A Tech Prophet Finally Gets Her Second Coming
The first thing to know about Cyberselfish, the chillingly prescient 2000 book about Silicon Valley that its author, Paulina Borsook, says “ruined my life” and caused a 25-year-long “curse” to befall her, is that it’s very, very funny. Cyberselfish, which Borsook cannot stand to name and instead calls “TDB” (short for “that damn book”), is […]
Cyberselfish, a prescient 2000 book on Silicon Valley penned by Paulina Borsook, is said to have ruined Borsook's life and brought a 25-year-long curse. The book, which Borsook cannot bring herself to name, instead referring to it as "TDB," was a humorous account of a journalist's investigation into the tech world. Borsook, a native Californian, was shocked to find herself a fish in an invasive species' tank as she navigated the world of tech.
Her observations were both hilarious and depressing, with early examples including when she published a satirical guide on dating men in tech on Suck.com. The piece caused a flood of emails, with men claiming she was writing about them or their acquaintances. Borsook's struggles began with Cyberselfish, which she described as "ruining my life" and causing her a "curse."
The book was originally meant for Wired's publishing imprint but was rejected and Borsook had to repay the advance to the second publisher. Despite its initial success, the book did not lead to other professional opportunities for Borsook, leaving her financially and socially devastated. Her condition only worsened with a permanent moderate traumatic brain injury from a teenage accident and severe chemical and scent sensitivities.
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