The Circle

By: Dave Eggers

Narrated by: Dion Graham

Length: 13 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

A bestselling dystopian novel that tackles surveillance, privacy and the frightening intrusions of technology in our lives—a “compulsively readable parable for the 21st century” (Vanity Fair).

When Mae Holland is hired to work for the Circle, the world’s most powerful internet company, she feels she’s been given the opportunity of a lifetime. The Circle, run out of a sprawling California campus, links users’ personal emails, social media, banking, and purchasing with their universal operating system, resulting in one online identity and a new age of civility and transparency.

As Mae tours the open-plan office spaces, the towering glass dining facilities, the cozy dorms for those who spend nights at work, she is thrilled with the company’s modernity and activity. There are parties that last through the night, there are famous musicians playing on the lawn, there are athletic activities and clubs and brunches, and even an aquarium of rare fish retrieved from the Marianas Trench by the CEO.

Mae can’t believe her luck, her great fortune to work for the most influential company in the world—even as life beyond the campus grows distant, even as a strange encounter with a colleague leaves her shaken, even as her role at the Circle becomes increasingly public.

What begins as the captivating story of one woman’s ambition and idealism soon becomes a heart-racing novel of suspense, raising questions about memory, history, privacy, democracy, and the limits of human knowledge.

©2013 Dave Eggers (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A vivid, roaring dissent to the companies that have coaxed us to disgorge every thought and action onto the Web . . . Carries the potential to change how the world views its addicted, compliant thrall to all things digital. If you work in Silicon Valley, or just care about what goes on there, you need to pay attention.” (Dennis K. Berman, The Wall Street Journal)

“The particular charm and power of Eggers’s book . . . could be described as ‘topical’ or ‘timely,’ though those pedestrian words do not nearly capture its imaginative vision . . . Simply a great story, with a fascinating protagonist, sharply drawn supporting characters and an exciting, unpredictable plot . . . As scary as the story’s implications will be to some readers, the reading experience is pure pleasure.” (Hugo Lindgren, The New York Times Magazine)

Good premise but don't be sucked in, it gets dumb

What does Dion Graham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Graham's reading is brave. He inserts a great deal more subjective interpretation than customary into not only line readings but narration as well. Many times his inflections add nuances to the text that the author may or may not have intended. I think this was the right choice though, as fortunately his instincts are usually very good, and so the performance adds a lot to the so-so writing.

Any additional comments?

If you are intrigued by the premise of this book - as I was - beware. It does not live up to the promise. It sounds like it's going to be a sweeping indictment of the digital age, but is actually a rather weak and shallow story of a single rather uninteresting character and her usually alcohol-fueled romantic relationships. Indeed Eggers presents a lot of interesting takes on the basic notion of social media and loss of privacy, but he hasn't thought his ideas through. He got in way over his head, and so the novel is mostly a big disappointment.

Big Brother Employer

The Circle is the leading tech company in the world. This cutting edge company is perfect in every way. The "campus" is just beautiful. Everything is state of the art. Every employee is friendly, upbeat and psyched to be part of a new movement, a new way of being. It is considered such a privilege to work for the Circle. But not everything is as perfect as it seems to Mae. She has doubts now and then....does she remain a loyal employee?
This book is cool and interesting. For the most part it held my interest. Of course is designed to make the reader think about the nuances of progress, the age of the internet and specifically all of the information sharing the goes along with our " logging on".
Eggers book is not perfect, but it is thought provoking and worthwhile.

Awesome rip on Scientology

I am amazed that no one has mentioned the very obvious references in this story to Scientology. If you want a scary dystopian read with a villain that is part NSA, apple, google, amazon, Facebook and Scientology this is a fun/scary read. It does seem a bit juvenile, but I think that's part of the point - how the young and innocent can be manipulated by nefarious individuals that talk a good talk. I just hope no one at the Church of Scientology reads this - they may get ideas.

well.......

Good story with lots of relevant, thought-provoking ideas about privacy, internet use, etc. The relationships in the story were somewhat stereotypical and card board cut out. Worth reading and thinking about.

terrible ending , very abrupt and incomplete.

Could have gone 100 ways, but it ends abruptly and very anticlimactically. Narrator was very good though.

Best book I've read/heard in years

A modern 1984, well written and preformed. Really pulls you into the pros and cons of our information society.

Good story. Great narration!

I don't recall ever enjoying the narration more than the story, but that was my experience this time. Oh, and the story was good.

Perfect Subject Matter - Average Story

I am beginning to realize that privacy in the digital age will perhaps become THEE topic of the 21st Century. The author succeeds at illustrating the odd optimism that surrounds the powerful new technologies of our time. The story itself falls a little flat because the drama is often captured in boring details....how many new 'likes'...a tally of new followers....a random IM conversation....a change in a personal score. These figures become almost meaningless. One funny thing is a customer service rating that goes from 0 to 100...but who would ever give someone a rating of 47 or 16? Even the author got stuck hovering within 96 to 100. That said, a big thumbs up to the author for tackling this subject matter.

It is almost impossible to read The Circle without asking ourselves tough questions. How do I feel about TOTAL transparency? Is a lack of privacy just a part of progress? Is a society with 'mass access-mass surveillance' better off? What are the real dangers? Will preventing certain crimes only open us up to new ones? And what is so great about average citizens who crave the power of dictators?

So, why is privacy so important?

The answer is CONTEXT. Surveillance may show or record factual information. However, who interprets that information becomes the key factor. Even in court rooms where all the facts are presented, two attorneys will explain those facts is WILDLY different ways and come to wildly different conclusions. One attorney interprets the facts as proof that someone is a brutal killer, while the other re-interprets the same facts to describe an innocent victim. So it will go with us. Total transparency leaves us in the hands of people who have the time and desire to interpret the facts of our lives in any manner they want. If we oppose powerful people, then we can be targeted and discredited with personal details and information. People whose full-time job is to gather or interpret the meta-data will have a dangerous advantage over anyone who makes a living doing something else.

Privacy is vital to human freedom. That is why the Constitution protects the right to private property...so that a government or any other group cannot invade your freedom. Privacy is a boundary line. Our 'digital self' is becoming a new type of property that is not yet protected. Just where are the new boundaries?

Definitely check out the book if this kind of debate inspires you!

Enough already

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I got frustrated with the plot. I found every new issue in this society so stupid. I was on vacation while reading this and had to put it down. It reminded me of one of the many awkward black mirror episodes-- the one where the girl gets shunned off a plane to her bffs wedding because her social media life was in shambles...So if you liked that episode you'll probably like this book. Spoiler alert! I did not like the episode. And in not a fan of this book...But seriously spoiler ahead....This ridiculous plot just got to be too much when the story got around to the main character going transparent. I stopped reading shortly after people start avoiding her. I felt that the protagonist is weak willed and annoyingly dense.

What was most disappointing about Dave Eggers’s story?

The unbelievable plot The unlikeable Mae The odd society that could never exist

Which character – as performed by Dion Graham – was your favorite?

Francis was on point

Do you think The Circle needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No thanks

Any additional comments?

I hope I can return the book

Great social commentary but...

There is so much to unpack, yet so little time. The concept was phenomenal but I would say the development from one idea to the next and the final outcome was a pretty underwhelming.