Free by Chris Anderson

The author of The Long Tail unveils his radical vision of the new economy

What happens when advances in technology allow many things to be produced for more or less nothing? And what happens when those things are then made available to the consumer for free?

In his groundbreaking new book, The Long Tail author Chris Anderson considers a brave new world where the old economic certainties are being undermined by a growing flood of free goods – newspapers, DVDs, T-shirts, phones, even holiday flights. He explains why this has become possible – why new technologies, particularly the Internet, have caused production and distribution costs in many sectors to plummet to an extent unthinkable even a decade ago. He shows how the flexibility provided by the online world allows producers to trade ever more creatively, offering items for free to make real or perceived gains elsewhere. He pinpoints the winners and the losers in the Free universe. And he demonstrates the ways in which, as an increasing number of things become available for free, our decisions to make use of them will be determined by two resources far more valuable than money: the popular reputation of what is on offer and the time we have available for it. In the future, he argues, when we talk of the 'money economy' we will talk of the 'reputation economy' and the 'time economy' in the same breath, and our world will never be the same again.

Chris Anderson

Reviews

“ Turns traditional economics upside down ”

Guardian

“ Even if you're a freesheet-reading Spotify user, this is the best £18.99 you'll ever spend ”

“ an insightful, steady and scrupulous analysis ”

Financial Times

“ There are many books about the workings of the new economy, but Anderson ... [is] ... one of the most reliable and skilful guides. Free is worth the money ”

Management Today

“ an enjoyable jaunt through business land ”

Daily Telegraph

Paperback

9781905211494

July 1, 2010

Random House Business

288 pages

RRP $19.99
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Free

Chris Anderson

EBook

9781409065739

September 30, 2013

Cornerstone Digital

288 pages
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EBook

9781446409558

January 4, 2011

Cornerstone Digital

288 pages
Online retailers
EBook

9781409066163

September 1, 2010

Cornerstone Digital

208 pages
Online retailers