Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations

by Clay Shirky
Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations cover
Good Books rating 3.88
Business and Economics
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Waterstones
Paperback • £15.99
Amazon
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  • ID: 109
  • Added: 2025-09-02
  • Updated: 2025-09-10
  • Formats: 36
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
akastrategy.com · Unknown · 2025-09-17
positive 4.00

The reviewer appreciates the book's exploration of how the internet facilitates group communication and organization, highlighting examples like flash mobs and political activism. They also note the book's insight into the intimacy of online interactions and the nature of celebrity in digital spaces.

The reviewer finds the title 'Here Comes Everybody' fitting as it celebrates the ease with which people can come together and communicate online. They highlight Shirky's discussion on how the internet has enabled the formation of groups and facilitated real-world impacts, such as organizing flash mobs and influencing corporate policies through mass protests. The reviewer also appreciates the book's exploration of the intimacy found in online interactions, explaining why social media posts often seem trivial to outsiders but are meaningful within close-knit groups. Additionally, the book delves into the concept of celebrity, whether it's traditional fame or the influence of well-known bloggers, and how two-way communication is limited in these contexts.

Quick quotes

    I love the title of this book - Here Comes Everybody - and that is exactly what is celebrated here.

    Shirky discusses the way the internet has made coming together and communicating infinitely easier for people, and the ways in which the structure of certain groups at places like flickr or Meetup facilitate this getting together.

    He also discusses the intimacy found in groups on the internet, which explains why so much of the conversation on Facebook or Twitter appears to be so facile.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-09-17
mixed 3.50

The reviewer finds Clay Shirky's 'Here Comes Everybody' insightful in highlighting how digital technologies empower self-organization and collective action, but critiques his optimistic conclusions as overly simplistic and lacking empirical support. The reviewer argues that while smartphones and social media facilitate easy logistics and scalable network effects, they also enable harmful activities by authoritarian groups and terrorists.

The reviewer appreciates Clay Shirky's exploration of how smartphones and social media lower the transaction costs of organizing groups, enabling sharing, cooperation, and collective action. They highlight Shirky's points about easy logistics and scalable network effects, which make it effortless for people to coordinate and create valuable online networks. However, the reviewer critiques Shirky's conclusions, arguing that his optimism about the net value and political value of these technologies is not well-supported. They point out that while there are positive outcomes, such as online learning and philanthropic fundraising, there are also negative ones, like the use of these platforms by authoritarian governments and terrorist groups. The reviewer suggests that Shirky's arguments border on wishful thinking and do not adequately address the complexities and potential harms of digital technologies.

Quick quotes

    Shirky refers to this power as “organizing without organizations”.

    we are living in the middle of a remarkable increase in our ability to share, to cooperate with one another, and to take collective action, all outside the framework of traditional institutions and organizations.

    Unfortunately, no empirical benchmarks are really provided to back up this claim. Hence, it sounds more like a statement of blind faith than a logical argument.

mindfultechnics.com · Unknown · 2021-04-17
insightful 3.50

Clay Shirky's 'Here Comes Everybody' is praised for its accessible analysis of the Internet's impact and its role in enabling decentralized platforms like Flickr and Wikipedia. The reviewer appreciates Shirky's Coasean Floor framework but criticizes his overly optimistic view of the Internet and lack of critical evaluation of its downsides.

Clay Shirky's 'Here Comes Everybody' is a compelling read that explores the interplay between traditional institutions and new Internet-based platforms. The reviewer finds Shirky's analysis of the Internet's structure and implications insightful, particularly his Coasean Floor framework, which explains how decentralized networks can achieve what traditional institutions cannot. This framework helps understand the rise of platforms like Facebook and Flickr. However, the reviewer criticizes Shirky's overly optimistic and protective stance towards the Internet, arguing that his enthusiasm blinds him to the medium's flaws. The reviewer also notes that Shirky's relativist argument about not comparing the world before and after the Internet is limiting and short-sighted. Additionally, the reviewer agrees with criticisms that equate loud online noise with meaningful content, pointing out that much of the Internet's output is neither thought-provoking nor valuable. Overall, while the book is intellectually appealing, it lacks a balanced critique of the Internet's negative aspects.

Quick quotes

    Shirky’s book offers a clear, compelling, easily accessible analysis of what the Internet _means_ — its structure, implications, and how we might expect it to be used in impactful ways in the future.

    This Coasean Floor framework enlightens Zuckerberg’s frequent line that, even after launching Facebook, he assumed the global version of the platform would come from somewhere else.

    Shirky’s giddy obsession with the Internet and technology leaves him prone to protect the medium as a mother might her young, outspoken child.

dansiegel.me · Unknown · 2017-06-13
insightful 4.50

The reviewer praises Clay Shirky's 'Here Comes Everybody' for its insightful exploration of how the internet enables collective action and the power of decentralized organization. They appreciate the book's relevance in understanding modern social movements and digital communities.

Clay Shirky's 'Here Comes Everybody' is a compelling read that delves into the transformative power of the internet in facilitating collective action. The reviewer highlights how Shirky effectively demonstrates the shift from traditional organizational structures to decentralized, grassroots movements. They particularly appreciate the book's relevance in today's digital age, where social media and online platforms play a crucial role in mobilizing people. The reviewer finds the book thought-provoking and well-researched, offering valuable insights into the dynamics of online communities and the potential for collective action. They also note that Shirky's examples are timely and resonate with current events, making the book a must-read for understanding the power of organizing without organizations.

Quick quotes

    The book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the power of collective action in the digital age.

    Shirky's examples are timely and resonate with current events.

    The book offers valuable insights into the dynamics of online communities.

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