The ideas in this book are in part a result of teaching-led research, in which students initially taught me that what I thought was a well-analysed subject (the digital economy) was problematic, and then helped with identifying the issues this book addresses. Thanks goes to all the students at the University of Sussex and at King’s College London who took the course ‘Digital Industries and Internet Cultures’. Colleagues at Polity Press were not only sympathetic but very helpful when the manuscript was delayed, and have been highly efficient in refining and producing the book; many thanks to Ellen MacDonald-Kramer and Mary Savigar as editors, Tim Clark for a thorough copy edit and Evie Deavall for production. Two anonymous reviewers provided feedback, much of which was helpful and I thank them for their time.

I had further and essential help from a wonderful network of scholars I meet at conferences, seminars, dinners and more; unfortunately there are too many to name but my thanks goes out to them all. The Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics’ annual conference, the Centre for Digital Culture at King’s College London, and the Klein School of Media and Communication at Temple University all offered a chance to present my ideas about the digital economy, and the discussions at each were very helpful.

A few individuals helped particularly and I’d like to thank them: Tarleton Gillespie and Hector Postigo and all who attended the Philadelphia Culture Digitally meeting at which I presented some of these ideas in a confused way; Kim Humphery, particularly for her help on ideas about consumption politics; King’s College London colleagues in both Digital Humanities and Culture, Media and Creative Industries (including those like me who left); Joss Hands, Jodi Dean and David Castle for discussions as part of the Pluto’s Digital Barricades series; the dinners that have offered emotional and intellectual support with Kath Woodward, Mark Banks and Richard Collins; and colleagues at the University of Sussex, particularly those who helped during some very difficult issues there.

My children offer both a window into living the digital economy and huge amounts of fun; love to them both.

During the final stages of preparation of this manuscript my older brother Campbell died suddenly and unexpectedly. He was an example of someone who made the world better through daily acts of kindness and commitment, particularly in his work with the local life-saving club. Over a hundred people turned out when we scattered his ashes in the bay outside the home we grew up in – and that he lived in for much of his life – and the life-saving club that runs as a central thread through our family. I dedicate this book to him and to all those who make the world better though everyday moments; those who make the world a better place one everyday act at a time, or in Campbell’s case (among other sessions) one nippers’ session at a time.