Comments on: Chris Anderson’s ‘Free’: Not worth buying http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2009/07/10/chris-anderson%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98free%e2%80%99-not-worth-the-money/ This is a conversation. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:03:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Interesting journalism sites you’ve probably never heard of | Bill Bennett http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2009/07/10/chris-anderson%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98free%e2%80%99-not-worth-the-money/comment-page-1/#comment-161993 Interesting journalism sites you’ve probably never heard of | Bill Bennett Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:38:27 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=3015#comment-161993 [...] Recommended recent taster: Chris Anderson’s ‘Free’: Not worth buying [...] [...] Recommended recent taster: Chris Anderson’s ‘Free’: Not worth buying [...]

]]> By: Paul Bradshaw http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2009/07/10/chris-anderson%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98free%e2%80%99-not-worth-the-money/comment-page-1/#comment-134721 Paul Bradshaw Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:59:02 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=3015#comment-134721 I agree with everything said here - while he's not saying anything new to those of us who follow this, he is writing a populist book about new business models, not an academic one. Benkler's book is incredible, and much better - but Anderson's is more accessible and clear if that's what you're after. Horses for courses - I'd probably end up giving students both chapters. I agree with everything said here – while he’s not saying anything new to those of us who follow this, he is writing a populist book about new business models, not an academic one. Benkler’s book is incredible, and much better – but Anderson’s is more accessible and clear if that’s what you’re after. Horses for courses – I’d probably end up giving students both chapters.

]]> By: James Goffin http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2009/07/10/chris-anderson%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98free%e2%80%99-not-worth-the-money/comment-page-1/#comment-134658 James Goffin Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:24:55 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=3015#comment-134658 I found it exasperating too. There is nothing new there, and the historical detail used to pad out the very thin argument simplify serves to show that far from being some wonderful new economic model it's just the same old approach again - give something for free in the hope that people will buy something else that covers the cost of both. He also largely ignores the fact that although the marginal cost of distribution may be so low as to be insignificant, that doesn't reduce the original cost of development and production - even for digital items. The addendum that points out - and this may be a cruel paraphrase - that since the recession none of that free stuff stands up any more - is, er, priceless. I found it exasperating too.
There is nothing new there, and the historical detail used to pad out the very thin argument simplify serves to show that far from being some wonderful new economic model it’s just the same old approach again – give something for free in the hope that people will buy something else that covers the cost of both.
He also largely ignores the fact that although the marginal cost of distribution may be so low as to be insignificant, that doesn’t reduce the original cost of development and production – even for digital items.
The addendum that points out – and this may be a cruel paraphrase – that since the recession none of that free stuff stands up any more – is, er, priceless.

]]> By: Interesting journalism sites you’ve probably never heard of « Knowledge Workers http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2009/07/10/chris-anderson%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98free%e2%80%99-not-worth-the-money/comment-page-1/#comment-133907 Interesting journalism sites you’ve probably never heard of « Knowledge Workers Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:56:34 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=3015#comment-133907 [...] Recommended recent taster: Chris Anderson’s ‘Free’: Not worth buying [...] [...] Recommended recent taster: Chris Anderson’s ‘Free’: Not worth buying [...]

]]> By: 7 Public Speaking Survival Tips - efeedyourmind http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2009/07/10/chris-anderson%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98free%e2%80%99-not-worth-the-money/comment-page-1/#comment-131954 7 Public Speaking Survival Tips - efeedyourmind Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:17:23 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=3015#comment-131954 [...] Chris Anderson’s ‘Free’: Not worth buying (onlinejournalismblog.com) [...] [...] Chris Anderson’s ‘Free’: Not worth buying (onlinejournalismblog.com) [...]

]]> By: Megan Fox http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2009/07/10/chris-anderson%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98free%e2%80%99-not-worth-the-money/comment-page-1/#comment-129567 Megan Fox Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:39:38 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=3015#comment-129567 Chris Anderson isn't an academic and doesn't write like one. The funny thing is that I actually think Chris is in the mold of Malcolm Gladwell, a writer who cherry picks facts and stories to suit his general thesis but in general overlooks nuance in favor of developing a master theory... Having said that there is a role of people like Chris Anderson and books like 'Free'. They provide an overview on a topic, which is great for people new to the topic! Chris Anderson isn’t an academic and doesn’t write like one. The funny thing is that I actually think Chris is in the mold of Malcolm Gladwell, a writer who cherry picks facts and stories to suit his general thesis but in general overlooks nuance in favor of developing a master theory… Having said that there is a role of people like Chris Anderson and books like ‘Free’.

They provide an overview on a topic, which is great for people new to the topic!

]]> By: De graça mesmo? http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2009/07/10/chris-anderson%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98free%e2%80%99-not-worth-the-money/comment-page-1/#comment-128298 De graça mesmo? Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:22:15 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=3015#comment-128298 [...] De um lado, vem repercutindo bastante o novo livro do editor da Wired, Chris Anderson: “Free”, que fala sobre a tendência da gratuidade da informação e outros bens (Chris Anderson’s Free: Not Worth Buying). [...] [...] De um lado, vem repercutindo bastante o novo livro do editor da Wired, Chris Anderson: “Free”, que fala sobre a tendência da gratuidade da informação e outros bens (Chris Anderson’s Free: Not Worth Buying). [...]

]]> By: Mindy McAdams http://onlinejournalismblog.com/2009/07/10/chris-anderson%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%98free%e2%80%99-not-worth-the-money/comment-page-1/#comment-126652 Mindy McAdams Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:27:27 +0000 http://onlinejournalismblog.com/?p=3015#comment-126652 I've been reading Clay Shirky's "Here Comes Everybody" this month, and I must say, Anderson's book sounds like too little, too late. We've already had Benkler's "Wealth of Networks" (2006), numerous books by Lessig, Jenkins's brilliant and highly readable "Convergence Culture," and Shirky's remarkably straightforward "Everybody" (2008). I can't see any evidence in the promotional copy or in the reviews that Anderson has anything new to add. As for his claim that he could find "[n]o theories of gratis, or pricing models that went to zero" -- I guess he hasn't read Benkler, Jenkins or Shirky. In that case, how can we consider him any kind of an authority on his topics? I’ve been reading Clay Shirky’s “Here Comes Everybody” this month, and I must say, Anderson’s book sounds like too little, too late. We’ve already had Benkler’s “Wealth of Networks” (2006), numerous books by Lessig, Jenkins’s brilliant and highly readable “Convergence Culture,” and Shirky’s remarkably straightforward “Everybody” (2008). I can’t see any evidence in the promotional copy or in the reviews that Anderson has anything new to add.

As for his claim that he could find “[n]o theories of gratis, or pricing models that went to zero” — I guess he hasn’t read Benkler, Jenkins or Shirky. In that case, how can we consider him any kind of an authority on his topics?

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