Blockchain

The Next Everything

By: Stephen P Williams

Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross

Length: 4 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

The perfect audiobook for everybody who's either never heard of blockchain or simply wants to know more about the technology which is about to transform the world we live in for the better. 

What is blockchain? Why does everyone from tech experts to business moguls to philanthropists believe it is a paradigm-shifting technology, bound to revolutionise society as significantly as the internet? Indeed, why is blockchain touted as The Next Everything? 

In this deft, fascinating, and easy-to-digest introduction to one of the most important innovations of recent times, Stephen P. Williams answers these questions, revealing how cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are just one example among dozens of transformative applications that this relatively new technology makes possible. 

He interprets the complexity into digestible anecdotes, metaphors, and straightforward descriptions for readers who don’t know tech and explains all of blockchain’s most important aspects: why this so-called digital ledger is unhackable and unchangeable; how its distributed nature may transfer power from central entities like banks, government and corporations to ordinary citizens around the world; and what its widespread use will mean for society as a whole. 

Taking us on a dazzlingly vivid tour through the systems predicted to soon underpin economics, politics, global trade, science, art and numerous other aspects of our everyday lives, Blockchain: The Next Everything is a truly extraordinary journey into our future.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Stephen P Williams (P)2019 Simon & Schuster UK

fairly generic

It was fairly generic. it didn't really provide a lot of fresh insights into topic that is now more than 10 years old.

Very vague

Lots of general headlines about what the Blockchain may be used for but little substance.

Diabolical

Terrible, terrible discussion about Blockchain. The narrator is monotone and uninteresting. Pretty much the same as the book.

Not what I hoped for

I really wanted to like this book, it promised so much. I wanted to have Blockchain explained clearly and be told how it is being used and why it works.

Instead Blockchain is explained quite poorly, or perhaps it is hard to understand because it is buried in constant hyperbole and political idealism. Every time you think he is about to make a real point, it is suddenly buried in exciting language which lacks any substance.

It definitely isn't helped by the narrator. Imagine a 4 hour infomercial and that is how it is read. To be fair to the narrator, you can hear his difficulty in reading in a meaningful way when the text lacks much of a coherent structure to follow.

Random sociological theories are very briefly referenced to add purpose to the text, with little success.

When neither the tech, politics or reasons why people view the tech with such sociological importance are well explained, and it is read as of they are trying to sell you a new type of spoon which is amazing and can be yours today for only £5, it is just a mess!

Perhaps the book is just a good editor away from from telling the author to make his point and build on it? For me it is a lost opportunity.

not great

it was a hard book to follow and lacked content. i still don't understand blockchain after listening to it