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Start your review of Epic Win for Anonymous: How 4chan's Army Conquered the Web

review originally written for CCLaP, and likewise this book wound up on my CCLaP best-of-2011 listing.

Okay, let me start by maxim that I take never been on 4chan. I know what information technology is, I know what it does, and I know how it works, I've just never felt compelled to actually slog through information technology. But that doesn't mean I'm non utterly fascinated past it, and I certainly understand what an awesome (in both senses) cultural force it is, and how it represents everything new and amazing and unpredictable about the tim

review originally written for CCLaP, and also this book wound upward on my CCLaP best-of-2011 listing.

Okay, let me start by saying that I have never been on 4chan. I know what it is, I know what it does, and I know how information technology works, I've just never felt compelled to really slog through information technology. Merely that doesn't mean I'1000 not utterly fascinated past it, and I certainly sympathise what an crawly (in both senses) cultural strength it is, and how information technology represents everything new and amazing and unpredictable nigh the times we're living in. So of grade I was super psyched to get this volume (for $4 at the Brooklyn Book Fair). I'one thousand fairly close to the target demographic for it; I know enough about memes and the web and new media that there were a few sections I glossed over, but for the nearly role I'chiliad exterior of the hardcore internetters for whom this volume would exist like a primer for the lives they already lead. One of the best things that happened as a upshot of reading this was that I got to have the following conversation 4 different times:

"I'm reading this really fascinating volume nigh 4chan and learning sooo much."
"What's 4chan?"
"Expect, seriously? You don't know what 4chan is? Where all the memes come from?"
"What's a meme over again?"

Whaaa? Simply i of those conversations was with someone of my parents' generation; the others were my friends, my peers, people who conspicuously should know near this stuff. So I got to explain all about like shooting fish in a barrel ones like LOLcats and Rickrolling and the "Hide yo' kids, hide yo' wife" guy, and I got to feel very very savvy and in the know, which of grade I'm really non.

If y'all are, some parts of this book will diameter you--for example, there'southward a long entire chapter where Stryker describes in specific every dissimilar board of 4chan and what y'all'll notice there. Likewise much of the criticism of the book seems to be that people find the championship misleading, because information technology's really a volume about 4chan, with but a bit of discussion of Anonymous. I'd bet coin that the paperback edition gets an epilogue about Occupy Wall Street and Anonymous' role therein. But that'due south the indicate, isn't it? This is a book, which is fixed and stable, and the world of the internet changes and then fast that writing a book about it is well-nigh necessarily a losing endeavour.

Except it's non. Stryker covers a ton of fascinating ground here, which will not become out of date or out of touch. There's a sort of condensed history of hacking, which he dates back to the fifties, when a bunch of blind kids calling themselves Phone Phreaks "hacked" the landline telephone system past whistling into the receiver at a certain pitch to get complimentary long-distance calling. He takes us through the early, "Wild West" days of the net, covering Usenet and BBSes, and so traces the history of a bunch of sites I'd never heard of, like WELL, Stile Project, and Gaping Maw, plus many I have, like Rotten, Slashdot, Fark, Reddit, etc. He'due south got a bones meme primer, where he discusses memes equally a concept and then runs through many of the most popular. He talks well-nigh memes crossing over into the mainstream, like Rick Astley's live Rickrolling at the Macy'south Day Parade concluding twelvemonth, and into advertising, like the Old Spice Guy doing a xxx-second YouTube spot specifically for 4chan users, riddled with obscure references to their inside jokes. He has scads of interviews with tons of internet people, from execs at all the major sites to random /b/tards. He introduced me to a ton of stuff I never knew about, filled in the gaps on things I knew only vaguely, and gave me a really varied, balanced account of the internet today and how it got like this.

Naturally Stryker is an unabashed fan of 4chan, of /b/, of Anonymous, and of our crazy cyberspace earth, and it shows. He loves his discipline in all its weird, frightening, and unexplainable glory. Of course he touches on all the racism, homophobia, bullying, and stalking that are made possible by 4chan, and he pokes fun at the "normal" people who are horrified by the morning news' scare tactics used to paint 4chan and Anonymous as a den of sin and iniquity just waiting to prey upon your children. But ultimately he wants usa to see how astonishing and filled with potential this all is. Hither's one of my favorite lines: "The success of 4chan as a meme generator has challenged everything we thought nosotros knew almost the way people deport on the web. People are willing to spend shocking amounts of time creating, collaborating, documenting--all with no recognition. The implications are staggering. Give people a place that facilitates creation and sharing, and they will conjure entire civilizations." I love that! Information technology's so true!

Out of x: nine, unless y'all are a hacker or a /b/tard, in which case probably don't bother.

