[randomaxes]

My favorite introduction to Foucault is Hubert Dreyfus' essay on Being and Power: http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~hdreyfus/html/paper_being.html

The key insight for me is the discussion of "the clearing". The clearing opens the way for new opportunities while suppressing other possibilities in exchange. This concept can be used readily to analyze the durability of certain new technologies and their effect on society. For example, Facebook clearly creates a new way to communicate, but that channel then eliminates other forms of communication in exchange.

The language of pervasive and hidden power is essential for a clear view of what the Silicon Valley is becoming.