FREE is now available for free on Google Books, too. Like Scribd, this one is a web-based screen reading experience, but it has the added advantage of a live Table of Contents (see above), so you can easily get from chapter to chapter or pull up sidebars without having to page through the book.
Like the other free text versions, the Google Books one will be time-limted: one month. (The audiobook versions are the only ones that will remain free forever).
Next up, in the coming week: free FREE on Kindle and other ebook readers, including the iPhone.
[UPDATE: many of these versions, including Google, are US-only. This is just a function of the way global book rights work, and the fragmentation thereof. I wish it were different and we’re working to release free versions in other languages when those editions of the book comes out, but in the meantime my apologies to readers outside the US if you’re not getting full text.]
The priceless means to history
and the free means to now and future lol
Posted by: dofus powerleveling | July 08, 2009 at 07:11 AM
Holding off listening to the audiobooks for the Kindle version. Will it be available through Amazon.com for free or will it just be a "Kindle-compatible" file that is downloadable?
Posted by: Ronald Baywalds | July 08, 2009 at 09:56 PM
Regarding international access: The Scribd version seems to work just fine from outside the U.S.
Posted by: Nico Luchsinger | July 09, 2009 at 12:12 AM
I don't have constant internet access so is there any way I can download a printed version (for personal use) and read it at my leisure? I don't like audio books or being constantly tethered to the Internet. Thanks.
Posted by: Liz | July 09, 2009 at 04:54 AM
dang, i just bought this book
Posted by: Jeff | July 09, 2009 at 11:53 AM
So, things are not so free, ah?
I accessed Scribd and have no permission to read.
Oh boys, free is only free for someones..
:-(
Cohen
Posted by: Roberto Cohen | July 10, 2009 at 06:34 AM
If the author tells you the book is available for free reading, tell Google Books that you access the site from US.
Btw., as publisher you can make your book on Google Book available just in US or Worldwide (maybe not just for one month?)
Posted by: Hugo E. Martin | July 10, 2009 at 07:05 AM
Minor correction on page 136 (btw I can see the scribd version in the UK). You say "listeners and viewers pay a yearly tax on their radios and TVs and get the ad-free BBC in return". The tax (licence fee) is only on TVs. If you only own a radio you're onto a winner.
Posted by: Paul Morriss | July 10, 2009 at 08:01 AM
The Scribd version is not available in Japan. And content is not viewable from google books. If you're really keen you can run the scribd link through google translate or other types of web proxy that are hosted in the US. (just don't tell your publishers ). Ouch - my eyes - that online reader kinda bites.
You're probably already aware - but there are other ways of publishing in a truly free manner - such as Lawrence Lessig's excellent creative commons :
http://www.free-culture.cc/freecontent/
but I suspect - not having read your book completely yet - that you concept of "Free" is more about the diminishing to zero costs of online distribution and ways to monetize that by imposing "Scarcity" on higher quality versions - as in the Monty Python example.
As compared to Lessigs freedom of use, and freedom from burdensome DRM.
Still - I applaud your efforts, and if you could persuade your publishers to lift these ridiculous geographical restrictions, those of us living outside the US would be eternally grateful :)
Posted by: Ian | July 10, 2009 at 07:59 PM
Free? Maybe as free as in free beer – in the US, for a limited time and in a particular type of glass only, in summary, a marketing gimmick, and not real freedom, not even from an American perspective.
I'm sorry you sold your own freedom to a publisher. Why do you even need a publisher? A printer should have been sufficient. Publishers do printing as well, sure, but they grad all kind of other rights as well as you've probably realized too. Well, you might act less stupid next time I guess.
Posted by: Max Weber | July 11, 2009 at 07:02 PM
Wow .. wonderful article :D
glad to hear that google release it :D
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Posted by: ghprod | July 12, 2009 at 06:03 AM
A new review of FREE in Spanish on: http://www.digitalismo.com/
Posted by: Hugo Pardo Kuklinski | July 12, 2009 at 09:50 AM
اناشيد كراميش
العاب كمبيوتر
دليل مواقع
رفع صور
منتديات
Posted by: ayman | July 12, 2009 at 11:09 PM
People outside the US, like me, can grab the Google Books link and route it via a proxy service like Ctunnel (http://ctunnel.com) and then it's there.
I guess we'll have to do it this way, until the content is free as in free speech.
// Lars
Posted by: Lars K Jensen | July 13, 2009 at 04:49 AM
i was actually able to read some of this book, it was pretty good and well written
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Posted by: clmm8899 | July 13, 2009 at 11:47 PM
Hi Chris,
On page 38 of "Free" you write: "In the sixteenth century, short-term interest rates dropped dramatically...The lower rates weakened most religious scruples about lending with interest, although Islamic law continued to frown on it."
As an Islamic finance trainer I was thoroughly impressed that you managed to tie this in with your broader theme of "Free." I'd like to add a point.
Seemingly low interest rates continue to wreak havoc on global markets. The explanation is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzIf6h-rsLc
Posted by: Atif Khan | July 14, 2009 at 09:09 AM
Who says you dont get anything for free.
Thankyou kindly for the download link, i havent yet been able to read it, but i shall this evening and return with a review.
thanks again.
Posted by: greatmanjohn | July 14, 2009 at 09:28 AM
I just finished the unabridged audio book and found it wonderfully entertaining (that says a lot about listening to Chris Anderson talk to me for 6 hours during my commutes), thought provoking, and educational. Although, we've already embraced a business model that embraces this principal, I was able to derive specific objectives to expand our model...hopefully, providing us a significant edge in our market. Thanks for the book Chris!
Posted by: Tom Henell | July 14, 2009 at 10:22 AM
Google is amazing... I can't wait for Google Wave.
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Time limited on a Kindle? Can you do that?
Posted by: Michael Witthaus | July 15, 2009 at 01:04 PM
i am reaading google books but only a dew pages not fully
Posted by: seo | July 19, 2009 at 02:35 PM