...more than

Oct 11, 2011 Jasmine rated it actually liked it

and then I accept a good friend I've always thought of equally a /b/tard. I don't know if he actually is i merely he'due south definitely a professional troll. I know when people think about 4chan they recall of child porn, but information technology's so much more than that. I could tell you but then the review would accept to be as long as this book. so I have a good friend I've always thought of as a /b/tard. I don't know if he really is 1 but he's definitely a professional troll. I know when people think most 4chan they retrieve of child porn, just it's so much more than that. I could tell you merely and then the review would have to be equally long every bit this book. ...more

Mar 07, 2021 Kael rated it did not similar it

Really cursed to read an bookish style serious explanation of why boxxy is the queen of /b/. 0 information that i didn't know already, and not nearly every bit disquisitional of the insanely cranked posts trickling out of the boards in the late 00'southward as it should be. Really cursed to read an academic style serious explanation of why boxxy is the queen of /b/. 0 data that i didn't know already, and not about as critical of the insanely cranked posts trickling out of the boards in the belatedly 00'due south as it should be. ...more

Jul 05, 2017 Clare O'Beara rated it really liked it

The author works as an online journalist and he decides to break Rules 1 and 2 and talk virtually what goes on at 4chan. I have to think that the title is an attempt at placating the denizens, or to take hold of attention. First he gain through a listing of the boards and explains that mostly they are for images, with additions, prank alterations and captions. Such as Japanese anime cartoons, cats, autopsy slides, gross diseases and cartoon sexual practice between men. We are subsequently assured that child porn may crop upwards The author works equally an online announcer and he decides to break Rules 1 and two and talk near what goes on at 4chan. I take to think that the title is an try at placating the denizens, or to grab attending. Start he gain through a list of the boards and explains that mostly they are for images, with additions, prank alterations and captions. Such as Japanese anime cartoons, cats, autopsy slides, gross diseases and cartoon sex between men. We are afterward assured that child porn may crop up but is swiftly removed and reported. /b/ is called the random topic board and many people, /b/tards, contribute anonymously. Insults are commonplace every bit is strong linguistic communication and seemingly calumniating talk. But if everyone including the affiche is being called a bad name, how bad is information technology really?

Then nosotros get a potted history of the boards, from 2chan a Japanese anime board which inspired 15 twelvemonth onetime Christopher Poole, calling himself moot, to showtime his own board chosen 4chan because he didn't speak Japanese. He invited anybody to join in and there would be no rules. Afterward he started an art site called Canvas.

We are told that many memes, cultural gimmicks, get started on 4chan as brilliant or bored people kid around with images and captions in spare time. Here the writer makes the mistake of thinking that everyone uses the social media he does. Reddit, Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, whatsoever, no, I don't use any of them. So much of what he was saying, yet nicely explained, was wasted on me. He makes one cursory reference to AOL boards in the early days, detailing that those days were slow and expensive due to punch-up modems at home, pay subscription and pay for time. I used CompuServe from mid-nineties and there is no mention. We had similarly separate chat boards with mods.

We get a mention that women are sometimes insulted or instructed to evidence images of themselves stripping on 4chan. If they do more fool them. This is a laddish chattery abuse-slinging civilisation. More recently than publication, a young woman was doxxed afterward stripping with, equally requested, a bottle of her medication, all the lads needed to detect out who she was. Her images were sent to her family and friends. Some /b/tards had spoken confronting doing this, but with no consequences to the doers, they proceeded.

At the end we get a expect at how some members working together formed Bearding and carried out DDoS attacks, mixed with other attacks, on Scientology and other groups they disliked. They managed to hack into a major security company. To read what I consider a better look at this hacking encounter 'This Motorcar Kills Secrets: How WikiLeakers, Hacktivists, and Cypherpunks Are Freeing the Earth's Information' by Andy Greenberg. However Greenberg, another journalist, did not appear to take been able to get anyone in Anonymous to talk to him whereas Stryker being already on 4chan got quotes from members of both. Neither man tells us that some women took function in the protests confronting Scientology.

Pages 286 - 304 comprise references and an index. I counted 16 names which I could be certain were female.
This is an unbiased review.
Postscript: I review this book on fifth July, and on 6th July I get a phishing e-mail allegedly from Blockchain saying in the headline that my access to a Bitcoin purse has been blocked.

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Aug 14, 2019 Naing Lin rated it really liked it

Kinda refreshing to read a book about 4chan from 2011. I believe it was published earlier /pol/ was formed. In that location was a fourth dimension 4chan is known as Net hate automobile for the left not other way around - against white-supremacists, animal abusers and pedophiles.

Nowadays 4chan is known every bit complete otherwise and this book helped me to explore in hindsight. Contrary to "Impale All Normie" by Angela Nagle, information technology do betrayal the core ideologies of 4chan such as "anonymity" and it subcultures despite both books

Kinda refreshing to read a book nigh 4chan from 2011. I believe it was published before /pol/ was formed. In that location was a time 4chan is known as Internet hate machine for the left not other style around - confronting white-supremacists, animal abusers and pedophiles.

