Several articles via WSJ.com, New York Times and The Atlantic delve into arguments raised by authors of new books on the subject of the Web’s impact on acquiring, retaining and utilizing knowledge.

• WSJ.com: Does the Internet Make You Smarter? Amid the silly videos and spam are the roots of a new reading and writing culture, says Clay Shirky.
• WSJ.com: Does the Internet Make You Dumber? The cognitive effects are measurable: We’re turning into shallow thinkers, says Nicholas Carr.
• New York Times Book Review: “Nicholas Carr argues that we are sabotaging ourselves, trading away the seriousness of sustained attention for the frantic superficiality of the Internet.”
• Via Wired, an except of Nicholas Carr’s book, The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains
• The Atlantic: “In Carr’s new book The Shallows, he explores in greater depth the cognitive and historic implications [that Internet use is literally altering our brains] comparing the Internet’s impact to that of other technological innovations, including the printed book.”