Third Industrial Revolution by Jeremy Rifkin

Jeremy Rifkin's Third Industrial Revolution: A Radical New Sharing Economy transforms how We Live and Work is a synopsis of Rifkin's views on the new economy. In his book, he argues that the world is on the brink of a major transition – one that will overcome the limits of the previous two Industrial Revolutions. The Third Industrial Revolution predicts a sweeping transformation of how people work and how we get the things we need.

For centuries, economies were dependent on two core sources of energy: coal and steam. The result of the two industrial revolutions was a more efficient and advanced global economy and a more prosperous standard of living. However, with climate change and resource depletion issues looming, Rifkin proposes a model for a better economic system – the sharing economy – as a means to transition from the fossil fuel-dependent economy of the past.

The sharing economy is a new kind of market that focuses on the sharing of resources rather than the ownership of them. According to Rifkin, sector after sector of the economy is embracing the sharing revolution, and that it has the potential to revolutionize how we live and work.

In the sharing economy, people are connected with one another through social networks. Activities such as renting out possessions, carpooling, house-sharing and labour exchanges can help reduce the need for all sorts of materials, products and services while, at the same time, raising resource productivity. At its peak, Rifkin sees the sharing economy being powered by renewable energy, an Internet of Things and green technologies.

The IoT, a technology with which everyday objects are connected to the internet, can enable data to be exchanged among various devices and systems as well as enable users to better manage their resources and produce products and services. Green technologies such as smart grids can reduce energy consumption, help to store and distribute energy, and enable energy resources to be accessed from a central hub. All of these changes can be implemented to revolutionize the way in which people share resources and, in turn, help create more sustainable communities.

Rifkin sees the future of the economy as being based on the ability to produce and share. Such a society offers a new way of thinking, where everyone is connected by a desire to share resources and knowledge. In Rifkin's vision, an integrated, multi-layered sharing economy will replace the traditional capitalist model and lead to a more efficient and eco-friendly global economy.

Besides the sharing economy, Rifkin also suggests a new vision for the transportation of goods and services: the personal cloud. This is a wireless, distributed network of interconnected devices that are interconnected through the internet, allowing people to transport goods and services from place to place.

There is no doubt that Jeremy Rifkin's Third Industrial Revolution is an ambitious and provocative book. He outlines a number of revolutionary steps for transitioning the world's economy to a more sustainable and egalitarian economic model. With the rise of the internet, smart technology and green energy, the sharing economy is already having a major impact on how people work, consume and interact with one another. Rifkin's book provides an in-depth look at the potential for a society based on sharing resources and knowledge and should be read by anyone interested in the future of the global economy.