What to read? Guides to the Future of Society

We would personally suggest to pack the following two tomes for your next trans-atlantic flight or day on the beach. You will be well prepared for two of the PICNIC keynotes - even better, you will be better prepared for our future.

Charles Leadbeater: We Think
We Think explores how the web is changing our world, creating a culture in which more people than ever can participate, share and collaborate, ideas and information. Ideas take life when they are shared. That is why the web is such a potent platform for creativity and innovation.

Clay Shirky: Here Comes Everybody
Here Comes Everybody is a book about what happens when people are given the tools to do things together, without needing traditional organizational structures. In story after story, Clay makes the connections as to why business, society and our lives continue to be transformed by a world of net- enabled social tools.

So, that’s it. The two most important books you need to read this year. Of course, you can also digest new ideas the 21st Century way… read their writers’ blogs….follow their twitters… do a Youtube search….

But after all those blog items and e-mails you consume each day, there is something wonderfully soothing in reading on and on and on. Listen to great minds think and then listen some more. And then come back to us: what should we ask Leadbeater and Shirky at PICNIC’08?

More info on Charles Leadbeater and his book We Think
More info on Clay Shirky and his book Here Comes Everybody