Richard Cooke: The Last Best Place on the Internet
We are delighted to host the launch of Richard Cooke's playful and provocative exploration of mighty Wikipedia!
One of the keystone inventions of the twenty-first century, Wikipedia is the largest repository of human knowledge ever made, with editions in 343 languages read by millions every day – all created by unpaid, mainly amateur and mostly anonymous volunteers.
In 'The Last Best Place on the Internet', journalist Richard Cooke delves into Wikipedia's fabled creation, its extraordinary success and its profound effects on politics, business, literature and society. He explores the site's shifting role in establishing fact in a time of deep uncertainty about truth and authority; the often hilariously fierce debates between 'Inclusionists' and 'Deletionists' about what is worth knowing and preserving, and who gets to decide; and the great peril Wikipedia faces today from bots, political division and artificial intelligence.
'The Last Best Place on the Internet' is a fascinating journey into the hidden world of one of the most vital – and most endangered – cultural achievements of our time.
Free, but bookings are essential.
One of the keystone inventions of the twenty-first century, Wikipedia is the largest repository of human knowledge ever made, with editions in 343 languages read by millions every day – all created by unpaid, mainly amateur and mostly anonymous volunteers.
In 'The Last Best Place on the Internet', journalist Richard Cooke delves into Wikipedia's fabled creation, its extraordinary success and its profound effects on politics, business, literature and society. He explores the site's shifting role in establishing fact in a time of deep uncertainty about truth and authority; the often hilariously fierce debates between 'Inclusionists' and 'Deletionists' about what is worth knowing and preserving, and who gets to decide; and the great peril Wikipedia faces today from bots, political division and artificial intelligence.
'The Last Best Place on the Internet' is a fascinating journey into the hidden world of one of the most vital – and most endangered – cultural achievements of our time.
Free, but bookings are essential.
Wednesday 21 October 2026 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM (UTC+10)
Location
Readings Carlton
309 Lygon Street, Carlton Victoria 3053
Contact Details