FREE: The Future of a Radical Price

By: Chris Anderson

Narrated by: Chris Anderson

Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times best-selling author heralds the future of business in Free. In his revolutionary best seller, The Long Tail, Chris Anderson demonstrated how the online marketplace creates niche markets, allowing products and consumers to connect in a way that has never been possible before. Now, in Free, he makes the compelling case that, in many instances, businesses can profit more from giving things away than they can by charging for them.

Far more than a promotional gimmick, Free is a business strategy that may well be essential to a company's survival. The costs associated with the growing online economy are trending toward zero at an incredible rate. Never in the course of human history have the primary inputs to an industrial economy fallen in price so fast and for so long.

Just think that in 1961 a single transistor cost $10; now Intel's latest chip has two billion transistors and sells for $300 (or 0.000015 cents per transistor - effectively too cheap to price). The traditional economics of scarcity just don't apply to bandwidth, processing power, and hard-drive storage. Yet this is just one engine behind the new Free, a reality that goes beyond a marketing gimmick or a cross-subsidy.

Anderson also points to the growth of the reputation economy; explains different models for unleashing the power of Free; and shows how to compete when your competitors are giving away what you're trying to sell.

In Free, Chris Anderson explores this radical idea for the new global economy and demonstrates how this revolutionary price can be harnessed for the benefit of consumers and businesses alike.

©2009 Chris Anderson (P)2009 Hyperion

Critic reviews

"As in Anderson's previous book, the thought-provoking material is matched by a delivery that is nothing short of scintillating." ( Publishers Weekly)

This book stands to relatively well

Despite the power of hindsight, this book gives an interesting peek behind the free curtain.

Very good book, Audible should read this

Very good book, it would be nice if Audible would read this book. I'm canceling my audible subscription because I can't take the copy protection.

Gghh

Much bcc ching ching n McNabb McNabb flybys ching McNabb vcbcbvb n bcc ching n bcc

Very interesting concept

Sometimes I wonder what is going to have to happen to set thinks right with the money for everyone.

Not that it's my responsibility but I think wouldn't it be nice if there was a place where we solve problems in a creative way - where you can feel what it's like to not need money.

Then go back home and perpetuate that feeling. They say it's like 3 weeks to create a habit but I find that restrictive for mindsets and managing feelings.

Anyway, I enjoyed these ideas and recommend considering them to see how it might fit into your world view at any point in the future.

Thought Provoking

An excellent foray into the concept of free and how the age of bytes makes the concept more relevant than ever before. The author approaches the topic from an economic, psychological, historical, technological, and marketing perspective. There's a lot to learn here.

Free indeed

Great book on the science of free. This explains free in a way I never understood. With some creativity and this knowledge, any business thrive using free. Worth the listen.

Very Interesting Concepts

I found this to be a well-rounded discussion of all meanings of the concepts of the word free, freedom not withstanding.

There were concepts that I had not previously considered. Additionally, this audiobook has the pricetag of FREE although it's not altogether 'free''. A worthwhile listen. The audio version is read with such enthusiasm that any written version would pale by comparison.

What an EXCELLENT book

This such a useful book to read. It is well researched, with a healthy balance of theory and case studies.

Definitely worth a read.

Worth the listen

Life has changed around us in the economics of both life as a consumer and in the business world. What business would give their product away for free? Yet, we accept free services and products all the time now, especially in technology, without really thinking about it. Chris Anderson explains the theory and the reality in a way that makes sense.

Different perspective on digital business models

Chris brings his eloquent writing to explain how and why things are different on the digital platform. Traditional businesses are undergoing digital transformation and rethinking business models is a must to survive and thrive. Must read.