The Zero Marginal Cost Society: The Internet of Things, the Collaborative Commons, and the Eclipse of Capitalism

This book is so badly written that several times I almost stopped reading it. I then skim-read most of it, and it doesn't deserve more. Clearly it isn't written by Rifkin but by a couple of reseach assistants, neither of whom arer good at writing simply in plain English. Nor has it been edited to reduce a lot of repetition and overlap in the chapters.The internet of things is not nearly such a big deal as Rifkin makes out and a lot of the stats are almost irrelevant. The 'future of technology' is always different from what people like Rifkin predict.The one big idea in the book, that the internet of things and associated technology will enable humans to increase the efficiency of their energy use from 13% towards 40%, is both madly optimistic and completely unjustified by any evidence or calculations.The collaborative commons is indeed happening, but the most interesting stuff isn't to do with 'economics' at all, it's the redefinition of the artistic enterprise to define it, as it was until recently, as a gift.The book is worth 50 or 60 pages: an essay. The rest is waffle, and badly written waffle too.

This is probably Jeremy Rifkin's crowning achievement, pulling together a vast amount of research, technology, economics and human history into a coherent, highly readable book which offers accounts of how we got to where we are today as well as myriad visions of a bright future for humanity without dumbing down, avoiding macro problems or overly simplyfying.It stacks up very well in comparison to books like Postcapitalism by Paul Mason and Rise of the Robots by Martin Ford. It is particularly notable for it's consistent application of economics as part of it's analysis primarily tackling the tendency of internet based services profit margins declining towards zero and then extrapolating that this tendency is not limited to internet services alone.

Full of many inciteful ideas on how our economic system will be transformed over the coming decades, making life ultimately more purposeful and meaningful than the goods and services that we consume. The irony of it all is as Rifkin says, is that the success of capitalism leads to its own demise; something he by no means regrets. Underscoring the complex, the good and the bad within the capitalist system, (environmental degradation, exploitation of. Workers etc) he is hopeful of the coming era of abundance, an idea made possible by the coming together of various networks , allowing products, services and communications to be scaled laterally rather than centrally. A rather mixed obituary of an economic system, but a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Well written, good academia, rhetorical and policy mix. Gives an insightful and reasoned opinion as to how capitalism is evolving into the collaborative commons. Whilst i buy 90% of the theory i still believe that capitalism and investment is needed for new and better products, and that finance has to be made via some means.

A must read for anyone interested in the future of Commons Economics. Jeremy Rifkin is a futurist who has spent alot of time thinking about the past and how the present will reshape our future.

Easy to read.

Great book about the economical changes ahead (on-going already to be fully correct). Not sure that it will deploy without a serious fight such as a revolution or even worse war. Just look at how Uber is struggling in many place because the "establishment" - the old - fiercely fights against it.

A must read for any intellectual and/or transitional philosopher; in fact, for everyone out there. Style: cobbled together, incoherent. Content: in this case, it is the idea that counts.