There's a new book out that I just picked up - John Aldermans' "Sonic Boom". It covers and traces the history of file swapping from the early days up to this minutes' mass hysteria generated by the RIAA/MPAA et al. Highly recomended for anyone with interest in this (I feel) important social subject - either for themselves or as a gift.
Salon review extract:
"No book can predict the exact shape of the P2P future. Rather "Sonic Boom" should be praised for providing some important lessons from its recent history. Although they were a minority even among Net users, the Napster subculture successfully pioneered peer-to-peer computing for the masses. As increasing numbers go online and connection speeds keep rising, more and more people will come to discover the wonders of swapping information over the Net. The secret is out. However, as "Sonic Boom" recounts, there are powerful interests who are terrified of the social upheaval being unleashed by peer-to-peer computing."
- js.