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Cyberia: Life in the Trenches of Cyberspace
This is an ideas-led, exuberant documentary about the converging strands of a new era, the empowerments of cyber-technology, and the precipitation of new ways of life. Originally written in 1994, it outlines the strands of the cyber subculture as it was emerging-- the favored drugs, the influential individuals, the hackers and their motivations, the science chaos and the complexity of fractuals. This book will endure as a reminder of how modern cyberculture came about--a note to the future form an individual perceptive enough to grasp the profound effects of the cyber revolution.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Douglas Rushkoff
117 books910 followersDouglas Rushkoff is a New York-based writer, columnist and lecturer on technology, media and popular culture.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 31, 2022
I read this when I was 12 or 13 and it blew my mind and changed my life. My curiosity about hackers is what drew me to it, but it introduced me to the insights from the psychedelic revolution, the magic of chaos theory and fractals, and ideas about paganism, and even included a glowing description of roleplaying games. The core message I remember was that our beliefs, concepts, and inner programming are incredibly powerful in shaping our lives and the way we see the world. It led me into even more mind-blowing books about LSD, including Timothy Leary's. I definitely remember being skeptical about the glowing endorsement of ecstasy and rave culture, though, even though love and oneness with a whole crowd did sound nice! The encouragement to explore inner realms of imagination and unusual states of consciousness was amazing and liberating. At any rate, I'm giving it five stars based on my memory of it, though I feel like I'd better re-read it.
October 1, 2019
The very best book abotu this topic. I laerned lot from this book — THANKS to authors.
December 6, 2014
There was a time before the age of Google buses, PRISM, and brogrammers, when digital culture meant psychedelics, house music and reconstructed paganism. Douglas Rushkoff managed to snap a picture at the very crest of that wave, capturing the philosophies, personalities and chemistries that made it a moment of such boundless optimism. Now, twenty years later, that optimism may have gathered a somewhat sad patina to it. But Rushkoff's prose is as crisp as ever, and his insights are probably even more valuable to the crises of our day. Anyone who thinks the internet should be more than a giant lifestyles magazine that spies on you would do well to read this book. Cyberia reflects how our most creative minds once thought it could be done, and points to how we might still make good on that promise.
February 25, 2011
So wonderfully dated.
About half this book is excellent, but somewhere around chapter 12 I started wanting to yell at Rushkoff. It didn't help that, for the rest of the book, the focus was entirely uninteresting, either to me or 1993-nostalgia-Cow; a world I want to run around and play in, but the camera keeps focusing on all the wrong, uninteresting things.
Also, there were several places where 15 seconds of research would have made it a lot less jarring (the "shee"? really?). EDIT: I just remembered the other one that really bugged me: when he says acid house music came from "an island, Ibetha, off the coast of Spain". Really? Not one editor (you had one, yes?) has heard of Ibiza? Basic fact-checking, augh. (It's pronounced kind of like Ibetha, but still. The copy-editor in me was all OH WHAT NOW?.)
But overall, a pretty good time-capsule of the moment from 20 years ago.
About half this book is excellent, but somewhere around chapter 12 I started wanting to yell at Rushkoff. It didn't help that, for the rest of the book, the focus was entirely uninteresting, either to me or 1993-nostalgia-Cow; a world I want to run around and play in, but the camera keeps focusing on all the wrong, uninteresting things.
Also, there were several places where 15 seconds of research would have made it a lot less jarring (the "shee"? really?). EDIT: I just remembered the other one that really bugged me: when he says acid house music came from "an island, Ibetha, off the coast of Spain". Really? Not one editor (you had one, yes?) has heard of Ibiza? Basic fact-checking, augh. (It's pronounced kind of like Ibetha, but still. The copy-editor in me was all OH WHAT NOW?.)
But overall, a pretty good time-capsule of the moment from 20 years ago.
December 18, 2015
This book was the primary reason that I moved to Northern California, hoping to make a new life as a hippie cyberpunk, so in that way I have to credit it with changing my life.
Lots of early-90s idealism here, and the whole thing feels a lot like a book-length _Rolling Stone_ article about some hot new counterculture trend.
When I first read it, the interplay of anecdote and cultural critique was really attractive to me; the narratives made all these media hackers and psychonauts seem real and worth meeting and collaborating with. Re-reads have not been kind; the technology references and conception of the Internet as a whole are increasingly dated, the promise of fully immersive virtual reality as some sort of singularity moment in human consciousness is as much vaporware now as it was then, and the stories are...kind of fake. You get the feeling that Rushkoff is either putting some fancy embroidery on some relatively mundane experiences, or that he's just making it up whole-cloth, or that some pranksters were pulling the wool over his eyes.
Perhaps I am a bit jaded after 20-odd years in Cyberia, typing this review into an information system that's instantly accessible by millions of people all over the world! Just imagine what kind of global harmony that will create, when data flows unstoppably through servers to carry liberation to the minds of...
Lots of early-90s idealism here, and the whole thing feels a lot like a book-length _Rolling Stone_ article about some hot new counterculture trend.
