The Last Best Place on the Internet

A riveting and provocative book about one of the most astonishing, vital - and endangered - cultural cornerstones of our time. Wikipedia ranks among the most impressive inventions of the 21st century. Consulted by millions of people every day, it is the largest repository of human knowledge ever created, running to billions of words in hundreds of languages - all created by volunteers and available for free. In this entertaining and eye-opening book, Richard Cooke reveals the personality clashes, philosophical disputes, private obsessions, pioneering innovations, and unexpected ideas behind Wikipedia's fabled creation, extraordinary growth, and unparalleled success. He examines its profound effects on politics, business, culture, and society at large, and delves into the site's shifting reputation in establishing fact, the often hilariously fierce debates between 'Inclusionists' and 'Deletionists' about even the most obscure information, and the great peril Wikipedia faces today from bots and artificial intelligence. Based on meticulous research, unrivalled access and hundreds of hours of interviews, this is a fascinating exploration of how Wikipedia was built, why it thrived, what it represents, and what we stand to lose as the ideals behind its creation come under threat.