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Malcolm Gladwell Challenges the Idea of "Free"

Posted by kdawson on from the crying-out-from-a-world-of-hurt dept.

An anonymous reader brings us another bump on the bumpy road of Chris Anderson's new book, Free: The Future of a Radical Price, which we discussed a week ago. Now the Times (UK) is reporting on a dustup between Anderson and Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers. Recently Gladwell reviewed, or rather deconstructed, Anderson's book in the New Yorker. Anderson has responded with a blog post that addresses some, but by no means all, of Gladwell's criticisms, and The Times is inclined to award the match to Gladwell on points. Although their reviewer didn't notice that Gladwell, in setting up the idea of "Free" as a straw man, omitted a critical half of Stewart Brand's seminal quote.

5 of 206 comments (clear)

  1. it's time to take care of business by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    fags, cripples and retards need to be thrown into ovens so they'll no longer be a burden on society. it's time for us to write to our governments and request an end to these disgusting wastes of life.

  2. The New York Times by sexconker · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    For hipster trash neourbanites like you.

    Get the weekender so we can tell you what to think, and what to parrot off to your friends in order to sound smart and cultured.

  3. My Time Isn't Free by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    I'm done tinkering with Linux.

    Windows 7 - Because your time isn't free.

  4. In the spirit of the article... by earnest+murderer · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Linux - Because your time isn't free.

    Linux the operating system for people whom time has no value.

    --
    Platform advocacy is like choosing a favorite severely developmentally disabled child.
  5. Re:Ug! by StellarFury · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Malcolm Gladwell reads like gay flame fest.

    (FTFY)

    Try "The Tipping Point."