We-Think: we are what we share

Sometimes you read a book and it just connects with you.

I remember years ago getting that feeling when I read The Cluetrain Manifesto for the first time and loved the thought that: "All markets are conversations" - simple genius!

I had the same feeling with Charlie Leadbetter's We-Think.

If you haven't read it,  buy a copy now or download the first chapters from his site.

It's great stuff, really well-written and persuasive. Full of analogies and examples, it is one of the best Web 2.0 tracts that I have read.  It is also an example of collaborative creativity as it was developed together with 257 We Think wiki-users, who provided fresh insights and obersvations and corroborated stories.

"The web matters because it allows more people to share ideas with more people in more ways...at its root most creativity is collaborative; it is not usually the product of a lone individuals flash of insight...our capacity for collaborative creativity will become even more powerful because the opportunities to engage are expanding...the generation who have grown up with these ideas will have as their motto: We think, therefore we are."

The central premise of "WE ARE WHAT WE SHARE" is spot on.

In the 20th century we were judged as individuals by what we owned, our material possessions.

In 21st century we will be judged both on what we produce and what we share.

"We are what we share" as it is through the recognition and esteem of others whose opinion that we value which ensures that the prorogation of ideas continue.

I was fascinated by chapter 2 in which Leadbetter explores the origin of We-Think: he describes it a peculiar mixture of the academic, the hippie, the peasant and the geek. Have a read and see if you agree.

And if you work in the comms world and don't know the story about the origins of the civil war between Apple and (as was then known) Micro-soft, have a read about the Home Brew Computer Club, you should educate yourself fast.

Just brilliant.

You've probably gathered by now, I really enjoyed this book. In fact I think that it's a must-read actually.

I would be really interested in any thoughts from other people who have read We-Think or maybe seen Charles talk at TED etc.

Comments

[Rish]

Well, I read We-Think when it was still in draft form over a year ago for a reading group. It struck me then as a very good survey of what's going on with open source developments, and some of the experiments described, especially the ones around Brazillian local government were genuinely revelatory.

But I did think it was Panglossian in the sense that it didn't really engage with the (theoretical) limits of the idea - can *all* intellectual property be created in an open source manner - and didn't really get to the heart of why people want to share etc in this new world.

Of course, he might have addressed these points in the final version! But on that score, I think 'Here Comes Everybody' is a far better survey of what's going on, how it's working, why it's working and people's motivations for getting involved.

[Amelia]

Rish - I actually think that is a really fair comment and one that I have heard from a couple of other people like Mark "Herd" Earls.

I have literally just ordered Here Comes Everyone last night, so interested to have a read of it especially as it comes so highly recommended!

[John]

I saw him speak at the RSA a few weeks ago and he's not a patch on Clay Shirky. It all seemed pretty glib to me and since I can find no notes that I took I would have to say that my memory is accurate.

[John]

And remind me to tell you about the "markets are conversations" conversation I had with the Cluetrain authors.