The Third Wave by Steve Case Summary
Overview of The Third Wave
AOL founder Steve Case reveals the "Third Wave" - where internet transforms healthcare, education, and food industries. His vision predicts a $1 trillion health tech market by 2025, while urging entrepreneurs to reimagine relationships with customers, competitors, and governments.
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Key takeaways
When the Internet Finally Grows Up and Gets Serious
The year is 1985, and a young entrepreneur named Steve Case is trying to explain why anyone would want to connect their computer to something called "the internet." Most people think he's crazy. Fast forward three decades, and that same entrepreneur - now the co-founder of America Online - is warning us that everything we've seen so far is just the warm-up act. The real revolution hasn't even started yet. We've spent thirty years building the internet and playing with apps. Now comes the hard part: using this technology to fix the broken systems that actually matter - healthcare that bankrupts families, education that fails students, food systems that poison us, and cities crumbling under their own weight. This isn't about the next viral app or social network. It's about whether technology can finally deliver on its promise to make life genuinely better, not just more convenient. Think of the internet's evolution like the development of electricity. First, someone had to string the wires and build the power plants. Then entrepreneurs figured out what to plug into those outlets. Now we're entering the phase where electricity becomes invisible - so deeply embedded in everything that we forget it's even there.
Three Waves That Changed Everything
Healthcare's Billion-Dollar Fax Machine Problem
Education and Food Systems Transformed
Cities That Think and Infrastructure That Talks
The New Rules of Disruption and Geographic Diversity
Impact Investing, Government Partnership, and Your Role in What Comes Next
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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