The Age of Extraction: How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity - Hardcover
Synopsis
Tech platforms manipulate attention, extract wealth, and deepen inequality. In this new book, Tim Wu (The Attention Merchants) explains how we can reclaim control and create a balanced economy that works for everyone.
“The magic of Tim Wu’s The Age of Extraction is its simplicity. Wu deftly breaks down one of the greatest challenges of our age—the unaccountable power of tech platforms—into such digestible pieces that the solutions for what to do become dead obvious. Essential reading.”—Karen Hao, author of Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI
"It’s not just in your head—your online life is draining your wallet.... [The Age of Extraction is] a sharp and eye-opening introduction to how we arrived at platform capitalism—where no good click goes unmonetized.”—Kirkus Reviews
Our world is dominated by a handful of tech platforms. They provide great conveniences and entertainment, but also stand as some of the most effective instruments of wealth extraction ever invented, seizing immense amounts of money, data, and attention from all of us. An economy driven by digital platforms and AI influence offers the potential to enrich us, and also threatens to marginalize entire industries, widen the wealth gap, and foster a two-class nation. As technology evolves and our markets adapt, can society cultivate a better life for everyone? Is it possible to balance economic growth and egalitarianism, or are we too far gone?
Tim Wu—the preeminent scholar and former White House official who coined the phrase “net neutrality”—explores the rise of platform power and details the risks and rewards of working within such systems. The Age of Extraction tells the story of an Internet that promised widespread wealth and democracy in the 1990s and 2000s, only to create new economic classes and aid the spread of autocracy instead. Wu frames our current moment with lessons from recent history—from generative AI and predictive social data to the antimonopoly and crypto movements—and envisions a future where technological advances can serve the greatest possible good. Concise and hopeful, The Age of Extraction offers consequential proposals for taking back control in order to achieve a better economic balance and prosperity for all.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Tim Wu is Julius Silver Professor of Law, Science and Technology at Columbia Law School. He worked in the White House as special assistant to the President for technology and competition policy. The author of The Master Switch and The Attention Merchants, he lives in New York City.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Search results for The Age of Extraction: How Tech Platforms Conquered...
Stock Image
The Age of Extraction (Hardcover)
Published by
Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2025
ISBN 10: 0593321243
ISBN 13: 9780593321249
New
Hardcover
Seller: Grand Eagle Retail, Bensenville, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. Tech platforms manipulate attention, extract wealth, and deepen inequality. In this new book, Tim Wu (The Attention Merchants) explains how we can reclaim control and create a balanced economy that works for everyone.The magic of Tim Wus The Age of Extraction is its simplicity. Wu deftly breaks down one of the greatest challenges of our agethe unaccountable power of tech platformsinto such digestible pieces that the solutions for what to do become dead obvious. Essential reading.Karen Hao, author of Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altmans OpenAI "Its not just in your headyour online life is draining your wallet. [The Age of Extraction is] a sharp and eye-opening introduction to how we arrived at platform capitalismwhere no good click goes unmonetized.Kirkus Reviews Our world is dominated by a handful of tech platforms. They provide great conveniences and entertainment, but also stand as some of the most effective instruments of wealth extraction ever invented, seizing immense amounts of money, data, and attention from all of us. An economy driven by digital platforms and AI influence offers the potential to enrich us, and also threatens to marginalize entire industries, widen the wealth gap, and foster a two-class nation. As technology evolves and our markets adapt, can society cultivate a better life for everyone? Is it possible to balance economic growth and egalitarianism, or are we too far gone?Tim Wuthe preeminent scholar and former White House official who coined the phrase net neutralityexplores the rise of platform power and details the risks and rewards of working within such systems. The Age of Extraction tells the story of an Internet that promised widespread wealth and democracy in the 1990s and 2000s, only to create new economic classes and aid the spread of autocracy instead. Wu frames our current moment with lessons from recent historyfrom generative AI and predictive social data to the antimonopoly and crypto movementsand envisions a future where technological advances can serve the greatest possible good. Concise and hopeful, The Age of Extraction offers consequential proposals for taking back control in order to achieve a better economic balance and prosperity for all. "A concise yet century-spanning exploration of the power of platforms, what the future of capitalism will look like, and how to build economies that provide equality and lasting prosperity"-- Provided by publisher. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780593321249
Seller Image
Age of Extraction : How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity
Seller: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 49798787-n
Stock Image
The Age of Extraction: How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity
Seller: INDOO, Avenel, NJ, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 9780593321249
Stock Image
The Age of Extraction: How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity
Seller: Lakeside Books, Benton Harbor, MI, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Brand New! Not Overstocks or Low Quality Book Club Editions! Direct From the Publisher! We're not a giant, faceless warehouse organization! We're a small town bookstore that loves books and loves it's customers! Buy from Lakeside Books! Seller Inventory # OTF-S-9780593321249
Seller Image
Age of Extraction : How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity
Seller: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: As New. Unread book in perfect condition. Seller Inventory # 49798787
Stock Image
The Age of Extraction: How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity
Seller: CreativeCenters, Peoria, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 9780593321249
Stock Image
Age of Extraction: How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity
Published by
Knopf Publishing Group November 2025, 2025
ISBN 10: 0593321243
ISBN 13: 9780593321249
New
Hardcover
Seller: A Cappella Books, Inc., Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 371403
Seller Image
The Age of Extraction
Seller: Rarewaves USA, OSWEGO, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardback. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # LU-9780593321249
Stock Image
The Age of Extraction: How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity
Seller: Books Puddle, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 26403718824
Seller Image
The Age of Extraction: How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity
Seller: Blacks Bookshop: Member of CABS 2017, IOBA, SIBA, ABA, Argillite, KY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: New. 1st Edition. FIRST PRINTING W/NUMBERLINE & DJ WRAPPED IN CLEAR MYLAR. Features: Bibliography, Illustrated, Index, Price on Product. Physical Info: 1.1" H x 9.4" L x 6.1" W (0.97 lbs) 224 pages. Price covers book wrapped in paper, then bubble wrapped and secure ship in cardboard box w/track #. Thank you. Tech platforms manipulate attention, extract wealth, and deepen inequality. In this new book, Tim Wu (The Attention Merchants) explains how we can reclaim control and create a balanced economy that works for everyone. Our world is dominated by a handful of tech platforms. They provide great conveniences and entertainment, but also stand as some of the most effective instruments of wealth extraction ever invented, seizing immense amounts of money, data, and attention from all of us. An economy driven by digital platforms and AI influence offers the potential to enrich us, and also threatens to marginalize entire industries, widen the wealth gap, and foster a two-class nation. As technology evolves and our markets adapt, can society cultivate a better life for everyone? Is it possible to balance economic growth and egalitarianism, or are we too far gone? Tim Wu--the preeminent scholar and former White House official who coined the phrase "net neutrality"--explores the rise of platform power and details the risks and rewards of working within such systems. The Age of Extraction tells the story of an Internet that promised widespread wealth and democracy in the 1990s and 2000s, only to create new economic classes and aid the spread of autocracy instead. Wu frames our current moment with lessons from recent history--from generative AI and predictive social data to the antimonopoly and crypto movements--and envisions a future where technological advances can serve the greatest possible good. Concise and hopeful, The Age of Extraction offers consequential proposals for taking back control in order to achieve a better economic balance and prosperity for all. Seller Inventory # 17954