• FREE: The Future of a Radical Price

  • By: Chris Anderson
  • Narrated by: Chris Anderson
  • Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (4,794 ratings)
FREE: The Future of a Radical Price  By  cover art

FREE: The Future of a Radical Price

By: Chris Anderson
Narrated by: Chris Anderson

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)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Fascinating Peek Into The Future

Some won't get it, but for those who see and understand the lessons of this book, a vision of the future emerges. I can already see how our public education model is destined to change, even against great opposition. We can educate the world for less than what it costs to educate America. Teachers fear not, your role will be more valuable in the new models. Now you imagine what FREE will do to other industries.

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Insightful

A great examination of the Free economy and it the impact it's having on capitalism.

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Changed My Thinking About "Free"...

I enjoyed the marketing history on the concept of 'free'. The author shared more information on this topic than I would have imagined and it was all thought provoking. If you're an entrepreneur, you should give this book a listen. You may rethink the way you decide to promote your products / services. The content was great and I appreciate the author's narration.

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The future of business is here

Adhere to the ideas provided by this book and your business will thrive. Definetelly loved it

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  • 10-02-16

Free book about free. I love it.

much More than I expected and it was even free. this guy practices what he preaches. very useful and interesting info, and quite succinct. I'm off to see what other free stuff he has on audible.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A must read for anyone in business

This book is a must read for anyone in business or seeking to be an entrepreneur or self employed artist. It's not only a good breakdown of "free" throughout history and has great advice for anyone today. The case studies are very deliberate and show how companies today are either fully using the power of "free" and those that are not and have suffered. Highly recommend!

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    5 out of 5 stars

Everyone should read this book

I found such value in Anderson's observations that I developed an honors college course around it. This book details the transforming power of the internet and its use of minimal incremental cost to change the marketplace. Those who understand "FREE" will rule the future. Those who don't will fail.

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Worthwhile

This book answered a lot of questions and give interesting ideas. Its free but not a waste of time.

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Very informative.

Loved it. Really good concepts and stories. It opened up whole different world for me.

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very good info

great collection of information and case studies. surprised me in many occasions with insight and ideas.

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