Blogwars

by David D. Perlmutter

Political blogs have grown astronomically in the last half-decade. In just one month in 2005, for example, popular blog DailyKos received more unique visitors than the population of Iowa and New Hampshire combined. But how much political impact do bloggers really have?
In Blogwars, David D. Perlmutter examines this rapidly burgeoning phenomenon, exploring the degree to which blogs influence--or fail to influence--American political life. Challenging...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195305574
• ISBN13: 9780195305579
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

If you are not a blogger this is news

I have written on the internet for years. This is a good and accurate look at the blog world. The book is not partizant and does not favor any political side. As a blogger I found the book so what. But I did see what I write as a hobby this book accuralty reflects what you can expect to get into when you share your opinions. It is a rough and tuble world out there. It is a mean place the blog world and it takes a great deal of time. Perllmuter also goes into the history cause and effect of different events and campaigns that involved blogs. He also ties blogs to past forms of comunication back to depictions of the Battle Keddish. If you blog you will find this booring but it is a great world if you are not fimilliar with blogging. The book goes into how bloggers got both Dan Rather and Trent Lott when they steped out o f bounds. The blogs have power. It is no one individual but how stories take a life of their own. Not that all internet traffic is spontainious much of it is contrived by some proment opinion holders. Still if it is a good book if you are interested in politics or comunication. I would say that Blog Wars is a good first start to look at define and explain the political blogging universe.

An eye-opening book

Perlmutter has written an eye-opening book about blogging. While focused on political blogging, many of the insights translate more generally, including the way talent is uncovered, how first-person reporting can occur, and how diligent experts can track down the truth better than the mainstream media. Overall, Perlmutter's a level-headed guide, very articulate and thoughtful. A worthwhile read!

An excellent read

Prior to reading the book, I was pretty ignorant to the world of Blogging. As one who does not read political Blogs, I was mainly confused about why people do Blog and why others read them. Those answers, and then some, were answered by this book. Perlmutter starts out explaining what a Blog is, which is easy to understand to the non tech-savvy individual. However, the book does not insult one's intelligence at all. It moves along quickly with fascinating facts and humorous bits that make the book a joy to read. The introspective book is an excellent jump-on point for the non-Blogger and Blogger alike. It's fun, informative and just plain enjoyable.

The Most Comprehensive Book on Blogging to Date

Perlmutter offers an entertaining and insightful review of the history of blogging (pre-internet to its current form), and peppers his analysis with information gleaned from interviews with the most important bloggers today. This is a particularly well-written book: inviting enough for those new to the blogosphere, yet penetrating enough to satisfy those more well-versed with the phenomenon. Great read.