Nowadays 4chan is known as complete otherwise and this book helped me to explore in retrospect. Reverse to "Kill All Normie" by Angela Nagle, it do expose the core ideologies of 4chan such as "anonymity" and it subcultures despite both books connect the dots around meme cultures. The old only trying to describe 4chan as mysterious neckbreads doing extreme stuffs and they support Donald Trump for the lulz. But in example of 4chan, what medias trying to portray is just merely a piece and could not stand for the whole community. At the very least, information technology'south different kind of bad-bad
organized anarchy.

For me, what Cole Stryker submerging to 4chan and his conservation with oldfags are more interesting to me than journalist try to examine the depth by referencing a bunch of articles.

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Looking for a book, every bit I was, to explicate internet culture to your mom? This will probably fit the bill. Not a lot of new information to anyone who has spent any corporeality of time poking around the net, but then that's not why I picked it upwardly. I've seen some valid criticism of this volume floating around: large chunks seem cut and pasted, there is piddling original content, and there is something sort of inherently shitty about someone taking a agglomeration of complimentary, not for profit content generated by othe Looking for a book, as I was, to explain net culture to your mom? This volition probably fit the bill. Not a lot of new information to anyone who has spent any corporeality of fourth dimension poking around the internet, but then that'south not why I picked it upward. I've seen some valid criticism of this book floating around: large chunks seem cut and pasted, in that location is footling original content, and there is something sort of inherently shitty well-nigh someone taking a bunch of costless, not for profit content generated by others, compressing it into a book, and selling it. If it's any alleviation, a book project like this (small print run, mid range publisher) is not exactly a fast runway to fortune. It'll probably proceed Stryker in tacos for a year, if he's lucky. And despite the opportunistic nature of the project and Stryker's unfortunate tendency to audio a petty snide, some genuine idealism shines through. It'southward clear that Stryker really wants to communicate to a non-cyberspace addicted audience what is and then beautiful and so horrifying about the cyberspace, and that what'due south really important is fighting for our freedom to express ourselves either mode. It would have been nice if this volume had delved a little more into the ethos of geek culture but whatever. There are other sources for that. And the trip down meme memory lane was really quite enjoyable.
Then, in brusk, I think my parents, and people like them, who are baffled by alarmist news specials almost legions of unhinged hackers lurking around the net causing random mayhem, will learn a lot, which is all I really hoped for from this book. ...more than

I went into this volume expecting an assay and history of Anonymous the hacker group, but the book focuses more than on a history of internet memes and how they ascend primarily from 4chan, Anonymous' habitation. The book is a great walk down memory lane for anyone who'due south been on the Internet since at least the 90s, reminding you that sites like Stile Project and Fark were places yous used to love visiting. It too reminds you of the sharp depiction betwixt the pre-Facebook Net, where anonymity was th I went into this book expecting an analysis and history of Anonymous the hacker group, but the book focuses more than on a history of internet memes and how they arise primarily from 4chan, Bearding' home. The book is a great walk downwardly memory lane for anyone who's been on the Internet since at least the 90s, reminding y'all that sites like Stile Project and Fark were places y'all used to love visiting. It also reminds you lot of the sharp delineation between the pre-Facebook Internet, where anonymity was the norm, to post-Facebook Internet, where real identities are a virtually requirement. But the book doesn't offer anything new to those of us in the pre-Facebook crowd. ...more

Sep 03, 2011 Rick rated it information technology was amazing

Information technology's interesting, no affair how much you think you lot proceed up on this stuff, there is still more to acquire. Cole provides a great primer about Bearding and 4Chan, and a counterbalanced, fair portrayal of the communities behind it. The history, too, is a good time. A trip down retention lane. BBSes. The Well. Usenet. The good one-time days? Maybe. Pretty timely volume, too, considering all the activeness this summer. Cole manages to piece of work in LulzSec and the events with Sony.

My master feeling in reading this was missing

It's interesting, no matter how much you think yous keep up on this stuff, there is yet more than to learn. Cole provides a great primer about Anonymous and 4Chan, and a balanced, off-white portrayal of the communities behind it. The history, too, is a good time. A trip down retentivity lane. BBSes. The Well. Usenet. The good one-time days? Maybe. Pretty timely book, too, considering all the action this summer. Cole manages to work in LulzSec and the events with Sony.

My principal feeling in reading this was missing Project Chanology, and wishing that came back. God. Scientology.

And cheers, Cole, for not making me seem like an evil marketer. Just if any of you Anonymous are reading this, don't worry. I quit that job.

