Capitalism's end is near?
Postcapitalism: A Guide to Our Future
by Paul Mason
Economics
TL;DR
This book is basically saying information tech is screwing with capitalism's whole vibe, making it old news. Mason's like, 'We gotta build new economic rules around free digital stuff, robots doing everything, and everyone chilling together or else society's gonna glitch out hard.' It's about rethinking how we work, own things, and even money before the AI overlords just give us all a universal basic income and we're left wondering what to do with our lives.
Action Items
Next time you download something free, think about how that digital copy didn't cost anyone anything to make another one. Realize how that messes with the idea of "owning" digital things.
Look at your dream job. Now, seriously consider which parts of it could be done by a bot in 10 years. Start thinking about skills that require actual human creativity, empathy, or complex problem-solving.
Find a local community project or a co-op. See how it operates differently from a traditional business. Think about how you could support or even start something similar.
Pay attention to news about economic instability or social movements, but try to connect the dots to the bigger picture of systemic change, not just the daily drama. Think about how these events might be symptoms of a dying system.
Unlock the full book to see more action items
Key Chapter
Chapter - The TikTok Economy: Why Information Breaks Capitalism's Brain
Imagine you share a TikTok. You still have it, and now your friend has it too. That's how information works – it doesn't get used up. This concept totally messes with capitalism's scarcity model, which is built on selling limited stuff. If everything becomes information, like software or designs, how do you even sell it? Mason's basically saying this 'free stuff' problem is capitalism's biggest headache. We need to figure out how to value and distribute things when they can be copied infinitely, otherwise, the whole system just breaks. It's about adapting to abundance, not clinging to scarcity like a boomer to their landline.
Key Methods and Approaches
The "Free Shit Glitch"
(AKA: Information as a Non-Rival Good)
Description:
Digital stuff doesn't get used up when shared. It's like infinite memes.
Explanation:
Capitalism's whole deal is selling limited things. But with information – like a song, a game, or a design – you can copy it a million times for basically nothing. It's like trying to sell air to a bird. This totally wrecks the "supply and demand" game because the supply is infinite and free. It's why record labels cried about Napster, and why software companies hate piracy. The value just evaporates.
Examples:
Streaming music instead of buying CDs.
Sharing a Google Doc with your whole squad.
Using open-source software like Blender for 3D art.
Finding a free workout plan online instead of hiring a personal trainer.
Today's Action:
Next time you download something free, think about how that digital copy didn't cost anyone anything to make another one. Realize how that messes with the idea of "owning" digital things.
End of Preview
Want to read the complete insights, methods, and actionable takeaways? Unlock the full book experience with Pro.
Your daily 1-minute insights