The Internet is undergoing yet another major transformation.

We have evolved from the beginnings of the web in the mid 90s - to web 2.0 platforms that made it easier to engage in more interactive communication in the early to mid 2000s - to a connected web 3.0 world that has a critical mass of users who are fundamentally altering the business world and the way people make buying decisions.

If you feel lost in this latest transition, you are not alone. Fortunately, those who want to better understand how this new realm works can do so buy picking up a copy of Mitch Joel's book, Six Pixels of Separation.

As you would expect from a journalist and marketing professional, the book is easy to read, broken into chunks with headings that encourage browsing. Chapters include things like:

• Entrepreneurship 2.0: a look at changing paradigms for entrepreneurship with strategy tips and tools for business owners,
• Digital Darwinism: what it takes to succeed in the latest evolution of the Internet,
• From Mass Media to "Me" Media: learn how to build your personal brand online, and
• Participation 2.0: a look at new business models and emerging trends.

One concern with any book that tries to capture the essence of social media is that the information will be outdated by the time the book is published. By taking a strategic approach and outlining the broad paradigms of the Internet today, rather than the latest sites and tools used to communicate, the author has ensured that the information has longevity.

There are several places you can go to learn about social media, how it works and how it is changing the business world. If you want to really delve into this subject in greater depth than you can get from reading a collection of short articles online, Six Pixels of Separation is a recommended read.