Read Write Own

Outline

Read Write Own (2024) explains how the internet has evolved and where it may go next. Chris Dixon describes three eras: the read era of early websites, the write era of social media dominated by large platforms, and a possible own era in which blockchain networks let users share ownership and control. The book argues that new network designs could give creators and users a fairer share of the value they create.

• Chris Dixon describes the internet in three eras: read, write and a possible own era.
• The read era was the early web, where people mostly viewed pages that others had published.
• In the write era, social media let everyone post, but large platforms came to dominate the space.
• In a possible own era, blockchain networks would let users share ownership and control of what they use.
• The book argues that new network designs could give creators and users a fairer share of the value they create.

Chris Dixon is an American entrepreneur and investor who co-founded several technology companies before becoming a general partner at the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. He leads the firm’s investments in blockchain and crypto technologies. Read Write Own is his first book.