When I first read it, the interplay of anecdote and cultural critique was really attractive to me; the narratives made all these media hackers and psychonauts seem real and worth meeting and collaborating with. Re-reads have not been kind; the technology references and conception of the Internet as a whole are increasingly dated, the promise of fully immersive virtual reality as some sort of singularity moment in human consciousness is as much vaporware now as it was then, and the stories are...kind of fake. You get the feeling that Rushkoff is either putting some fancy embroidery on some relatively mundane experiences, or that he's just making it up whole-cloth, or that some pranksters were pulling the wool over his eyes.
Perhaps I am a bit jaded after 20-odd years in Cyberia, typing this review into an information system that's instantly accessible by millions of people all over the world! Just imagine what kind of global harmony that will create, when data flows unstoppably through servers to carry liberation to the minds of...
December 1, 2016
Techno utopianism from a mid 90s POV (well, it was written in the mid 90s)
At that point the internet (more often referred to as 'cyberspace') was heralded as a vehicle for the evolution of human consciousness). The ravers, psychedelics word and hippies were going to use it as a means to raise human consciousness, and as a non chemical means to help us all access the spiritual. But as we all know,in 2016 its all cat videos, Harambe memes and Donald Trump shitposting.
Actually, I say that, but I suppose psychonauts have their own well defined space on the internet As ever, Douglas' writing is still engaging… so I guess this has aged in a good way.
At that point the internet (more often referred to as 'cyberspace') was heralded as a vehicle for the evolution of human consciousness). The ravers, psychedelics word and hippies were going to use it as a means to raise human consciousness, and as a non chemical means to help us all access the spiritual. But as we all know,in 2016 its all cat videos, Harambe memes and Donald Trump shitposting.
Actually, I say that, but I suppose psychonauts have their own well defined space on the internet As ever, Douglas' writing is still engaging… so I guess this has aged in a good way.
March 6, 2008
Amazing book! In my opinion THE manifiesto of cyberculture.
Mixes technology with philosophy, religion, drugs, rpg games and art.
Very interesting style of writing. Mixes facts and reality with fiction.
Mixes technology with philosophy, religion, drugs, rpg games and art.
Very interesting style of writing. Mixes facts and reality with fiction.
July 25, 2016
interesting topic but the guy can't write, smh
March 12, 2021
A dated but interesting book works as a historical piece really. And a reminder of what could have been and perhaps could be still?
February 18, 2024
A fascinating document of a pivotal historical moment (to quote Kae Tempest) bringing to life some of the people, cultures, and ideas that (in retrospect) were poised to change the world. For better and for worse! I like Rushkoff's writing style - elegant, fun and serious at the same time.
But I do wonder whether the detailed conversations he reports are ways of bringing his own ideas to life, rather than accurate depictions of the views of the protagonists. (Did he really record and transcribe long conversations held in a club, with a rave going on?) His linking together of cyberculture and rave / psychedelics culture feels dubious to me - of course there were crossovers, but (at least from a UK perspective), cyberculture was only one small influence amongst many on the rave scene.
Nevertheless, it's great to have both documented, and I feel that the influences of early rave culture on the present day are also huge - in the Environmental and Climate Movement, in growing acceptance of diversity in gender and sexuality, in narratives of an abundant future beyond the violence of extractivism and consumerism, and so on...
But I do wonder whether the detailed conversations he reports are ways of bringing his own ideas to life, rather than accurate depictions of the views of the protagonists. (Did he really record and transcribe long conversations held in a club, with a rave going on?) His linking together of cyberculture and rave / psychedelics culture feels dubious to me - of course there were crossovers, but (at least from a UK perspective), cyberculture was only one small influence amongst many on the rave scene.
Nevertheless, it's great to have both documented, and I feel that the influences of early rave culture on the present day are also huge - in the Environmental and Climate Movement, in growing acceptance of diversity in gender and sexuality, in narratives of an abundant future beyond the violence of extractivism and consumerism, and so on...
March 19, 2018
A remarkable book about the early internet ("cyberspace") culture. What it lacks in narrative quality (although it's very readable for non fiction, since it follows the researcher, his interviews etc) it gives us in information about that era.
Throughout the book we see most of the founders of the cultures being into frugs, whether chemical or musical. They thought the internet was a web of minds and that being drugged helped us get into that web, become One. Once united, humanity would move into an new era of prosperity, happiness etc. Some of them give prophecies of such an age and the dates they give have already passed. Instead we all now what the internet has become and also how the real world has become. Sounds like they were too optimistic but on the other hand we didn't get a dystopia either.
Throughout the book we see most of the founders of the cultures being into frugs, whether chemical or musical. They thought the internet was a web of minds and that being drugged helped us get into that web, become One. Once united, humanity would move into an new era of prosperity, happiness etc. Some of them give prophecies of such an age and the dates they give have already passed. Instead we all now what the internet has become and also how the real world has become. Sounds like they were too optimistic but on the other hand we didn't get a dystopia either.
