I, Sim - Out of this World #65

In this book, Jaron Lanier presents ten compelling arguments for why individuals should consider deleting their social media accounts. He discusses how social media can undermine truth, destroy empathy, make users unhappy, and disrupt economic dignity and political discourse. Lanier also introduces the concept of the 'BUMMER' machine, which describes how social media services modify user behavior for profit. The book encourages readers to be more mindful of their social media use and its broader societal implications.

The novel tells the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human born on Mars and raised by Martians after the deaths of the crew of the first mission to the planet. When Michael is brought back to Earth as an adult, he struggles to understand human behavior and culture. With the help of characters like Gillian Boardman and Jubal Harshaw, Michael navigates human society, critiques its institutions, and eventually starts his own movement, the 'Church of All Worlds. ' The novel explores themes of individual liberty, self-responsibility, and challenges to traditional social and religious norms. It is known for its complex characters, philosophical discussions, and its impact on the science fiction genre and the counterculture movement of the late 1960s.