Team Human by Douglas Rushkoff (PDF)

Description

Porchlight’s Management and Workplace Culture Book of The Year“[A] thoroughly fascinating exploration of the long interplay between power and the technologies of communication.” —Adam Frank, NPRTeam Human is a fiery distillation of preeminent digital theorist Douglas Rushkoff’s most urgent thoughts on civilization, technology, and human nature. In one hundred concise statements, he argues that we are essentially social creatures who achieve our greatest aspirations when we work together not as individuals. Yet today, an antihuman ethos has overtaken our society, undermining our ability to connect. Technologies that were meant to foster cooperation from currency to computers too often are used to exploit and divide us. If we are to adapt and survive these destructive forces, we must recognize that being human is a team sport. Rushkoff inspires us to find the others who understand this fundamental truth and reassert our humanity together.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐At once, Rushkoff provides an admirably complete but concise perspective on the factors that have influenced human connection, communication & beliefs in the world around us from times past to present day. From our role as part of a greater nature to the specifically human developments and technologies we’ve built that threaten to disconnect us; the whole spectrum is laid out in plain language, with plentiful guideposts towards navigating these times throughout.This is one of the few books I pulled out my pen to highlight passages from, and found myself marking up almost every page. It left me wondering if my attempt to highlight was futile; the words on these pages almost all certainly highlights of a much deeper body of work built over a lifetime of research and thought leadership.It’s amazing how often the topics covered in this book have been showing up in my life lately, and the reinforced knowledge gained has given me the confidence to bring up in conversation some of the harder topics related to the largely fabricated social and technological structure we subscribe to and exist within. And you know what? Everyone I talk to about this has been thrilled to open up about it, leading to some of the most connected and hopeful conversations I’ve had in years.Rushkoff’s manifesto of sorts has sparked a mini-renaissance for myself and my circle of friends, and I think that is how it all begins. A few of us at a time waking up to the broader perspective and our ability to course-correct, sharing this knowledge and finding it validated as more of us connect on what truly makes us thrive. Rediscovering the power of human connection and our ability to choose consciously how we utilize technology and resources is no less than everything – and I’m thrilled to be experiencing these conversations not just of my own accord; but seeing them show up in performances, podcasts, or just out and about with friends and new acquaintances — something is certainly happening!Reading this book is not just highly recommended, it’s required reading if you want to do your part to ensure the next steps we take for the species are well-informed, collectively decided, and confident. This powerful but humble book doesn’t force an idealism, script, or single narrative upon any reader. Team Human simply offers up the facts as history has written them; giving the reader a wider breadth of knowledge from which to form solutions of their own, unique to their stage of life, community, and role within.Go #TeamHuman!

⭐A deep thought provoking read. I finished still a bit confused about what I am to do with all of these ideas, but the book read as a manifesto that we as humans need to realize that if we are not careful we will no longer be in charge. As technology continues to blind and recruit us our team is losing enrollment. This is not to blame technology as technology cannot be developed without humans.As I went back, typed my notes, checked my highlights, and started to process what I read I have it boiled down to a couple key ideas.1. We cannot be fully human alone. Anything that brings us together fosters our humanity. Everything we do requires other humans and interaction. We need more interaction between humans vs. staring at screens.As we learn my mimicry we must model what it means to be human. The more we stare at screens, divide ourselves, and act like we no longer understand how to behave around others, this behavior will only continue.2. If we don’t truly know what something is programmed to do, chances are it is programming us. Once that happens, then we may as well be machines ourselves.We must begin to see things for what they are. Are you in control or the product? Have you stopped to see just how much of your life and habits have been given over to machines? We must begin to open our eyes, work together, and start the process of doing right for ourselves and others.This is a book I will continue to dive back into from time to time to help me stay on the right track of being human.

⭐I don’t know how I came across this book but I liked the title: Team Human. I’m a strong believer in people being communal by nature and in need of one another to thrive and reach our fullest potential. Maybe I should have read the synopsis because whereas the author, Douglas Rushkoff, intimates that–he takes a long time to get there.Before Rushkoff gets into the beneficial aspects of being a team he spends an inordinate amount of time being a misanthrope. He presented one doomsday scenario after another in which humans were the culprits. Even though he spends the bulk of his time attacking technology he leaves some bullets in the chamber for religion, agriculture, politics, and of course capitalism. I was starting to believe he hated civilization.He harps on the fact that the digital world has made humans into slaves of technology with only binary choices. He pillories the very thought of having binary choices. But the hypocrisy is abundant as he issues one black or white scenario after another. Either we break free from our computers or become machines, either we break free from capitalism or become mindless workers, either we break free from agriculture as we know it or we’ll destroy the earth. It was very depressing.That’s not to say that there weren’t any truths in his book at all because there are many. Such as:“We seek high numbers of ‘likes’ and ‘follows’ on social platformsbecause these metrics are the only way we have of gauging our socialacceptance.”“Following through on mechanomorphism, transhumanism holds thatpeople can be upgraded just like machines.” (p. 108)Still, embedded in those truths was sort of a dismal outlook on humanity. Not only that, some of his analyses took him into making proclamations that seemed wholly inaccurate and/or very conspiratorial. For instance:“Instead of designing technologies that promote autonomy and helpus make informed decisions, the persuasion engineers in charge ofour biggest digital companies are hard at work creating interfacesthat thwart our cognition and push us into an impulsive state wherethoughtful choices—or thought itself—are nearly impossible.” (p. 81)“Capitalism no more reduced violence than automobiles saved usfrom manure-filled cities.” (p. 137)“Worshippers turn to religion less to explore their relationship tocreation or ethics than to guarantee their own salvation or claimvirtue.” (p.159)Between the conspiracies, false analyses, and cynicism I found myself audibly disagreeing with Rushkoff and literally shaking my head. Chapter after chapter, paragraph after paragraph I was thinking, “Is not anything created by human hands worthy of indulging and free from some ulterior motive?”In the end he did offer suggestions for solutions and the few he offered weren’t half bad. I think he needed to tone down the animus and turn up the optimism. After all, he’s trying to be a recruiter for team human; he’s got to be a better salesman.

