This chapter explores how niche content can gain popularity and the paradoxical nature of Wikipedia as a constantly improving online encyclopedia. It discusses the lessons learned from Wikipedia, the imperfections of traditional encyclopedias, and the self-improving nature of Wikipedia. The conversation also acknowledges the biases in information sources and emphasizes the importance of critical analysis.
Russ Roberts talks with Chris Anderson of Wired Magazine about the ideas in his new book, The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More. Topics include the weird world of internet distribution and production, how the Sears catalog of the 1890s was the predecessor to Amazon books in the 1990s, the economics of choice and the role of filters, and the challenges of wrapping our minds around emergent phenomena.