Perhaps the most important books ever written have two qualities: 1. They apply to, and are accessible to, a large audience. 2. They provoke the reader enough to spark action. This book qualifies on both levels.
1. This book is the work of a man who has read all the important works of economists, computer scientists and historians regarding the "new economy" and has distilled it into his own version of applicable rules. Whether his distilled version is the best version is debatable. But his writing is concise, easy to read, and profound. It is very accessible to most readers, unlike the larger textbooks that many in his field write. This is important, because clearly the new economy affects everyone, not just the academic elite.
2. If you are a student of life, Kelly will provoke you to some action. His statements are all bold. He doesn't state the obvious; he makes predictions that may or may not come true, and he grounds them in fact and theory--albeit vaguely some times. But his message applies to everyone.
One of the most underappreciated parts of the book is his bibliography at the end with his comments on how relevant he found each book. The action that Kelly sparked in me was my resolve to read more books--specifically the ones listed in his bibliography. If you want to study how the world is going to work in the future, my advice is to start with this book. It will open you eyes to a whole new world of writing.
