Twitter Power 2.0 - Joel Comm (4.5 of 5 Twitterpated Writers)

The long hiatus has come to an end. As college fades with the sunset, I'm looking for new projects. What better way to start the summer than by reconnecting with all my semi-digital friends? While I have continued to read over the past few months, I haven't had the time to post the books reviews. I hope you'll join me in The Great Awakening 2.0.

Twitter Power 2.0 is a terrible title; it sparks flashbacks of watching rabid Powder Puff Girls with my cousins. But don't let it throw you. Joel Comm does a great job of outlining the history, functionality, and potential of Twitter. He also shares helpful insights about picking usernames, designing backgrounds, and crafting posts to establish a solid brand. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on third party software and APIs, which give you greater control over your feed and it's interaction with other websites. The book even gives you a 30-day guide to becoming a professional twitterer. What more could you ask for?

I think it is best to crack open this book with a Twitter project already in mind. As I read through the chapters, I got several great ideas about how to spice up my new Twitter campaign. I anticipate posting new book reviews from this website as well as new chapters from another new project of mine (and yours if you choose to accept this invite) http://opensoresfiction.blogspot.com/. I invite you to follow me on Twitter. You can find me at http://twitter.com/uofuwriter.

What is your perception of Twitter? How would you characterize your experiences with it? Who is your favorite tweeter?

Wikinomics - Dan Tapscott & Anthony Williams (4.5 of 5 Group Projects)

Wikinomics is a fascinating look at the world of mass collaboration.  With the move to Web 2.0, mass collaboration is easier than ever.  This new web has given users all over the world the opportunity to combine their resources to affect business, science, education, politics, and a host of other groups in novel and exciting ways.  There is no denying that globalization is here to stay.  Wikinomics is an instruction manual about how people everywhere and in every walk of life can benefit from these changes.

Tapscott and Williams give detailed case studies of recent examples of global collaboration: Wikipedia, Linux, Facebook, Amazon, Google, IBM, Flickr, Second Life, and many others.  They describe strengths and weaknesses of each, and how those attributes can be applied to one's own business/life.

The four principles of Wikinomics are:

1. Openess - Transparency in business that allows many people opportunities to participate.
2. Sharing - Information is shared so that work is not being repeated unneccesarily.
3. Peering - Members of the community provide positive feedback on work completed.
4. Globalization - The goal is always to harness the abilities of as many people as possible.

I took off a half a point because the book is highly repetitive.  I found myself thinking a few times, "Ok.  I get it.  Move on."  However, the repetition was positive at the same time.  Once I was familiar with the principles of the book, I could follow loosely while simultaneously considering how I could apply the principles to my life.  

For example, my enthusiam for this website increased...  Second, I decided to create an LDS Housing website - www.saltlakecityldshousing.com - which could become a valuable resource in time with additional users.  The housing board at the U institute could be much more efficient and effective in internet form.  Third, I was inspired to start a wiki at work for the policy manual that I was asked to write.  This should make the material more comprehensive with additional input from the other people in my group.

I would highly recommend that everyone read this book.  Since finishing the book, I have discovered that it received several awards from entities such as Goldman Sachs, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal and others.  If you don't think you have enough time to read the book, at least check out the website - www.wikinomics.com.