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Mar 18, 2012 rob rated information technology did non like it

The problem with this volume was that it was positioned and marketed as a look deep inside Anonymous. Instead it was a primer on weird spider web civilization for outsiders. At that place's a place for that, but that's not what I was looking for. The problem with this volume was that information technology was positioned and marketed equally a await deep inside Anonymous. Instead information technology was a primer on weird web culture for outsiders. At that place's a place for that, but that'due south not what I was looking for. ...more than

Well, I picked this book up quite a few years agone at present and finally read information technology. It was not what I was expecting. I thought it would be a historical look at the big take-downs of Anonymous. Instead, it was a history of the social side of the internet. I didn't need that but it was interesting to realize how many sites I've completely forgotten virtually over the years. The book focussed a lot on 4chan which makes sense since this is where Bearding congregates and organizes themselves. Stryker finally got Well, I picked this book up quite a few years ago now and finally read it. Information technology was not what I was expecting. I idea it would be a historical look at the large have-downs of Bearding. Instead, it was a history of the social side of the internet. I didn't demand that but information technology was interesting to realize how many sites I've completely forgotten virtually over the years. The book focussed a lot on 4chan which makes sense since this is where Bearding congregates and organizes themselves. Stryker finally got to covering some of Anonymous' "wins" (not so ballsy) in the final tenth of the book.

I feel stupid wasting $xx on the signed copy. It actually was a misleading sale.

The volume uses very vile language and does not sensor what it is conveying from sites like 4chan (salvage yourself and don't go there). There really should be a stronger language warning on this book as I really didn't need to read some of his examples nor try to visualize any of them. 🤮

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February 27, 2022 Wendy rated it liked it

I don't know a lot most Bearding and picked the volume upward a second hand book off-white, so I didn't take whatever expectations. I didn't know anything about 4Chan, and I just knew a trivial about Anonymous. The first three quarters was adequately interesting, the terminal quarter was dull. Anonymous' 'wins' appear pretty lack luster, and Stryker offers zero distinction between brutal bullying and social activism. He seems to give tacit support to the idea that the peradventure good stuff makes the vile stuff ok.

The takea

I don't know a lot almost Anonymous and picked the book up a second hand book off-white, and then I didn't take any expectations. I didn't know annihilation about 4Chan, and I simply knew a picayune about Anonymous. The commencement three quarters was fairly interesting, the last quarter was tiresome. Bearding' 'wins' announced pretty lack luster, and Stryker offers zero distinction between brutal bullying and social activism. He seems to give tacit support to the thought that the mayhap skilful stuff makes the vile stuff ok.

The takeaway was Anonymous doesn't really be. It's a name shared by a disparate group of people, some of whom not bad children to the bespeak of causing them mental illness, and others who accept downward major government organisations. They sound like dicks, only so I'one thousand a NORP.

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May 20, 2020 Dr J rated it liked information technology

Interesting read and report on the fashion of pseudo-anonymity and the meme culture. The churn of creativity and the freedom of beingness anonymous to a indicate - hither is when the moral compass is missing or miss-tuned or tuned just to shock takes over and hence, four-chan is created.

Most fun part - the PDF of this volume was (and always is) bachelor equally a torrent as the whole of 4chan got pissed off at the author

Thought this would focus more on Bearding and not on the many boards of 4chan.

Yawn-fest for anyone who already has knowledge on the subject.

A pretty misleading title for a book that by and large talks well-nigh the history of net memes and how they originate on 4chan.

As a immature person having spent my formative teenage years equally a web denizen, and as someone who spends a bulk of her time immersed in the unique internet culture, learning nigh "Ballsy Win For Bearding" meant I could notice a not-fiction book relevant to my interests, on a subject both familiar and foreign to me. I heard about the volume from the author himself on the website Reddit--thus, I was in the primal demographic.

I am, admittedly, a terrible reviewer. I am notoriously easy to please; I recom

As a young person having spent my determinative teenage years as a web citizen, and every bit someone who spends a bulk of her time immersed in the unique internet culture, learning about "Epic Win For Bearding" meant I could find a non-fiction volume relevant to my interests, on a subject both familiar and foreign to me. I heard about the book from the writer himself on the website Reddit--thus, I was in the key demographic.

I am, admittedly, a terrible reviewer. I am notoriously like shooting fish in a barrel to delight; I recommend anyone wishing to detect a more solid opinion should accept my words lightly. With this disclaimer, I keep.

Over the years I have been in and out of the Anon culture as a bystander, a fringe participant. In my high schoolhouse days, I had many friends who frequented 4chan's /b/ board and identified as /b/tards; by proxy, I was a /b/tard simply due to my recognition of memes and slang. My proximity to /b/ did not teach me to beloved the community, but to fearfulness it. My friends bragged about raids (many of them participated in the infamous Habbo Hotel raids) and freely snarked lulz-worthy internet candidates. I watched from the sidelines, fascinated, amused and terrified that I could get a target. Perhaps one can chalk it to age, or to the abiding social paranoia I experience daily, but I was scared that I would slip up and taint my online identity, causing myself to be a target for the ruthless Anons. I plugged myself up on the internet at a time when many people were exposing themselves, and, in my perception, being punished for it.

