Matthew Ball is the CEO of Epyllion and the former global head of strategy for Amazon Studios. He has written for The New York Times, The Economist, and Bloomberg. His self-published essays on the metaverse have been read millions of times and cited by leaders at Epic Games, Facebook, Tencent, and Coinbase. The term “metaverse” is suddenly everywhere, from the front pages of national newspapers and the latest fashion trends to the plans of the most powerful companies in history. It is already shaping the policy platforms of the U.S. government, the European Union, and the Chinese Communist Party. In The Metaverse: And How It Will Revolutionize Everything (Liveright), leading theorist and venture capitalist Ball explains what the metaverse is, what it will take to build it, and what it means for all of us. He presents it as a persistent and interconnected network of 3D virtual worlds that will eventually serve as the gateway to most online experiences and underpin much of the physical world. For decades, these ideas have been limited to science fiction and video games – now, they are poised to revolutionize every industry and function, from finance and health care to education, consumer products, dating, and beyond.