This book, along with Volume's 2 & 3 in
the series is a must read for anyone who wants to understand
the implications of the fundamental transformation that the
globalization of the financial markets has wrought throughout
the world. The trilogy argues that we are at the beginning of
changes as explosive as those wrought by the industrial
revolution. Castells roams the world as he documents
economic, social and political changes and speculates about
the future. The author worked on these books for 12 years and
this represents his life work. I actually would rate the
trilogy an 11. It is an epic undertaking.