Stryker's book'south number one takeaway message for me was that this is non true, and it has never been true. Numerous times, Stryker refers to "breathless exposés" done by nightly media outlets about the dangers of Bearding, leading the public to believe that the group is a agglomeration of no-good, hate-filled terrorists who volition destroy everything you know and love. The analyses, the history and the first-manus information from community founders detailed in Stryker'due south book depict /b/ and Anonymous as they truly are: a diverse community of creatives people, oriented both in the cultivation and propagation of unique internet culture and in the spread of justice and broad-spread social activism. Who tin't get behind these movements?

Stryker does not hide that some of Anonymous'due south practices are a bit on the shady side; he does not apologize for some of the major drama that Anonymous has caused, does not try to do harm command, only he explains why it happened. The number ane affair Stryker's book cleared upward for me was the very concept of Anonymity as it is used in an internet context. It is not so much a mask to hibernate behind as a move that, in most cases, represents the public's will and true desires, subjects that could not be shared when attached to a proper name and confront because of real life repercussions.

I approximate what I would say nigh this book is that anyone who feels they do not understand the reviled "Internet Hate Machine" should definitely try to read the book. It explains and details the rising of Anonymous also as the ascent of internet culture every bit a whole. To anyone in the loop, it is a benign read to learn about the groundwork workings of a website that even people in the know may be fuzzy on. To anyone who has never heard of the site, their conquests are unforgettable and well-documented, and, equally is the usual in mass media, an unwarranted amount of fearfulness is attached to this movement that is harmless to the individual. Annihilation leaked past Anonymous will nearly likely not lead to your untimely decease. It takes the terror out of Anonymous, and more chiefly provides a very strong message: don't want to exist targeted past Anonymous? Live life well, live information technology free of corruption and live it morally, but, most importantly, don't accept yourself as well seriously. In the stop, almost of it is done for the lulz.

Bearding is one of the most influential movements of our time. I would recommend anyone interested in technology, human interaction and the organization and success of activist movements check out the volume to run into just how it reached this betoken; merely, if these things exercise not involvement you, you could also read it to accept some of the horrific mystique out of the collective.

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It's a book almost 4chan. In a way, it's a fantastic book, considering if you want to read a book about 4chan, this is pretty much the only game in boondocks. In another way, it's a book almost 4chan.

The championship implies it'due south nigh uppercase-A Anonymous, the semi-political group of scientology protestors/internet liberty fighters that grew out of 4chan and, while the book does cover that, that's only a very pocket-size portion of the unabridged book.

Most of the book is devoted to the germination of 4chan, it'south history root

It's a volume near 4chan. In a mode, information technology's a fantastic book, because if y'all want to read a book nearly 4chan, this is pretty much the only game in town. In another way, it'due south a volume well-nigh 4chan.

The title implies it's almost capital-A Anonymous, the semi-political group of scientology protestors/cyberspace freedom fighters that grew out of 4chan and, while the volume does encompass that, that'due south but a very minor portion of the entire book.

Most of the volume is devoted to the formation of 4chan, it's history rooted in other chan boards, the various types of boards, and of class /b/. Lots of chapters are devoted to /b/'s raids similar in Second Life and Habbo Hotel, so eventually information technology gets to Projection Chanology and other protests.

It'southward quite current - including some pretty recent lulzy material, though I was irritated during the covering of the Jessie Slaughter incident that no mention was made of the fact that Jessie's father died, which is a critical piece of the story.

Ultimately, the book sometimes seems drastic for content, and it'due south clear that not even the author thinks 4chan is really worthy of an entire book. But for the well-nigh part, it's an entertaining read, and as a longtime lurker on /b/, /five/, /tv/, and a few other boards, I plant Cole's descriptions to be surprisingly proficient.

The book definitely paints as positive a portrait of 4chan every bit possible, frequently touching on the value of a completely anonymous identify to mail service content. Stryker is, overall, eager to defend 4chan as much as possible, talking up the strengths of the lath when appropriate, discussing with an even-handed fairness the more trollish behaviors such as raids, and rightfully calling 4chan out on some of it'due south shittiest incidents.

This volume is like the anti book about Facebook, because it'southward about the site that is the anti-facebook. If you like internet civilisation or you know a little well-nigh 4chan but are agape to visit yourself, the book is worth reading.