September 29, 2021
This book was an absolute trip! Highly recommend it for anyone trying to see first-hand what the internet & culture surrounding/building the web was like way back in the early ‘90s.
Love how he managed to capture rave culture, psychedelics, emerging technology as well as memes all within the same book.
I wonder what books will be compared to this for our present time?
Love how he managed to capture rave culture, psychedelics, emerging technology as well as memes all within the same book.
I wonder what books will be compared to this for our present time?
April 6, 2022
Fun little time capsule into the mid 90s - how people looked forward in time to how to use and integrate new technologies, how people looked back to the hippie era to inform values and best practices, how people lived in their present, in a broad variety of strange (and frankly short lived) countercultures.
January 20, 2023
Huh I think it's a 3.5 for me.
I'm kinda amused to revisit these kinds of books bc it gives me a weird feeling like ppl in the past tought abt sth that's already what we're almost living now?? I love it.
I'm kinda amused to revisit these kinds of books bc it gives me a weird feeling like ppl in the past tought abt sth that's already what we're almost living now?? I love it.
January 3, 2023
A current classic in my mind.
December 30, 2023
To paraphrase a review from 2011, ‘wonderfully dated’. Prescient, fascinating, and eye-opening for what folks were getting up to in SilVal back in the late 80s/early 90s.
January 14, 2015
Excellent book.. Very prescient, as it covers the earliest years of the internet, but also a lot more. It tells the story of what REALLY became of the counter-culture movements of the 60's as the tools of protest and rebellion became more technologically centered, and the book really spells out the 'battle' that is being waged between the power structure and hackers, and exposes some of the idealistic (and not-so) idealistic) motives of the latter. This is a book I should have read 20 years ago when it was published as I have, during that time, become interested in many of the topics presented. Highly recommended to anyone interested in where technology might be headed, or, in the early days of the internet.
December 1, 2009
great book, as when reading anything about the internet more then five years after it was published i was worried that it would be irrelavent but most of the information especially rushkoffs point of view was still very interesting information.
also having just read 'theecstasy club' only a few months ago it is very obvioous he wrote that based on the research that he did for this book. most of the characters from ecstasy club can be found in cyberia, or elements of them. some seem to be compied completely. many of the situations he talks about are also used in the ecstasy club. i would reccomend reading this if you enjoyed the ecstasy club.
also having just read 'theecstasy club' only a few months ago it is very obvioous he wrote that based on the research that he did for this book. most of the characters from ecstasy club can be found in cyberia, or elements of them. some seem to be compied completely. many of the situations he talks about are also used in the ecstasy club. i would reccomend reading this if you enjoyed the ecstasy club.
January 24, 2018
McKenna never cease to amaze me. How someone can be able to produce so much bullshit in one lifetime. I cannot count how many facepalms it took to get through his quotes. Cyberia is quite well written, but zippies are so full of shit. Rushkoff did a fine job describing cultural phenomena and some people mindset, but he could be a little bit more critical. In it's present form the book seems to endorse New Age too much for my taste.
September 28, 2014
Utter brainsex. How does one tap into the very nature of their own minds cohesive qualities. What is reality? Rushkoff does us all a favour and bridges the gap between cyberspace, drugs, media, tribalism, society as a whole and asks in a very succinct voyage, how do we become the masters of Cyberia?
March 29, 2016
An interesting history of the early Internet and culture of psychedelics (if a tad disjointed at times). It also had some good information on how these early cultures related to the Bay Area specifically, and talked about some of the early (and long since extinct) cyber clubs in SOMA. I would've liked to see even more information on that.
March 19, 2023
Cyberia is time capsule of the future of the internet from the 1990s. It’s like a real-life cyberpunk book, featuring hackers, psychedelics, and electronic music. It was fascinating reading this 27 years later, now that the obscure subcultures written about in the 90s have become somewhat mainstream through the very internet they helped build.
July 21, 2007
Given how much has changed about the internet since this book was published most all of the information is out of date, and little if any of the predictions Rushkoff made came true. However, there is still a lot of interesting people groups talked about in this book.
March 2, 2013
Hay tiempos que nos emociona haber vivido, aunque haya sido en versión austera y provinciana. Si eres sobreviviente del" PLUR" este libro será un back in time obligatorio... Y de paso querrás ponerte a escuchar un poco de acid House solo por los buenos tiempos.
February 9, 2008
Takes an open mind. Had a profound impact on my impression of the world.
June 28, 2008
More about raving than computers. Now, while raving was a grand ol' time back in the late 90's, I can't support poor bookcovering.
Want to read
May 3, 2009A research book for my 90's blog: Damn The Man, Save The Empire! at http://co-optingthe90s.blogspot.com/
Had to return to library. Will take out again soon.
Had to return to library. Will take out again soon.
February 14, 2022
Classic that chronicles the real live beginnings of Cyberspace and the culture that grew up within it!
February 19, 2012
Crap. Don't waste your time reading this.
April 20, 2016
I don't remember this book blowing my mind but it's been a looong time since I read it. Given the way the Internet has changed since then, this book should pretty much be considered a time capsule.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews