Share This by Deanna Zandt Review - Book Report/Review Example

Share This! Deanna Zandt Book Review I recently read the book ‘Share This How You Will Change the World with Social Networking’ and I must say that it was very enlightening for a person like me. I believe this book will prove to be an effective tool for those are still confused about what all this social networking fuss is all about. She writes, “We’re living through the emergence of complementary form of information distribution through social technology tools, one that has the potential to shift and, in many cases, dissolve the information hierarchies that have existed for thousands of years.

The web is just now starting to realize some of its disruptive potential, and the digitization of our social networks gives us a great opportunity to shift power dynamics away from those hierarchical constraints.”(Zandt, 17) The main audience that Deanna is trying to aim her work at is those people who don’t have enough or no knowledge whatsoever about the ‘complex’ tools on these websites because they don’t think that these websites are any good. This book will definitely help in changing their minds as it makes a case for their usefulness.

Deanna has tried to explain how social networking websites can be used for activist work and has offered practical advice on how to use various tools for other useful purposes and how to build effective relationships. Deanna has explained in her book how one can build empathy and reveals how you can stay in touch with so many people at the same time on the same platform by ‘wall posts’ and other ways of mass communication. According to her these ways can sometimes have the same intimacy level as sitting right next to them.

I liked this book because Deanna has tried her best to cover all important aspects such as ‘slacktivism’ and how to avoid it along with other useful advice for social networking lay people. However I felt that she could have given more examples on how to connect with dedicated activists in regards to organization. She has mentioned more about business connections rather than organization. I also felt that it gave an image that social networking is the best way to make a change without making an effort.

For example if you want to end terrorism or rape in the world all you need to do is start a ‘page’ and update your ‘status’ accordingly. If you think about it this is giving off a dangerous message and an impression that those who are privileged can change the world without any sacrifice.‘Share This!’ has also dedicates special attention to women’s challenges in such websites and some aspects they have to consider more than men such as privacy settings, security and how they have to keep in mind their reputation.

So I suggest that if you are a social networking pro you might as well skip the reading however if you are one of those people who have no idea of what all the hullabaloo is all about you can go ahead because in that case the book is worth reading. ReferenceZandt, Deanna. Share This!: How You Will Change the World with Social Networking. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2010.