{"product_id":"two-bits-9780822342649","title":"Two Bits","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInvestigates the history and cultural significance of Free Software. By exploring in detail how various practices came together as the Free Software movement from the 1970s to the 1990s, the author shows how it is possible to understand the new movements that are emerging out of Free Software: projects such as Creative Commons.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[R]ich with empirical insight and exceptionally well written, \u003ci\u003eTwo Bits\u003c\/i\u003e is delightful to read. I recommend the book to readers interested in open source, technology, and social change. . . .” - Zack Kertcher, \u003ci\u003eAmerican Journal of Sociology\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“It would be a great pity indeed if anthropologists, assuming they have no interest in software development, were to ignore the subtitle of this book. Because ‘the cultural significance of free software’ takes to heart matters of concern to all anthropologists. . . . They would miss a book that has as much to contribute to the anthropology of law as to the anthropology of religion, both much enhanced by the unusual perspective that emerges from software development. They would also miss a good read.” - Daniel Miller, \u003ci\u003eAmerican Anthropologist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“I think Kelty’s book deserves a wide readership — especially among nerds trying to make sense of the past decade, let alone to prepare for the next one.” - Scott McLemee,\u003ci\u003e Inside Higher Ed\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Considering the scope of the subject matter, the book is not especially steeped in technical jargon, and is therefore highly readable for a wide and varied audience. Contrary to first impression this book is not specifically directed towards geeks, software code authors, or other computer nerds, although these individuals will find the book informative and inspiring. It also should be read by all those who have positions of influence such as teachers, cultural studies academics, government decision\/policy makers and of course members of the legal profession.” - Rob Harle\u003cb\u003e,\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003eLeonardo\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[A] closely argued, well-defended, painstakingly referenced treatise covering one of the most complex, and possibly least understood, cultural movements of recent decades. . . . [D]eeply engaging.” - John Gilbey, \u003ci\u003eTimes Higher Education\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“In this study of the Free Software\/Open Source movement, Christopher Kelty provides a fascinating look into a world that may initially seem arcane to those outside the field, but which illuminates many connections between ‘geek’ culture and the wider world as well. . . . In a moment marked by Wikipedia and Facebook, new connections and forms are emerging every day. \u003ci\u003eTwo Bits\u003c\/i\u003e reaches beyond the technicalities of the Free Software movement to help provide productive ways to think about these non-traditional communities as they are only beginning to imagine themselves.” - Erica A. Farmer, \u003ci\u003eAnthropological Quarterly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eTwo Bits\u003c\/i\u003e describes the way those who work and play with Free Software themselves change in the process—engendering what Kelty calls ‘recursive publics’—social configurations that realize the Internet’s non-hierarchical, ever-evolving, and thus historically attuned logic, creatively updating the types of public spheres previously theorized by Habermas and Michael Warner, among others. \u003ci\u003eTwo Bits\u003c\/i\u003e does something similar, pulling readers into an experimental (ethnographic) mode that draws out how Open Source movements have garnered the momentum and significance they have today. The book—on paper and online—quite literally shows how it is done, itself embodying the standards that make Free Software work. \u003ci\u003eTwo Bits\u003c\/i\u003e is critical reading, in all senses.”—\u003cb\u003eKim Fortun\u003c\/b\u003e, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute\u003cbr\u003e“I know of no other book that mixes so beautifully a deep theoretical understanding of social theory with a rich historical and contemporary ethnography of the Free Software and free culture movements. Christopher M. Kelty’s book speaks to many audiences; his message should be understood by many more.”—\u003cb\u003eLawrence Lessig\u003c\/b\u003e, Stanford Law School\u003cbr\u003e“[A] closely argued, well-defended, painstakingly referenced treatise covering one of the most complex, and possibly least understood, cultural movements of recent decades. . . . [D]eeply engaging.” -- John Gilbey * Times Higher Education *\u003cbr\u003e“[R]ich with empirical insight and exceptionally well written, \u003ci\u003eTwo Bits\u003c\/i\u003e is delightful to read. I recommend the book to readers interested in open source, technology, and social change. . . .” -- Zack Kertcher * American Journal of Sociology *\u003cbr\u003e“Considering the scope of the subject matter, the book is not especially steeped in technical jargon, and is therefore highly readable for a wide and varied audience. Contrary to first impression this book is not specifically directed towards geeks, software code authors, or other computer nerds, although these individuals will find the book informative and inspiring. It also should be read by all those who have positions of influence such as teachers, cultural studies academics, government decision\/policy makers and of course members of the legal profession.” -- Rob Harle * Leonardo Reviews *\u003cbr\u003e“I think Kelty’s book deserves a wide readership — especially among nerds trying to make sense of the past decade, let alone to prepare for the next one.” -- Scott McLemee * Inside Higher Ed *\u003cbr\u003e“In this study of the Free Software\/Open Source movement, Christopher Kelty provides a fascinating look into a world that may initially seem arcane to those outside the field, but which illuminates many connections between ‘geek’ culture and the wider world as well. . . . In a moment marked by Wikipedia and Facebook, new connections and forms are emerging every day. \u003ci\u003eTwo Bits\u003c\/i\u003e reaches beyond the technicalities of the Free Software movement to help provide productive ways to think about these non-traditional communities as they are only beginning to imagine themselves.” -- Erica A. Farmer * Anthropological Quarterly *\u003cbr\u003e“It would be a great pity indeed if anthropologists, assuming they have no interest in software development, were to ignore the subtitle of this book. Because ‘the cultural significance of free software’ takes to heart matters of concern to all anthropologists. . . . They would miss a book that has as much to contribute to the anthropology of law as to the anthropology of religion, both much enhanced by the unusual perspective that emerges from software development. They would also miss a good read.” -- Daniel Miller * American Anthropologist *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePreface ix\u003cbr\u003e Acknowledgments xiii\u003cbr\u003e Introduction 1\u003cbr\u003e Part I. The Internet \u003cbr\u003e 1. Geeks and Recursive Publics 27\u003cbr\u003e 2. Protestant Reformers, Polymaths, Transhumanists 64\u003cbr\u003e Part II. Free Software \u003cbr\u003e 3. The Movement 97\u003cbr\u003e 4. Sharing Source Code 118\u003cbr\u003e 5. Conceiving Open Systems 143\u003cbr\u003e 6. Writing Copyright Licenses 179\u003cbr\u003e 7. Coordinating Collaborations 210\u003cbr\u003e Part III. Modulations \u003cbr\u003e 8. \"If We Succeed, We Will Disappear\" 243\u003cbr\u003e 9. Reuse, Modification, and the Nonexistence of Norms 269\u003cbr\u003e Conclusion: The Cultural Consequences of Free Software 301\u003cbr\u003e Notes 311\u003cbr\u003e Bibliography 349\u003cbr\u003e Index 367","brand":"Duke University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49406051877207,"sku":"9780822342649","price":27.9,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780822342649.jpg?v=1730494368","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/two-bits-9780822342649","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}