Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age

Steve Knopper's Appetite for Self-Destruction is an intermittently interesting review of digital music's evolution, and specifically the CD era (about 1984-2000), the Napster era (late 1990s and early 2000s), and the Ipod era (2002-2008). Knopper's book includes a useful summary of the specific technology underlying each format, as well an intelligent analysis of the conflicting incentives of various industry players – record store owners, vinyl/CD production facilities, music producers, artists and consumers. But the book is too personality-driven, and lacks a rigorous or detailed review of the economics behind key decisions.