I have failed in several attempts over the last week to find a clever angle from which to write a tight, short review of The Transparent Society.

What I'm left with is this: I don't agree with everything that Brin writes. I am wary of his underlying philosophy. His version of Western history is at times far too pat for my comfort. Some of his solutions strike me as silly or unrealistic.

But Brin has succeeded admirably at his "sole aim of stir[ring] some fresh ideas into the cauldron" of debate about privacy and democracy in the digital age. Taking a more or less consistently libertarian stance, he presents original and thought-provoking ideas and ties them together with lively and engaging prose. I could snipe a lot around its edges, but I ultimately have to admit that this is an excellent book.

Review posted: 7 October 1998