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(Credit: Dhiraj Murthy discusses Twitter)

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(Credit: NYT Columnist Nick Bilton Talks About Twitter Book – http://www.onenewspage.com/n/Entertainment/74w4eyou4/Book-Review-Hatching-Twitter-by-Nick-Bilton.htm – Source: The Wall Street Journal, November 3, 2013)

On first examination, one might think that the purpose here is to discuss how to use Twitter. If that is what one was seeking, then one will be sorely disappointed, or perhaps partially disappointed. On the other hand, if one was wondering why Twitter has become such a big deal, then consider the following book titles for borrowing from Toronto Public Library collections to find out:

Hatching Twitter: a true story of money, power, friendship, and betrayal / Nick Bilton, 2013. Book. Adult Non-Fiction. 006.754 BIL

New York Times columnist and blogger Nick Bilton tracks the metamorphosis of a failing podcasting start-up named Odeo into the social networking and microblogging service Twitter in March 2006 (with the public website coming on stream in July 2006) up to the initial public offering (IPO) in September 2013. A key ingredient in the Twitter story is the relationship dynamics between the major personalities: One co-founder named Noah Glass was forced out even before Twitter came into existence; Co-founder Evan Williams appointed programmer Jack Dorsey as chief executive officer but subsequently became involved in Dorsey’s removal; Evan Williams was later fired in a coup involving Mr. Dorsey who is now Chairman; Dick Costolo is the current CEO. Read the book to see how Twitter itself has been perceived differently by different people, including its founders.

Read the book reviews from the Wall Street Journal, the Independent, the Guardian, and The Verge. 

Twitter: social communication in the Twitter age / Dhiraj Murthy, 2013. Book. Adult Non-Fiction. 302.30285 MUR

Sociology professor Murthy takes an academic approach in examining the economic, historical, political, and yes, social facets of Twitter. Twitter has carved out a unique place in the social media universe but the idea of short message communication can be traced back to the early telegraphs as well as to the notificator message boards of the 1930s on which anyone could leave a message. Naturally, Twitter has a worldwide impact thanks to its tie-in to the Internet, enhancing citizen journalism and social activism (i.e. Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street), allowing media organizations to tap into news stories from local sources (including reporting disasters and other potentially dangerous events), and connecting celebrities from different backgrounds to connect with their fans and supporters. Dhiraj Murthy also examines medical collaboration by health researchers through Twitter within an ethical context.

For further information, read the International Journal of Communication 7 (2013), Book Review 1240–1242 online or access the same information in portable document format (PDF) by clicking here. 

To view additional books, eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eVideos eligible for borrowing from Toronto Public Library collections on the subject of Twitter, please click here.