Shows how the new power paradigm operates, how it is conceived and controlled, and why it is leading to a collapse in living standards. Arguing that the 'information economy' ruins markets, this title reminds us that markets should reward more people, not fewer.

Part one: First round -- Motivation -- A simple idea -- First interlude: Ancient anticipation of the singularity -- Part two: The cybernetic tempest -- Money as seen through one computer scientist's eyes -- The ad hoc construction of mass dignity -- 'Siren servers' -- The specter of the perfect investment -- Some pioneering siren servers -- Second interlude (a parody): If life gives you EULAs, make lemonade -- Part three: How this century might unfold, from two points of view -- From below: Mass unemployment events -- From above: Misusing big data to become ridiculous -- Third interlude: Modernity conceives the future -- part four: Markets, energy landscapes, and narcissism -- Markets and energy landscapes -- Narcissism -- Fourth interlude: limits are for Muggles -- Part five: The contest to be most meta -- Story lost -- Coercion on autopilot: specialized network effects -- Obscuring the human element -- Story found -- Fifth interlude: The wise old man in the clouds -- Part six: Complaint in not enough -- Coult must underlie rights, if rights are to persist -- Sixth interlude: The pocket protector in the saffron robe -- Part sever: Ted Nelson -- First thought, best thought -- Part eight: The dirty pictures (or, nuts and bolts: with a humanistic alternative might be like) -- The project -- We need to do better than ad hoc levees -- Some first principles -- Who will do what? -- Big business -- How will we earn and spend? -- Risk -- Financial indentity -- Inclusion -- The interfact to reality -- Creepy -- A stap at mitigating creepiness -- Seventh interlude: Limits are for mortals -- Part nine: Transition -- The transition -- Leadership -- Eighth interlude: The fate of books -- Conclusion: What is to be remembered? -- Appendix: First appearances of key terms.