The core of this book is a question about what kind of world we want to create for future generations. Lessig presents an argument that the natural way humans interact with content is to remix it, as we are used to doing with text. Just as we take no offense when somebody quotes our text in their own communication, we should resist the urge to control "quoting" of our digital content.

This is a passionately written book, but it takes some engagement with the issue to really enjoy it. Starting with another of Lessig's books, The Future of Ideas: The Fate of the Commons in a Connected World, might help a reader get into the subject, but once he or she realizes the consequences of culture's legal stance on this issue, Lessig's perspective becomes invaluable to have around. That book more sets out the conditions created by sharing economies, where Remix looks for how art and business can survive under these conditions.

Lessig's lessons on how businesses can thrive or fail as hybrids may help content-producers get a grip as the financial industry melts down.

The main point, as I said, is about the world and culture we create for our children. Do we want a world where they have free "speech" in hundreds of digital "languages", or one where their natural abilities are locked down? Lessig offers advice on how to change law and ourselves to create a culture where our children's expression is cherished (for the sake of their education and their community-building). He wants to start a conversation about how business can thrive among sharing economies as well. This book will be a key perspective in that conversation.

And it's important because it focuses on something that seems to be totally ignored by everyone except Lawrence Lessig, and that's the idea that an entire generation of young people are self-identifying as criminals for doing something that, to them, is totally normal.

Lessig also talks about sharing/commercial/hybrid economies, and elucidates the differences in each of them.

The anecdotes throughout the book are all enjoyable, interesting, and serve as profound, thoughtful backup to all of Lessig's main points, making the book easily readable for anyone not an intellectual property scholar.

Overall Lessig presents a compelling, well-reasoned angle on a situation that gets a completely inappropriate treatment nearly everywhere else.

Remix is the culmination of Lawrence Lessig's tireless arguments about the importance of creativity being able to be built on the foundations of culture that already exists, a pathway only open if the extremes of copyright are sobered and a shared, free commons is actively promoted and created. Some of the arguments will be familiar from Lessig's previous book Free Culture: The Nature and Future of Creativity but Remix takes them to a new depth. More to the point, Remix, despite being written by a lawyer, is an extremely accessible work that makes its arguments with humour and is easy to read. The argument is compelling, and Remix has a place in the libraries of schools and universities and the bookshelves of anyone interested in a creativity culture built on the successes of the past with the tools of the future.

(My only criticism would be this book is very US-centric, but that's Lessig's prerogative; others needs to extend these arguments beyond national boundaries.)

I am right now watching this guy on Charlie Rose. Every single word that emanates from his mouth screams, "I know what's good for you." His vision for society leaves no room for the rich diversity of individual desire and pursuit. His Obama-like "change" mantra betokens a world of the boot on the neck. God help us all.

P.S. If you live in Evanston, please move out.

Intellectual property right, art, internet, e-commerce, economy driven model, plus legal issues, make this book a very busy read. As the author points out, there can be only one winner - Hollywood or Internet. Everyone knows that Internet always wins.

He is correct to point out the difference between commercial economies and sharing economics. But everyone knows this too. There is nothing new.

Creative Commons, a licensing system that provides an alternative to the copyright system, seems to work better in the digital age. The discussion of the legal ownership will definitely continue for years to come.

Overall the book is good for lawyers.