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Mar 12, 2012 Garryg rated it really liked it

I can see why some people have given this volume five stars, and I tin see why others have given it two. I've had the occasional peek at 4chan, merely never really got into it. Then over again I'm not the target 4chan demographic.
As far as the book goes I'd say it was one of the most interesting not-fiction books I've ever read, and I've read a few...
I liked its initial explanation of memes and idea this led into the caption of 4chan very well. I institute the whole 4chan matter utterly readable and int I tin run across why some people accept given this book five stars, and I can encounter why others accept given it two. I've had the occasional peek at 4chan, simply never really got into it. So again I'm not the target 4chan demographic.
As far every bit the book goes I'd say it was one of the most interesting non-fiction books I've e'er read, and I've read a few...
I liked its initial explanation of memes and idea this led into the explanation of 4chan very well. I establish the whole 4chan thing utterly readable and interesting, but when information technology got to the history part information technology was genuinely unputdownable for me. You see I call up all that stuff! I as well recollect first looking at 4chan when it was notwithstanding relatively new. And although I hadn't visited any of these sites for more years than I care to remember, I was still nevertheless very genuinely sad to learn of their demise, or commercialisation. Something is lost in their passing... Something horrible peradventure, just however something none the less, a certain sense of early 2000'south Stile you may say ;)
I thought there was enough coverage of the actual Bearding group to give an thought of what this really is all almost, although I agree more than would have been interesting.
I've been around the Cyberspace too long to believe all the media nonsense surrounding Anonymous, but in a sense I think I'thou pretty much in the target audience for this volume. I know of all the things mentioned, simply not all the 'whats' and 'hows' of them. Overall an interesting and informative read if yous are nor immersed in this civilization simply are open up minded enough to be interested and take an objective look.

I now consider myself an honorary oldfag ;)

Proceed the internet gratuitous /b/

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Apr 29, 2014 Krista rated it it was ok

"Epic Win" is a badly titled book.

It is, in reality, a story of the development of Cyberspace culture, focusing heavily on anonymous social networking (4Chan, Reddit, and others). It discusses the origins of some popular memes and Net characters, as well as the extent to which their fame penetrated mass media.

The downside, nonetheless, is--well, at least 3-fold:
1.) For a book about Bearding, at least three/4 of the book doesn't accept anything to do with Anonymous. The author mentions the differen

"Epic Win" is a badly titled volume.

It is, in reality, a story of the evolution of Internet culture, focusing heavily on anonymous social networking (4Chan, Reddit, and others). Information technology discusses the origins of some popular memes and Cyberspace characters, as well equally the extent to which their fame penetrated mass media.

The downside, however, is--well, at least three-fold:
1.) For a book virtually Anonymous, at least 3/4 of the book doesn't have anything to do with Anonymous. The author mentions the divergence between /b/ and Anonymous, but we barely delve into the topic (the end of the book). The depiction between the two is blurred, and the title/embrace go farther in making this mistake.
2.) The writer writes in a way that is embarrassing. The cool affair about the Internet is that it isn't cool. (Hence the fame of Keyboard Cat.) Quoting how he found image XYZ crawly simply makes one blench in second-mitt embarrassment. Yes, a person can savour, admire, and be heavily amused past Internet goofiness, but there's a line. Such diction does not ring true. (Talking to someone in existent life about the "lulz" is some other cringer.)
3.) The author blurs over the problems with hate emerging from /b/. Indeed, the volume reinforces the sexism prevalent by discussing how users talk about "girls." While the author acknowledges /b/ can be a cesspool of various biogtry, mostly for the purposes of sheer shock value, he fails to concur the users genuinely answerable. Regardless of intention, nastiness deserves to exist called out for what it is.

And so, overall, a mixed bag--this book is of some interest in charting Internet developments, only it certainly has limits.

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I've always regarded 4chan as a cesspool of moral depravity where people gather to spread the kind of hate that is and then icky these they're also agape to do it in the existent world.
I was then wrong. Of course I was; I had merely visited the site a few times and never had any idea what was happening earlier my web-browsing eyes.
I'k non a huge book reviewer then I'll continue this 1 short. The book'due south usefulness is in how it familiarizes the outsider with the inside evolution and happenings of Bearding. I've e'er regarded 4chan every bit a cesspool of moral depravity where people assemble to spread the kind of hate that is so disgusting these they're too afraid to do it in the real world.
I was so wrong. Of course I was; I had only visited the site a few times and never had any idea what was happening earlier my spider web-browsing eyes.
I'thousand not a huge book reviewer so I'll go on this one curt. The book's usefulness is in how information technology familiarizes the outsider with the within development and happenings of Bearding. I now take a more enlightened appreciation for the movements of Bearding towards social justice. The whole thing is a terrifically interesting phenomenon the world has never seen before; nameless figures gather en mass to fulfill unique and poignant missions not directed by any one leader, nor to fulfill any private ego's aims. These movements are collective and can be launched for the collective good.
Some critics argue that Stryker is taking reward of the situation past non offering anything new and simply explaining Anonymous to the layman. However I feel that he is fulfilling a need and if he'south going to make coin from that, than so be it! That's the way the world works. At least he's given u.s. a quality book, and not a crappy one. ...more than

Such a lazy, stupid volume. I tin can't believe how petty effort went into this. It's just a bunch of i paragraph descriptions of stuff you could google in x seconds. In that location'due south a chapter that'southward literally just a listing of 4chan topics. Could you go any lazier?

