This is an anthology of essays about facebook utilizing a variety of philosophical perspectives. I have a passing familiarity with most of the philosophers the writers refer to, but I don't consider myself an expert. I found the essays mainly readable and interesting.
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I've decided I'm just not the right audience for this pop culture and philosophy series. Though I enjoyed some of the Facebook-related essays -- the more specific the scope, the better -- there was just too much repetition/overlap for my tastes. (I probably should've realized that since the focus was Facebook, which with all its bells and whistles is just a website instead of a book or movie series, many of the pieces would discuss the News Feed, friending, and similar functions over and over.) I'm also not fond of ivory-tower arguments that have more to do with the writer's own opinions and biases than any sort of concrete considerations (such as what actual Facebook users say). When it comes down to it, any social media, or technology for that matter, is a tool whose uses are partly determined by its designers and partly by its users. But I guess that would've been too short for a book! ( )

A growing trend in social communication is the use of Social Networking sites. This transcends the day to day personal interaction with a more accessible and faster communication. The sphere of the virtual world has caught reality into a next level. Facebook and Philosophy is a compilation of essay/analysis on Facebook not only as a virtual fanaticism but as a social medium. It is seen through a philosophical perspective of both ancient (Aristotelian, Platonic, Socratic) and Modern/Contemporary thinking. It gives a guide on how and why people use such a social networking like Facebook, link it with ordinary interactions as friendship, consumerism, security, relationships and psychology.

Facebook and Philosophy by D.E.Wittkower is a handy material for scholarly reference. Though Facebook in general updates easily, brings more features and enhances its processes, this book is still a good one and not outdated. Though there might be citations on features no longer in use, these are negligible and can still be used for learning. ( )