The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier by Howard Rheingold is a book that explores the social aspects of computer networks. Rheingold, a self-described "uncredentialed social scientist," is a freelance writer and editor of the Whole Earth Review. The book is organized around reviews of various types of computer networks, starting with a case study of a low-cost network in the San Francisco Bay area. It then covers the history of the Internet, groupmind systems like Usenet, MUDs, and IRC, and computer networks in Japan, France, and England. The book also discusses successful applications of computer networking in political organizing and critiques the threat of network domination by private enterprises, drawing on the works of Habermas, Foucault, and Baudrillard. Published before the World Wide Web's exponential growth, the book falls short of its goal to clearly present the state of the "Net" for democratic societies to make informed decisions about its governance. Rheingold anticipated the increase in use of the "Net" but did not foresee some of its consequences, such as universities banning IRC and MUDs. Despite these shortcomings, Rheingold provides potent critiques of the state of computer networking, particularly regarding anti-social behavior and corporate domination. His critical view of the commercial model of computer networking is relevant to recent developments in the telecommunications and computer industry. Although the book contains dated material, Rheingold is an authoritative voice in the debate about the social impact of computer networks. Readers interested in his analysis and writing style can visit his homepage on the World Wide Web. The emergence of the World Wide Web has made the book's content less relevant, as the author now provides a free full-text version of the book on his website.The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier by Howard Rheingold is a book that explores the social aspects of computer networks. Rheingold, a self-described "uncredentialed social scientist," is a freelance writer and editor of the Whole Earth Review. The book is organized around reviews of various types of computer networks, starting with a case study of a low-cost network in the San Francisco Bay area. It then covers the history of the Internet, groupmind systems like Usenet, MUDs, and IRC, and computer networks in Japan, France, and England. The book also discusses successful applications of computer networking in political organizing and critiques the threat of network domination by private enterprises, drawing on the works of Habermas, Foucault, and Baudrillard. Published before the World Wide Web's exponential growth, the book falls short of its goal to clearly present the state of the "Net" for democratic societies to make informed decisions about its governance. Rheingold anticipated the increase in use of the "Net" but did not foresee some of its consequences, such as universities banning IRC and MUDs. Despite these shortcomings, Rheingold provides potent critiques of the state of computer networking, particularly regarding anti-social behavior and corporate domination. His critical view of the commercial model of computer networking is relevant to recent developments in the telecommunications and computer industry. Although the book contains dated material, Rheingold is an authoritative voice in the debate about the social impact of computer networks. Readers interested in his analysis and writing style can visit his homepage on the World Wide Web. The emergence of the World Wide Web has made the book's content less relevant, as the author now provides a free full-text version of the book on his website.