In the introduction, Stryker basically admits this book has the depth of a drained kiddie pool:

4chan is a multimedia experience, and there's only so much data that can be conveyed on the printed folio. I highly encourage the reader to read

Such a lazy, stupid book. I tin't believe how petty try went into this. It'south just a bunch of one paragraph descriptions of stuff you could google in 10 seconds. At that place's a affiliate that's literally but a list of 4chan topics. Could you get any lazier?

In the introduction, Stryker basically admits this book has the depth of a drained kiddie pool:

4chan is a multimedia experience, and there's only so much information that tin be conveyed on the printed page. I highly encourage the reader to read this volume near a computer so you can expect upwardly pertinent data as you get. If you lot're having trouble wrapping your head effectually a specific concept, online resource similar Google, Wikipedia and Know Your Meme will aid fill in the blanks.

Translation: "I didn't bother coming up with a thesis or doing whatever actual research. Try the web instead!"

If you need to get up to speed on memes, effort Know Your Meme.

If yous're interested in the actual concept of Anonymous, this book will give you zero insight into that phenomenon.

Hopefully someday a more thoughtful author will tackle the subject field.

...more

The author must have changed the championship in the last infinitesimal with the massive publicity Anonymous has generated. Well-nigh of the book is well-nigh 4chan & meme civilization and only a chapter is defended to bearding. He tries to go behind the gore and depravity , which has come up to ascertain 4chan and tries to explain that all is not evil. I liked the parts of the volume which explains events which happened earlier a decade- Usenets, Bbs ,origins of meme civilisation, eternal september. something aweful and fifty-fifty ED. I ha The author must accept changed the title in the concluding minute with the massive publicity Anonymous has generated. About of the book is virtually 4chan & meme civilisation and just a chapter is dedicated to anonymous. He tries to go behind the gore and depravity , which has come up to define 4chan and tries to explain that all is not evil. I liked the parts of the book which explains events which happened before a decade- Usenets, BBS ,origins of meme civilization, eternal september. something aweful and even ED. I accept been following nearly newsreports on the more than recent developments - not much of a value add together in those chapters. Definitely a good read for parents of kids who seem to spend a lot of time on 4chan. A low-cal read for someone curious on what the Internets has been upto offlate. In summary - I would much rather adopt to lurk on reddit rather than run a risk whatever misadventure in the randomness of 4chan. ...more than

I began reading this book with enjoyment, merely after reading a quarter of the volume I started to wonder when the subject area matter was going start focusing less on 4chan and more than on Anonymous. Based on the title, cover, and description of the volume I was led to believe Cole Stryker's book was an in depth look at Bearding. Instead it'southward a bird's eye description of net culture as a whole, spritzed with occassional quotes interviews. According to my Kindle, the operations of Anon were not detailed u I began reading this book with enjoyment, but after reading a quarter of the book I started to wonder when the field of study matter was going offset focusing less on 4chan and more on Anonymous. Based on the championship, encompass, and description of the book I was led to believe Cole Stryker's book was an in depth look at Anonymous. Instead it's a bird's eye description of internet civilization equally a whole, spritzed with occassional quotes interviews. Co-ordinate to my Kindle, the operations of Betimes were not detailed until near 75% into the book, and only 1 chapter is dedicated to such. That unmarried affiliate quickly summarizes a handful of Anon's operations, with Stryker offer little more info easily found on Wikipedia. Quite a thwarting, to say the least. ...more

Aug 17, 2013 Nitho rated information technology actually liked information technology

I spend a lot of time on the spider web, but not around 4chan so this was an interesting read. It was a squeamish fashion to learn about 4chan's customs without having to get there yourself, risking to become mentally scarred for life. I also wasn't much on the web in it's early years (2004-2008), which were well described in this book.
The championship was a little misleading, considering at present Anonymous is no longer associated with the trolls on 4chan and other sites who are raising havoc for the lulz. I guess that is wha I spend a lot of fourth dimension on the spider web, but non around 4chan and then this was an interesting read. It was a nice way to learn about 4chan'south community without having to become there yourself, risking to become mentally scarred for life. I also wasn't much on the spider web in it'due south early years (2004-2008), which were well described in this book.
The championship was a piffling misleading, considering now Bearding is no longer associated with the trolls on 4chan and other sites who are raising havoc for the lulz. I gauge that is what Anonymous originally was , but now it's more of an activist type of group.
Like I said, I don't hang much around 4chan and wasn't on the web in it'south early on years then I can't judge the book's data to be authentic or not.
But information technology seems legit. ...more

Sep 08, 2011 Tracie rated information technology it was ok

It turns out I had no idea what 4chan is, and so this volume was pretty interesting to me because it explained it in a really straightforward way. I read this in i 24-hour interval and then spent the evening on 4chan, which was an unavoidable mistake after reading the book. If I'd been more familiar with 4chan, I recollect the book maybe would have been a little irksome, only I guess maybe I'm the audition?

