After Hype

'Hype has become a defining feature of contemporary capitalism. Not as a spontaneous force, but as something increasingly organized, managed and strategically deployed. This groundbreaking book lays the foundations for a systematic study of hype, offering a compelling analysis of how it is produced and sustained through managerial practices. By uncovering the mechanisms behind the orchestration of hype, the authors provide an original and timely contribution to the performative dynamics shaping today's markets.' Jens Beckert, author of Imagined Futures: Fictional Expectations and Capitalist Dynamics 'Pollock and Williams elevate our understanding of how hype dynamics work, perform and transform to a new level, focusing on a major business sector of our times. A much needed contribution to a widely debated and impactful field, whose inner workings are mostly hidden from scholarly scrutiny.' Kornelia Konrad, University of Twente, the Netherlands, and Associate Editor, Futures 'This groundbreaking book makes a powerful case to take hype seriously and provides the analytical and methodological tools to make this possible. Its impressive scope places the need to understand hype at the centre of contemporary innovation studies.' Paul Martin, Professor of the Sociology of Science and Technology, University of Sheffield 'Hypes are much more than unwanted and disturbing exaggerations. After Hype details how hypes have become an integral part of modern economies and strategic decision making. This book convincingly brings together many strands of scholarship and offers significant theoretical and practical insights.' Harro van Lente, Professor of Science and Technology Studies, Maastricht University, the Netherlands