Tipping Point author Malcolm Gladwell had a very compelling, well-reasoned review of Chris Anderson’s new book Free.  Click here to read the full review.

I think the main point Malcolm’s trying to make can largely be summed up by this quote:

…This is the kind of error that technological utopians make. They assume that their particular scientific revolution will wipe away all traces of its predecessors—that if you change the fuel you change the whole system.

While there are those who will tout or defend Chris Anderson at every turn (Seth Godin predicatbly falls into that trap), I believe his thinking ultimately falls short.  Chris makes many good points, but I’ve found he tends to muddy the debate with his overly-optimistic tone and “future is better” platitudes. He never once admits that a lot of this discussion is being driven (via self-fulfilling prophecy) by device makers or technology companies who stand the most to gain. They can wow the industry with shiny stuff and great buzz words and philosophy, but that doesn’t make what they say true.

Oddly enough, Gladwell does the SAME thing (only a different discipline) in his books. None of these guys will ever admit hypocrisy though.

What are your thoughts?