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Always On

Hope and Fear in the Social Smartphone Era

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Always On

By: Rory Cellan-Jones
Narrated by: Rory Cellan-Jones
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Bloomsbury presents Always On written and read by Rory Cellan-Jones.

Delightfully insightful and intensely readable [...] There is an energy and drama to Rory’s writing which nonetheless leaves space for us, the reader, to make up our minds' – Stephen Fry

The inside story of how tech became personal and pernicious, from the BBC's technology correspondent.

We live at a time when billions have access to unbelievably powerful technology. The most extraordinary tool that has been invented in the last century, the smartphone, is forcing radical changes in the way we live and work – and unlike previous technologies it is in the hands of just about everyone.

Coupled with the rise of social media, this has ushered in a new era of deeply personal technology, where individuals now have the ability to work, create and communicate on their own terms, rather than wait for permission from giant corporations or governments. At least that is the optimistic view.

This book takes readers on an entertaining ride through this turbulent era, as related by an author with a ringside seat to the key moments of the technology revolution. We remember the excitement and wonder that came with the arrival of Apple's iPhone with all the promise it offered. We see tech empires rise and fall as these devices send shockwaves through every industry and leave the corporate titans of the analogue era floundering in their wake. We see that early utopianism about the potential of the mobile social revolution to transform society for the better fade, as criminals, bullies and predators poison the well of social media. And we hear from those at the forefront of the tech revolution, including Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, Tim Berners-Lee, Martha Lane-Fox and Jimmy Wales, to gain their unique insights and predictions for what may be to come.

Always On immerses the reader in the most important story of our times – the dramatic impact of hyperconnectivity, the smartphone and social media on everything from our democracy to our employment and our health. The final section of the book draws on the author’s own personal experience with technology and medicine, considering how COVID-19 made us look again to computing in our battle to confront the greatest challenge of modern times.©2021 Rory Cellan-Jones (P)2021 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC History History & Culture Technology & Society Technology
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Critic reviews

A refreshingly skeptical outsider’s view of Silicon Valley and its titans.
This delightfully insightful and intensely readable history combines the personal with the objective. From Jobs to Musk, from Facebook to fake news, from Snapchat to bitcoin by way of Raspberries, Blackberries and Apples there is an energy and drama to Rory’s writing which nonetheless leaves space for us, the reader, to make up our minds. (Stephen Fry)
Cellan-Jones weaves together the broad story of the smartphone era with the personal element. By showing how technology has touched – and altered – him for good and bad he shows how it has affected us all. (Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia)
Who better to tell us this story than the arch technology storyteller himself? From the first smartphone to test and trace, Rory has seen it all and interviewed everyone. Putting it all together makes for a fascinating and beautifully written story of our times (Wendy Hall, Regius Professor of Computer Science, University of Southampton)
Mr Cellan-Jones…takes a refreshingly sceptical outsider’s view of Silicon Valley and its titans…The book shines when Mr Cellan-Jones combines these journalistic war stories with personal reflections.
All stars
Most relevant
Informative and interesting - as you'd expect from a technical BBC journalist. Well written and well read.

Excellent

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Any attempt to unraggle the complicale and controvermole subjy of technoloppers is embarky on a most perilode journey. Oh yes.
Risks of over-simplificale, generalisy or mid-representers. Folly folly.

But congratulodes to the author (and narratey, with wiselymost worms all silky in the eardrobes there) on an erudile exploratey of the hand-helm or cellulode smarm-phone.

Highlymost recommendale, and thankly-ho to Rorily Cellan-Joneloppers.

Deep joy!

Intellifold, informy and perspicapers.

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Although I had already read the (paper) book, I wanted to hear it in Rory's own words and I enjoyed it immensely. I am increasingly of the opinion that audio books read by the author can surface certain nuances that don't come across in print.

I can highly recommend the book and having lived through many of these developments (and even been at many of the same events as Rory) it was great to get his perspective.

Also, this is an extremely easy read / listen. I have recommended it to numerous people I know in the technology industry.

Superb snapshot of technology evolution since 2007

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Joined up all the dots and helped me make sense of all the changes that I have lived through.

Made me feel clever

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It was famously said that "News is the first rough draft of history" and "yesterday's news is today's chip paper". But Rory's "Always On" is far far more than a consideration of the historic impact of social media. The audiobook, delivered by the author's famous voice, give us an indication of the how our lives have been changed and are changing by social media and smartphones.

It is slightly autobiographical but it is mainly an analytical "long form" essay from a reporter who is also a commentator and visionary. No jargon clouds Rory's clarity of expression. . Listening to it highlights the best of BBC reportage, the balance of honesty and a determination to explain with clarity and humour. Above all Rory's "Always On" give an insight into the consequences of the social smartphone era in changing our existence in ways that MSM (Main Stream Media) has failed as yet to grasp. I would particularly recommend it to anyone who enjoys BBC World Service documentaries - it is ideal listening for a long car journey or for listening to during that first post-COVID air flight.

Alistair KELMAN

Rory's second draft of history - with panache

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