Joseph Menn

Joseph Menn is a veteran investigative journalist and the acclaimed author of three books of non-fiction: Fatal System Error, Cult of the Dead Cow, and All the Rave. His books have been called "meticulously researched" and "cinematic in their detail," earning him praise from the likes of Pulitzer Prize-winner Thomas Friedman and Wired's Steven Levy.

Menn, who grew up in Los Angeles, began his career in journalism while attending Stanford University. In 1991 he was hired by the Wall Street Journal and went on to cover the tech industry extensively, leading him to join the paper's San Francisco bureau in 1996. His reporting drew national and international attention, as he wrote about topics such as online fraud, cybercrime, venture capital, and evolving technology.

Menn is best known for his best-selling Fatal System Error: The Hunt for the New Crime Lords Who Are Bringing Down the Internet, which was published in 2009. In this book, Menn exhaustively investigates the dark sides of the Internet, tracing a decade-long story of the hackers and criminals who exploit the system's loopholes and vulnerabilities. He includes deeply researched, in-depth profiles of some of the world's most notorious cyber out-laws and meticulous accounts of their exploits. Fatal System Error was critically acclaimed and quickly became a New York Times bestseller.

In 2011, Menn released his second book, Cult of the Dead Cow: How the Original Hacking Supergroup Might Just Save the World. This book is based on exclusive interviews Menn conducted with the members of the Cult of dead Cow, which was the hacker group from which Internet mogul Bill Gates first acquired his programming skills. The group was instrumental in shaping the evolution of Internet security and advancing the use of encryption to protect data and communications. The book provides an inside look at the art, science, and politics of their work and how it revolutionized entrenched industry practices.

Menn's most recent book, All the Rave: The Rise and Fall of Shawn Fanning's Napster, was published in 2016. As the title suggests, this book follows the story of Shawn Fanning, who created the music-sharing service Napster which shook the recording industry and changed how people consumed media. Menn traces the history of the company and its rise and fall, illustrating how a young entrepreneur's ambitious vision changed the game on an industry that had remained the same for years.

Joseph Menn's investigative journalism and acclaimed books have earned him a great deal of critical recognition. His work reveals a deep knowledge of the specifics of cyber crime and the internet and puts a human touch on a complex topic. He manages to showcase both the dark areas of the Internet while exposing the potential for its positive uses. Menn's detailed and gripping books have something to appeal to readers of all stripes and make for an engrossing and absorbing reading experience.