye-opening read. P. W. Singer does a great job of discussing the weaponization of social media and its effects on society.”
“This book is required reading for anyone who wants to understand the world we live in today.”
“In the age of social media, armies of keyboard warriors can influence world events in ways that were once unthinkable. P. W. Singer shows how trolls, bots, and cybertroopers are rewriting the rules of war-and what we need to do about it.”
“A deeply disturbing, but highly important book.”