I'thou slightly older than the author, so I TOTALLY remember some of the pre-4chan sites he talks almost, stuff l

Information technology turns out I had no thought what 4chan is, and so this book was pretty interesting to me considering it explained it in a really straightforward manner. I read this in one day and and so spent the evening on 4chan, which was an unavoidable mistake afterward reading the book. If I'd been more than familiar with 4chan, I think the book perchance would have been a little boring, but I gauge peradventure I'm the audience?

I'yard slightly older than the writer, and then I TOTALLY remember some of the pre-4chan sites he talks almost, stuff like rotten.com, something atrocious, etc. Ah the good former days of watching Faces of Decease.

...more

Feb xiv, 2012 Ian rated information technology really liked it

Very interesting read about the very roots of anonymous. From the beginning of the meme culture to the evolution and evolution of the 4chan site and finally to the powerful hacktivist grouping know equally Anonymous this book shows how it all came nigh. With some interviews and opinions f some of the top contributors to the raids performed past anonymous you can actually get a experience for why they practise things and how the governments and medias over sensationalistion just leads them to wrong conclusions and fu Very interesting read near the very roots of anonymous. From the beginning of the meme culture to the development and evolution of the 4chan site and finally to the powerful hacktivist group know equally Anonymous this book shows how it all came well-nigh. With some interviews and opinions f some of the acme contributors to the raids performed by anonymous you lot tin can actually get a experience for why they do things and how the governments and medias over sensationalistion just leads them to incorrect conclusions and further harm. ...more

This book seriously breaks down the stereotypes of who you think continue 4chan'southward website. Known as the anti-facebook, it's users cherish what everyone call anomity; giving people the freedom to be whoever they want and do whatever they please. This book informs the masses the history of the website, how the words "troll" and "meme" became major internet jargon and the history of Anonymous. This was by far 1 of the all-time non-fiction scientific discipline and technology book I take read nearly the internet. This book seriously breaks down the stereotypes of who you recall get on 4chan's website. Known as the anti-facebook, it's users cherish what everyone call anomity; giving people the freedom to be whoever they want and exercise whatever they please. This volume informs the masses the history of the website, how the words "troll" and "meme" became major internet jargon and the history of Anonymous. This was past far i of the best non-fiction science and technology book I have read virtually the cyberspace. ...more

Need to explicate Goatse or "OVER 9000" to your NPR-listening parents? This is the book for you. Stryker leads a general-audiences tour of memes, internet anonymity, pop culture and politics, by fashion of explaining 4Chan and Anonymous.

This book is a lot improve than I expected: historically grounded, insightful, comprehensive, even-handed and fun.

Need to explicate Goatse or "OVER 9000" to your NPR-listening parents? This is the book for you. Stryker leads a full general-audiences tour of memes, net anonymity, pop civilisation and politics, past fashion of explaining 4Chan and Anonymous.

This book is a lot better than I expected: historically grounded, insightful, comprehensive, even-handed and fun.

...more

Jul 03, 2015 Anthony rated it it was amazing

Very interesting insight into a subculture I never came had heard of. 1 of the beauties of my piece of work is that I get to wait into many different areas that significantly widen my horizon. I would have probably never always came across the world this volume describes very well... Highly recommended if you want to understand what Anonymous is and how it emerged...

It'south not perfect (and it's manifestly dated now) merely in that location'south a shocking lack of books near 4Chan despite information technology being a primary force in shaping the internet we all use today. This is an important story and props to Stryker for sticking his neck out in that location to certificate it and giving people something to put in bibliographies. Information technology'southward not perfect (and information technology'south obviously dated now) simply at that place's a shocking lack of books almost 4Chan despite it being a primary force in shaping the internet nosotros all use today. This is an important story and props to Stryker for sticking his neck out there to certificate it and giving people something to put in bibliographies. ...more

As bored every bit I was with the beginning of the book, I was surprised to find myself entertained by the cease of it.

At that place were a lot of aspects of the volume that brought dorsum fond memories for me of my early internet days and information technology rekindled my love of chan-civilization.

It'southward certainly recommend it to others.

As bored equally I was with the beginning of the book, I was surprised to observe myself entertained past the end of it.

There were a lot of aspects of the book that brought back addicted memories for me of my early internet days and it rekindled my dear of chan-culture.

It'south certainly recommend information technology to others.

...more

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