Книга Survival of the Richest: escape fantasies of the tech billionaires
The tech elite have a plan to survive the apocalypse: they want to leave us all behind.
Five mysterious billionaires summoned Douglas Rushkoff to a desert resort for a private talk. The topic? How to survive ‘The Event’: the societal catastrophe they know is coming. Rushkoff came to understand that these men were under the influence of ‘The Mindset’, a Silicon Valley–style certainty that they can break the laws of physics, economics, and morality to escape a disaster of their own making — as long as they have enough money and the right technology.
In Survival of the Richest, Rushkoff traces the origins of The Mindset in science and technology through its current expression in missions to Mars, island bunkers, and the Metaverse. This mind-blowing work of social analysis shows us how to transcend the landscape The Mindset created — a world alive with algorithms and intelligences actively rewarding our most selfish tendencies — and rediscover community, mutual aid, and human interdependency. Instead of changing the people, he argues, we can change the programme.
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‘A tremendous story … … the big takeaway is clear: your bunker won’t save you. Time to make nice with the butler.’
" - The Times"
‘A wake-up call to those of us without underground bunkers or peninsulas in New Zealand to take note of where the 0.001 per cent think the world is heading … … This book is a digital version of Dickens’s Hard Times, full of hoodie-clad Gradgrinds failing to see the value of the messiness in humanity.’
" - The Sunday Times"
‘Well worth reading.’
" - TLS"
‘Survival of the Richest reveals fascinating tidbits about the elite tech crowd’s post-apocalyptic survival strategies and the niche solutions being marketed to them.’
" - Science"
‘He cites a lot of research from news outlets, books, scholarship on technology, politics, human behaviour, and sustainability to drive home his point that technology is running society … Rushkoff’s anecdotes and relatable voice will attract readers interested in technology and business, as well as those who want to know more about how wealthy tech magnates live.’
" - Library Journal"
‘Rushkoff delineates the Silicon Valley mindset while suggesting alternatives.’
" - Library Journal"
‘Media theorist Rushkoff presents a fascinating and distressing account of how the very wealthy prep for doomsday … Rushkoff introduces readers to the purveyor of multiple “residential farm communities for millionaires” designed to provide safety for the upper class in the future; the concept of “seasteading”, the creation of “independent, free-floating city-states” in the ocean; and “prepper construction companies” in Texas that offer million-dollar luxury bunkers outfitted with bowling alleys and pools … This is an eye-popping look at some outlandish visions for the future.’
" - Publishers Weekly"
‘A media theorist dismantles the tech-centric fantasies of the wealthiest people in the world … he [Rushkoff] writes with knowledge and authority. The text conveys an appropriately urgent and serious message, while the closing section offers sound reason for hope and reasonable steps to take for a better future. A dense but thorough and authoritative condemnation of tech worship.’
" - Kirkus Reviews"
‘In this compelling short book, Rushkoff both explains what the billionaire class are hoping to escape – such as climate breakdown and mass migration – and how unrealistic it is … In an age where most of the media fawns over every idea, tweet or fashion choice of the mega-rich, from Elon Musk to Jeff Bezos to Bill Gates, it’s worth asking why. Rushkoff has the pedigree to challenge the bullshitters. While Silicon Valley preaches progress, innovation and transformation, “usually these are just euphemisms for conquest, colonisation, domination and extraction”. Their ultimate aim is to monopolise everything – and none of us should be seduced by it.’
" - The Saturday Paper"
‘If you’re after a primer on the various ills of late capitalism, then strap yourself in and enjoy this wide-ranging, freewheeling romp by one of the US’s most entertaining digital culture raconteurs … Rushkoff is an accessible, pithy writer, with no shortage of examples, analogies and anecdotes to string together … Rushkoff mixes in some pretty wild company on his global speaking gigs, and has serendipitous encounters with some outlandish figures.’
" - Gizmodo"
’[A] highly worthwhile read to feel equal measure of concern and hopefulness.’
" - NZ Booklovers"
Praise for Team Human:
‘Team Human serves as a reminder that we do not have to surrender ourselves to technology ... Joining Team Human means prioritising the social, transcending a digital inclination, and connecting as humans.’
" - The Washington Post"
Praise for Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus:
‘Powerful truth telling … The crux of the argument that Rushkoff makes is that the digital economy is a house of cards built on fictional growth metrics that drive companies to raise money, undercut human workers, sell on the public markets, and then — almost inevitably — collapse under the weight of public market demands.’
" - Forbes"
Praise for Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus:
‘A brilliant, bomb-hurling critique of the flaws in our digital economy, identifying what has gone wrong and what can be done about it.’
" - Financial Times