Who Let the Blogs Out?

This book by Biz Stone is about blogging. As the title itself indicates, the book is a bit dated, even though it was only written in 2004, mainly because of the blinding speed with which blogging is changing. For instance, the word "Twitter," the world's premier micro-blogging network doesn't appear anywhere in its 244 pages; but then Twitter didn't arrive on the scene until 2007. Not to worry about Stone being behind the times though; he is one of the co-founders of Twitter, and no doubt a very wealthy man these days.

Stone's book is very helpful for novice bloggers such as myself. He covers a variety of subjects all the way from the history of blogging to what a blog is, to why everyone should blog, to how to actually sign up and start your own blog. Stone also writes in an easy to read, engaging manner - and he is very funny at times on top of that. I found the book very encouraging; it made me want to blog more and to blog better.

The essence of what Stone wants to convey is that blogging is so important because through it we have finally availed ourselves of the true promise of the Internet: not just as something readable through a web browser, but now as a writable medium as well. The web has finally become "participatory." What's important about that is because with so many "voices" out there participating, everyone's knowledge and experience counts. The author cites several instances of where blogging has filled in the gaps, and even surpassed traditional news and media outlets at getting the information we all need in our hands more rapidly and more thoroughly.

Stone also goes to lengths to communicate the importance of linking between blogs and linking to other pages on the World Wide Web as you blog. The author insists that "links are the currency of the blogosphere." Stone envisions a "hyperconnected world" where millions have the chance to add to the ongoing conversation out there.

If you are interested in blogging, or in learning more about it, I highly recommend this book. If you have read any other good books about blogging, I'd appreciate you letting me know in the comment box below, or you can email or Tweet me.