Little Brother by Cory Doctrow (revised version)

            I have just recently finished reading a book called little brother by Cory Doctrow. This amazing book takes place in the modern day world, and zooms into the life of an eighteen year old boy named Marcus Yallow who really loves technology, mainly computers. A massive terrorist bombing had just taken place in San Francisco, where Marcus lives. And now Marcus’ home has been turned into a police state, where every checkpoint is patrolled and where every citizen is tagged, and watched over by the department of homeland security (DHS). Marcus however, does not like this, and uses his vast knowledge of technology and computers to create a secret organization and fight back against the DHS. 

            One question that continuously comes up in this book is “when does our government stop working for us?” also, “when is it right to overthrow our government and establish a new one?” While I was reading this book, I pondered on these questions a lot. In my opinion, the government would stop working for us when the decisions they make no longer benefit us, but instead harm us. That is also when we would have to overthrow them, and establish a new government based on modern day thinking and necessities. After all, we are a democracy. I sound a lot like the character when I say that the government works for us, we don’t work for them. We pay their salaries, and we should get a better country because of it. This also kind of ties in with what is happening in Egypt. The Egyptian people don’t like their current leader, so they’re overthrowing him. They dont like the way he is runnig the country. They feel that it is their country, and they have to try and take it back from the evil dictator who is ignoring the wants of the people.

            While reading this book, i have been affected greatly. one way i have been affected is that this book has changed the way i now think of our government. Before, i used to be just an obedient little american who would've always done what the government asked of me. But now i realize why our country became a democracy. Not just because we wanted more say in our government but also because we can think of needs and wants that the president or mayor cant think of. sure the president or mayor is more educated on our sountry, and economics and stuff, but they arent perfect, and they cant think of everything. It is our job to aid them in making the decisions that will affect our nation.

           Another way that this book has affected me is that it has gotten me greatly interested in computers. And after finishing this book, i became really interested in computer language. I followed mr.doctrows advice and starteD with a basic language such as python. then i movd on to blitzbasic which is another computer language. i have made  2 programs already with blitzbasic, and am working on more.

            I am really enjoyed reading this book , and recommend it to everyone else. Not only does Cory Doctrow delve into political views, but along the way shares his vast knowledge of computers, and crypto terminology.