Shumeet Baluja

I started reading this book thoroughly convinced that it is a thinly disguised description of what goes on inside Google. I finished the book, believing what the author says - it is a novel. As I got into the book, the suspense built, something that I am not used to because I generally don't read that kind of books. I had a surprisingly good feeling at the end, without the book having a 'they lived happily ever after' ending. There are a lot of things left unresolved - much like real life, the "truth" is not spelled out in black and white. For easy answers, go elsewhere.

The expected or usual themes, of the dangers of technology, abuse of power, etc., are not drummed in. It doesn't even rub in the loss of privacy. The reader is left to form (or not form) his or her own opinions about what privacy means, does it have value, the hazards of technology, the competence (or otherwise) of government, the insanity of working around the clock, etc.

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The Silicon Jungle is not only a fun and compelling thriller, but is also a scary glimpse into the dangers of living our lives online and a fascinating look into the absolutely insane culture of Silicon Valley. The story itself is structured in a nonlinear way which ups the suspense and keeps the reader guessing as to how all of the seemingly disconnected parts come together. The structure of the story is itself an illustration of how data miners put together all the tidbits of our lives and snoop into our most private moments. The author is an expert in this field - a senior researcher at Google. This by itself makes this book a must read - how many opportunities do you get to see inside of such powerful comapnies like Google and experience how they use and manipulate the data about their users? It is a scary and eye-opening examination of privacy invasion in the name of profit, and potentially more dangerous purposes.… (meer)