The Metaverse

And How It Will Revolutionize Everything

By: Matthew Ball

Narrated by: Luis Moreno

Length: 13 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Apple Books: Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2022

Amazon: Editors' Choice in Nonfiction

Fast Company: Selected Among 11 Best Technology Books of Summer 2022

Tim Sweeney (CEO of Fortnite-maker Epic Games): “Matthew Ball’s essays have defined, analyzed, and inspired the Metaverse for years. His book is an approachable and essential guide to the strategic, technical, and philosophical foundations of this new medium.”

“This book feels like a rare achievement―a definitive statement about an emerging phenomenon that could shape the digital world, the global economy, and the very experience of human consciousness.”―Derek Thompson, Atlantic staff writer and national best-selling author of Hit Makers

From the leading theorist of the Metaverse comes the definitive account of the next internet: what the Metaverse is, what it will take to build it, and what it means for all of us.

The term “Metaverse” is suddenly everywhere, from the front pages of national newspapers and the latest fashion trends to the plans of the most powerful companies in history. It is already shaping the policy platforms of the US government, the European Union, and the Chinese Communist Party.

But what, exactly, is the Metaverse? As pioneering theorist and venture capitalist Matthew Ball explains, it is a persistent and interconnected network of 3D virtual worlds that will eventually serve as the gateway to most online experiences, and also underpin much of the physical world. For decades, these ideas have been limited to science fiction and video games, but they are now poised to revolutionize every industry and function, from finance and healthcare to education, consumer products, city planning, dating, and well beyond.

Taking us on an expansive tour of the “next internet,” Ball demonstrates that many proto-Metaverses are already here, such as Fortnite, Minecraft, and Roblox. Yet these offer only a glimpse of what is to come. Ball presents a comprehensive definition of the Metaverse before explaining the technologies that will power it―and the breakthroughs that will be necessary to fully realize it. He addresses the governance challenges the Metaverse entails; investigates the role of Web3, blockchains, and NFTs; and predicts Metaverse winners and losers. Most importantly, he examines many of the Metaverse’s almost unlimited applications.

The internet will no longer be at arm’s length; instead, it will surround us, with much of our lives, labor, and leisure taking place inside the Metaverse. Bringing clarity and authority to a frequently misunderstood concept, Ball foresees trillions of dollars in new value―and the radical reshaping of society.

©2022 Matthew Ball (P)2022 Recorded Books

I actually enjoy this explanation of the metaverse

I was very impressed with this audio book great explanation for the metaverse, I would recommend this book to friends and family members

Very worth the read if you’re into the metaverse

I wish Matthew had gone deeper into imagining unique worlds and situations inside the metaverse. Combine this book with Snow Crash.

Metaverse novice turned into nerd

Book has so many facts and makes a lot of connections if you want to learn about the metaverse.

Highly recommended and truly interesting this was before the announcement of Apple Vision Pro yet the author nailed it.

Great explanation of many hurdles to establishing the metaverse

I enjoyed the explanations Mathew shared around the current obstacles to creating in the metaverse and why they exist. He has a grasp of current issues and a strong foundation he uses to build his case. I recommend this book to creators and developers considering the plunge into the metaverse.

Very enlightening.

I had no idea the computer world had grown so much and with so many facets. Predictions of future development are insightful.

required reading

This is a very useful book for understanding the metaverse potential in a world where none of us really know what the metaverse really is or going to be for sure. The author lays out technical requirements. social imperatives and tries to lay a financial set of underpinnings to appreciate the magnitude of what might or might not be coming. clearly none of our current existing hardware is up to the task, but he's an optimist

it is clear that there are billions if not trillions of dollars involved and it will be disappointing if this is centered around gaming and other trivial pursuits that might be best accomplished in a better balance of the real world and the digital one. for instance, where are all these billions of dollars coming from at a time where there is still hunger, poverty inadequate health care and unbridled racism?

it was a fascinating look at the growth of many of the 2D internet companies and their policies, creativities, innovations and possibly greed and how they got there.

finally, he makes a great point. whether you're an Android fan or an Apple fan, leaving our future to two megaplatforms probably is not in our best interest.

A very interesting look at the future

I was very impressed with this book. The author has clearly thought through this subject from all angles and did a great job laying out what will be required for, and influenced by the Metaverse. It can't get here soon enough.

Great way to get started in Metaverse topics

The book is a good introduction to the Metaverse topics: what is it? technologies involved? challenges? etc.

Most topics are touched at an introductory level so it's not a book for people already familiar with them

Outstanding

An excellent book on where the technology is today but also how far it needs to go before the Metaverse can begin to fulfill its potential. Also does a great job of covering regulatory issues.

Provides a baseline for the metaverse

As a reader of. Neuromancer and Snowcrash when 1st published and internetwork users since 1991 full domain owner starting in May of 1995 and experiencing every watershed moment the author shared and some not mentioned like UNC Chapel Hill’s virtual reality autodesk program. And David Beaver in Raleigh NC, Magic Stage work with Pobulus dance company and many others we had the very discussion back then about how to build out a Mutually beneficial and scale virtual reality world and his thought about it will be many things should not be lost on developers and users.

The difference is no one would’ve thought to go around the existing Internet protocols based as author points out upon Standard Generalized Markup Language (SMGL) which was our early basis for Virtual reality markup language (VRML) based sites to essentially build VR as a online homeowner association.