The Circle (Eggers novel)

Lore & Background

The book ends with Mae looking at Annie, now in a coma, and wondering when The Circle will develop technology to read people's thoughts, saying 'the world deserves nothing less and would not wait.' The novel received mixed reception, with accusations of plagiarism from former Facebook employee Kate Losse, which Eggers denied. A film adaptation was released in 2017, and a sequel titled The Every was published in 2021.

Reader's Guide

The Circle is significant as a dystopian critique of the power of Internet companies and the erosion of privacy. It imagines a world where a single corporation subsumes Facebook, Google, and Twitter, gaining influence greater than politicians. The novel's mantras—'secrets are lies, sharing is caring, privacy is theft'—paraphrase George Orwell's 1984 and challenge the reader to consider the costs of transparency. The book sparked debate about surveillance, corporatocracy, and digital ethics, with some critics praising its accessible genre format and others dismissing it as lacking substantive arguments. Its legacy includes a film adaptation and a sequel, reflecting ongoing cultural concerns about technology's role in society.

Did You Know?

• The novel's mantras include 'Secrets are lies, sharing is caring, privacy is theft.'
• The company develops SeeChange cameras that provide real-time video with minimal effort.
• The character Kalden is revealed to be Ty Gospodinov, the company's original inventor, but Ty is not the 'Wise Man'; the 'Wise Man' is a separate character.
• A film adaptation starring Emma Watson and Tom Hanks was released in 2017 and received negative reviews.