Grown Up Digital, written by Don Tapscott, is a fantastic book with the tagline – “how the net generation is changing your world”. After reading this book a few months ago, I feel that the true message can be summed up in just a few words, and I recall these words being mentioned a few times in the book – the kids are alright. The media routinely pushes their agenda by saying that the younger generations are lazy and disinterested. Thankfully, Tapscott dedicates much of his work to proving that this is not indeed the case.

The book begins by discussing some of the fundamental differences between the net generation – generally, those born after 1977 – and baby boomers. While the boomer generation was raised on television, the net generation largely has grown up with a “natural affinity for technology”. In a great analogy, Tapscott presents the idea of asking both a boomer and a net gener their thoughts on a high-quality photo of the planet Mars. The boomer is astonished at the technology used to capture such an image whereas the younger individual is focused on how cool Mars actually is. Essentially, being technologically astute is simply a tool into potentially thinking on another level. Technology is often the focus of the net gener lifestyle so we prefer to use technology to reach an understanding of a subject rather than being amazed by the technology itself.

I have always found that one of the best ways to get to know someone is to talk about the books that they read and enjoy. For this reason, I am publishing a list of many the books that are in my possession. This should give you a little more insight into my interests and let you get to know me a little better.  If you have any book suggestions or comments on the subject, please post below or send me a personal message. Stay tuned, as I will be posting a book review on Grown Up Digital by Don Tapscott in the next day or two.

Business
Business Stripped Bare by Richard Branson
The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken
Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Grown Up Digital by Don Tapscott
Wikinomics by Don Tapscott