THE AGE OF EXTRACTION How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity

Listeners who want to know how we got where we are with the big tech companies should start with this convincing foray into the land of the giants. As Columbia University law professor Tim Wu takes them to task, Frits Zernike's narration is thoughtfully paced, and his tempo appropriately propels the action. His storytelling reveals how the companies' power and our dependence on them have brought about the present imbalances: Amazon undercuts its clients by selling similar products more cheaply; Meta (Facebook) buys Instagram and WhatsApp to avoid competition; Google pays rivals not to do searches. To effect change, Wu suggests treating these behemoths like public utilities. Wu writes authoritatively on how tech platforms that began with altruistic slogans have ended up behaving like monopolies. A.D.M. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2025]