summary of new power book
New Power compares old “old power” models with new “new power” models that thrive on participation, collaboration, and crowd-driven energy to show how power is changing in the digital age. The book tells people and businesses how to use these forces to their advantage.
Main Ideas and Themes: Old Power vs. New Power:
Old power is like money: it’s kept, controlled by hierarchies (like governments and big businesses), and used in a top-down way.
New Power is like a current: it’s open, decentralised, and powered by a lot of people getting involved, like social movements like #MeToo and platforms like Airbnb.
The New Model of Power:
Honesty, openness, and sharing power are important values.
How it works: It uses peer networks, crowdsourcing, and viral engagement to have a bigger effect.
Some examples are Wikipedia (knowledge from many people), Tesla (open patents), and Black Lives Matter (getting people to act without a leader).
How to Use New Power:
Participation: Make platforms or movements that get people to work together to make something, like Kickstarter campaigns.
Decentralisation means giving up some control to make things stronger, like with blockchain technology.
Tell interesting stories that make people want to do something, like Greta Thunberg’s work to fight climate change.
Issues and risks:
It’s hard to know when new power will come, like when false information spreads on social media.
When participation hurts others, like when someone is harassed online, it raises moral issues.
In conclusion, Heimans and Timms say that in today’s connected world, it’s important to know how to use new power to stay relevant. The book gives activists, entrepreneurs, and leaders the tools they need to get people involved, come up with new ideas, and make changes, all while avoiding the problems that come with living in a hyperconnected world.
Why should you read it?
This book is a must-read if you want to make a difference, come up with new ideas, or change in a world where power flows through networks instead of being handed down from above. New Power changes what it means to be a leader in the digital age by giving examples and useful advice.