⭐This book is not only a quality read so far, it is well made and the texture of the cover is amazing. If you’re holding a book for hours of reading, which I do constantly, it does make a difference and the author took that detail into consideration. 5 stars!

⭐I only read finished whole book because I wanted to feel like I could legitimately write a review.I discovered it through a post on Medium which seemed reasonable, but it is Terrible. One giant opinion piece with a handful of reasonable points drowned out with dubious claims and outright falsehoods. The author has a vague grasp of some technical concepts that then get used to reinforce points using bad analogies. History is conveniently framed to make points with dubious basis. Simply put, don’t bother reading.

⭐Good book

⭐Immer wieder stoßen wir auf Widersprüche zwischen digitaler Technologie und deren positiven und negativen Einflüssen auf unser Menschsein. In der Regel positionieren Menschen sich recht eindeutig für eine Seite – entweder Befürworter oder Skeptiker – wenn es um die Beurteilung des Nutzens von digitaler Technologie für uns geht.Andere – und vermutlich vor allem viele, die Bücher wie dieses lesen – lösen ihre innere Zerrissenheit in Bezug auf ihre Zugehörigkeit zu einem der beiden Lager, indem sie weite Teile ihrer alltäglichen Nutzen-Gewohnheiten verdrängen und gar nicht erst versuchen, in ihrem Handeln konsistent zu sein. So gibt es Menschen, die täglich Google als Suchmaschine und Google Mail nutzen, denen Onlinebanking aber viel zu unsicher ist; und Netflix-Nutzer, die nichts bei Amazon bestellen, weil dadurch der Einzelhandel zerstört wird.Douglas Rushkoff bietet uns mit „Team Human“ 100 kurze Statements, die pointiert das Für und Wider des Einsatzes digitaler Technologie und dessen Auswirkungen auf viele menschliche Aspekte wie Medien, Ökonomie, Wissenschaft, Ethik oder Spiritualität aufzeigen. Er bietet uns dabei keine Entscheidungshilfe für ein bestimmtes Lager an. Stattdessen erschafft er ein neues Bild, mit welchen Bewertungsmaßstäben wir ab jetzt und in Zukunft Technologie einsetzen und nutzen sollen bzw. können.Dabei geht es ihm um den Einklang von Technologie und menschlichen Bedürfnissen und Fähigkeiten. Wir Menschen sind soziale Wesen, die Kommunikation untereinander benötigen, um uns entfalten und entwickeln zu können. Und daher ist es Rushkoffs Ansicht nach besser für uns, Technologie so zu nutzen, dass wir uns mittels der deren Möglichkeiten besser weiterentwickeln können.Das hört sich zunächst esoterisch und abgehoben an. In den 100 Statements ist davon jedoch nichts zu spüren. Sie enthalten konkrete und greifbare Aspekte und Argumente, die wir alle zu unserer weiteren Diskussion und Abwägung nutzen können uns sollten.Rushkoff beschäftigt sich nicht damit, ob und in welchen Feldern wir digitale Technologie nutzen sollten oder können, sondern wie wir es in Zukunft schaffen in menschenwürdiger Form mit Technologie zu koexistieren und Technologie im Sinne des Menschen zu nutzen.Die vorgestellten Gedanken sind alles zwischen inspirierend, cool, verstörend und aufrüttelnd:- Wir nutzen Technologie nicht mehr als Werkzeug, sondern als Umgebung, über die wir andere Menschen und unsere Umwelt wahrnehmen. Wir Menschen selbst funktionieren dann nur noch in dieser Technologie-Umgebung.- Wir ersetzen die Wahrnehmung von Menschen mit maschinennahen Begriffen und Algorithmen. Wir behandeln nicht nur Maschinen wie Menschen, sondern Menschen wie Maschinen.- Technologie an sich will nichts erreichen. Erst das Betriebsmodell, in dem wir eine Technologie nutzen, gibt dieser Technologie eine Richtung. Die meisten Technologien werden heute – in einem marktorientierten Modell – mit dem Ziel eingesetzt, Wachstum zu ermöglichen.Alle Betriebsmodelle wie Märkte, Nationalstaaten, Bildung und Wissenschaft geben wir selbst vor – folglich können wir sie auch selbst wieder ändern. Es ist unsere Aufgabe als Menschen, darauf zu achten, dass unsere Betriebsmodelle auch unserem Wohle dienen.Rushkoffs Buch ist damit ein Weckruf und eine klare Aufforderung an uns Menschen, jetzt zu handeln und unseren Planeten lebenswert zu halten – gemeinsam.Reading!!

⭐I have been reading Rushkoff since Ecstasy Club (1997)There are few thinkers and few provocateurs who can capture what we – as a species must do – to not only save our planet but live better and more meaningful lives- together. This manifesto is a call to action and so important.A quick and easy read, if you’re a fan this is a must-have book for your library and a reminder that we only have one opportunity to get his right – and our time is now. Highly recommended!

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