ebook Nothing as it Seems

STORY: The narcissistic president of a country wakes up and finds himself locked up in a makeshift prison cell. Isolated and confused, he reflects on the bizarre event that led to his kidnapping during a press conference.

Using highly advanced digital manipulation and surveillance techniques, he was on the verge of instating a totalitarian regime, wielding supreme power to himself. Now he starts to discover that nothing in his life is as it seems.

20k words
Reading time less than 1 hour

What they said:

This book is impossible to put down. I was glued to it until the end. Wickedly exciting and profoundly intelligent. There is so much wisdom and knowledge between the lines. This is a must read for anyone in the path of awakening.


Wow, that exceeded all my expectations. Great suspense. A real page turner with a surprising ending, very appreciated!


Mesmerizing, impossible to stop reading!
Vividly written; the character(s) comes alive and the scenes lured me in.
Crawl into the mindset of the minions surrounding rulers and experience the 'prison of the mind' from the inside out. So far the best Thriller indeed! Very well done.


A strong story that keeps you hooked!


I loved this novel, a true page turner with an uplifting ending. Very well structured and it stimulates much thought about digitalization. Bravo!


This short novel is fun to read, while at the same time excellently showing the ever increasing power of "Big Tech" surveillance. It shows how vulnerable we have become due to our dependence on the internet. This novel will make more people aware about the issues of privacy, censorship and surveillance. A superb mix of entertainment and creating awareness!


Motivation

The Digital Transformation has helped us to advance. It also enabled just a few organizations (just a few individuals) to control all people and to enforce any desired ´reality´. This is nothing sort of digital dictatorship. History taught us the perils of dictatorship: abuse of power, mass surveillance and censorship.

As the digital world seems to become superior to the physical realm, we are on the verge of entering the posthuman era. Now more than ever, it is time to claim your digital sovereignty.

The novel Nothing As It Seems draws a dangerous scenario of the current potential of the technology that we use everyday. Its colorful narrative inspires to make conscious decisions in using digital services.

Support

This book is made available free of charge. I highly appreciate receiving your (anonymous) testimonial. It gives me the motivation to continue and helps others to start learning more about digital sovereignty. Feel free to send the book to others to help spread its message.

If you have the financial means, your recurring gift or one-time donation is very welcome. Your funding will support the distribution of the print version to various organizations and individuals across the globe.

If you would like to support in another way, please contact me. Specifically, I am looking for help with translation into other languages, layout and editing.

Paperback

A print version of the book will soon be available as paperback. If you would like to purchase in bulk, please contact us via the contact form.

Resources

Techlore

Spreading privacy and security to the masses. (free privacy course)

Odysee channel

Rob Braxman Tech

The Internet Privacy Guy: a public interest hacker and technologist

Odysee channel

Naomi Brockwell

Host of NBTV: a privacy, technology, blockchain channel

NBTV.media

Electronic Frontier Foundation

Defending your right
in the digital world

eff.org

Cory Doctorow

Podcast How to Destroy Surveillance Capitalism

Craphound website

Shoshana Zuboff

Author The Age of Surveillance Capitalism

book website

Jaron Lanier

Author Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media

jaronlanier.com

Privacytools.io

Fight Surveillance with Encryption and Privacy Tools

privacytools.io

About the author

My name is Bertil Schaart, activist entrepreneur and author. 

Years ago, I had created an external life that was perfectly accepted and lauded by my environment. However, my life and work, like that of everyone else, was all theater play. I was an actor with a script on the stage of my own life. I decided to take radical measures. It was very painful saying goodbye to a very comfortable life that my ego desperately tried to cling onto. I died a little on the inside, but it also brought new life with a new mindset.

I learned that true impact comes from decisions taken from a transcending multidimensional perspective. Such pluriform approach to reality is at odds with the global monoculture that is currently covertly forced upon us. 

Due to the rapid digitalization, we are at a critical junction now. A wrong turn could send humanity back into serfdom, a right turn will help us to explore new and forgotten realms. Digital sovereignty is a necessary first step for the latter.

I hold a Master of Science degree of Delft University of Technology and an MBA degree from INSEAD.