Sociotechnocanonicon

The Sociotechnocanonicon Great Books Discussion Series allows members of the CDSC to build their familiarity with some of the classic works which are foundational to the collective's research program.

The discussions are open to all, and facilitated by senior members of CDSC in order to introduce the broader context of the work. Meetings are held in person and aired over Jitsi for remote participation. Themes we often try to cover including collective action, social movements, participatory-democracy, networks, sociomateriality, sociotechnical systems, and cooperation.

This page covers the Summer 2022 version of the reading group. Links to previous years are at the bottom of the page.

Details

We are still planning this year's edition. Please place your suggestions below.

2022 Suggestions

• Union Democracy: The Inside Politics of the International Typographical Union by Seymour Martin Lipset, Martin Trow & James Coleman — I loved this book and I understand its a classic, but it could be somewhat dated or far-afield. — Nate; I think Charlie's work on turnover makes this relevant. —mako๛)
• Mutual Aid by Kropotkin — I also love this book, but it is definitely dated and not that useful unless you are an ecology nerd and/or anarchist —Nate
• Should you believe Wikipedia? (brand new book) by Amy Bruckman — I think we should prioritize classics but this is one that I think I will have to read this summer so I'd throw it into the mix. —mako๛
• Governing the Commons by Elinor Ostrom — Do this only if/when a large majority of new folks can make it. —mako๛ 04:04, 9 June 2022 (CEST)
• Wealth of Networks or perhaps a few articles by Yochai Benkler — Do this only if/when a large majority of new folks can make it. —mako๛ 04:04, 9 June 2022 (CEST)
• Dividing the Waters by William Blomquist — It's about groundwater governance in Southern California by a student of Ostrom. I'm interested in this because it's about the emergence of new institutions but it's only worth doing if a bunch of others are willing to talk to me about this. —mako๛
• Creating a Constitution by Federica Caraguti — Similar story to Blomquist exist it's about ancient Athens! Federica is beginning to do work in our space though so she seems to think there are connections. —mako๛
• The Sciences of the Artificial by Herbert Simon. — "best known for concepts of bounded rationality and satisficing" Kaylea (talk) 15:48, 8 January 2020 (EST); Moved from 2020 since this does feel something we could benefit from reading. —mako๛
• Conversational Firm by Cat Turco — I know Aaron and I have both read this book and loved it and I think more people in communication should be reading this book. —mako๛
• The Duality of Technology: Rethinking the Concept of Technology in Organizations' by Wanda Orlikowski — I've not read the book but I've read a bunch of other other work and think this might be worth it. It might be helpful to read Giddens first she I know she relies heavily on the concept of structuration. —mako๛

Previous Years

• Sociotechnocanonicon/2018 Schedule
• Sociotechnocanonicon/2019 Planning
• Sociotechnocanonicon/2019 Schedule
• Sociotechnocanonicon/2020 Schedule
• Sociotechnocanonicon/2021