The Hater's Guide to Silicon Valley

From the inimitable and enormously popular tech journalist Ed Zitron, a searing indictment of our failing tech industry and the villains who got us here.

It’s now a familiar refrain that our tech is in a state of decay. But far from being contained to minor annoyances brought on by crashing apps or glitching phones, technology undergirds nearly every industry, institution, and even personal relationship in this country. This decay threatens both our individual wellbeing and the very fabric of our society. And, Ed Zitron argues, you’re not angry enough at the people whose fault this is.

The Hater's Guide to Silicon Valley is your permission slip to get off the endless hype train. Drawing on economics, history, and reams of original research, Zitron lays bare the nakedly corrupt schemes the top brass at Meta, Apple, OpenAI, and other leading tech companies use to hollow out the internet and rot your devices while they tell you the future is here. He shows how a million seemingly unrelated irritations – text scams, your personal information freely available online, the AI propaganda on Facebook that’s melting your grandma’s brain – are not cosmic accidents, but the results of decisions made by the powerful. Finally, he envisions a path forward that involves real consequences for the guilty and permanent policy changes that treat technology like a public service, not privately held corporations subject to the whims of their incompetent and greedy CEOs.

Told in Zitron’s signature face-melting style, this is a manifesto for anyone who's tired of being lied to by billionaires.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs