Reviews (5)

Amazing
The writer thoroughly researched his work.He studied how technology affects organizations and how crisis of information come into play when dealing with mass markets and new technologies.This is a must read work.

Outstanding book
Beniger has published two sole-authored books. The Control Revolution: Technological and Economic Origins of the Information Society (Harvard University Press, 1986) gained a full-page review (with brief biography) in the New York Times Book Review and the lead review (and cover illustration) in the special book review edition of Science, journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Now in its third printing, The Control Revolution won the eleventh annual Association of American Publishers award for "the most outstanding book in the social and behavioral sciences" and the Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Recognition Award; the 1989 softcover edition was selected by the New York Times Book Review as a "Notable Paperback of the Year." Recently Harvard University Press announced contracts to publish The Control Revolution in two additional languages: in Italian by UTET Libreria, an Italian book publisher, by December 1995; and in Mandarin Chinese by Laureate, a U.S. book publisher specialized in foreign translations for export, by May 1996.

Ground breaking, empirical work, cuts thru Info Society hype
If you have, like Beniger, asked the question "Why is information so critical for our current mode of production?Why Information?Why Now?"You need to read this book.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Economics - General    4. History    5. Sociology    6. Sociology - General    7. Technology And Social Change    8. Business & Economics / Economics / General    9. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (3)

Slow but Invaluable
Melosi's style leaves much to want, but the content is invaluable for anyone wishing to appreciate the contributions of one of this country's greatest inventors.

Thomas A. Edison
This book is essentially unadulterated Edison.Martin Melosi (author) wrote a very very detailed book about one of the great inventors.The book is a little boring, but if you want to learn A LOT about Edison this bookis for you.But don't take my word for it...wait actually you should

A waste of time for the reader and poorly written.
Pedantic and self-important prose mask the significance of Thomas A. Edison in this poorly crafted and ponderous work written by some academic.Don't waste your time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. (Thomas Alva),    2. 1847-1931    3. Biography    4. Edison, Thomas A    5. Edison, Thomas A.    6. General    7. History: American    8. Inventions    9. Inventors    10. Technology & Industrial Arts    11. Technology And Social Change    12. United States    13. History / General    14. Impact of science & technology on society    15. Sociology, Social Studies    16. Technology: General Issues   

Reviews (6)

The evolution of electrical acceptance in this country
In 1879 Americans were fearful of the 'new electricity': forty years later, the whole country relied on it. How did Americans come to change their minds? Dark Light: Electricity And Anxiety From The Telegraph To The X-ray explains the evolution of electrical acceptance in this country, providing a lively, popular discussion.
The Cultural Approach to Science
This is a history of electricity from the social aspects. The author is neither scientist nor historian, but an English professor.
Superb
Dark Light is a surprising book.Although not a professor of history,Linda Simon is associate professor of English at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, and it shows.The book is well researched and very informative, but more importantly, it's very readable.
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Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. 20th century    3. Electricity    4. Electrification    5. History    6. History Of Technology    7. Philosophy & Social Aspects    8. Psychological aspects    9. Public opinion    10. Science    11. Science/Mathematics    12. Social Change    13. Technology    14. United States - Civil War    15. Technology / History   

Subjects:  1. Authority    2. Europe    3. General    4. Great Britain    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: American    8. Intellectual life    9. Liberty    10. Technology And Social Change    11. Technology and civilization    12. Science / Geography   

Subjects:  1. English literature    2. English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    3. History: American    4. Industrialization    5. Industries    6. Literary collections    7. Literature - Classics / Criticism    8. Machinery in the workplace    9. Technology And Social Change    10. Impact of science & technology on society   

Editorial Review

The great irony of the high-tech age is that we've become enslaved to devices that were supposed to give us freedom. That's why in Read more

Reviews (10)

"The railroad rides Mankind"
I must agree with a number of other reviewers about this book. It promises a lot more than it gives. It too it seems to me beats a pretty dead horse, when coming down as major point on media violence as major abuse of technology. It is not that this is wrong, but rather that it is such a glaring and commonplace truth that one does not need it to be banged into one's head over and over again.
Deceptive and Disjointed
One of the most misleading titles I have ever read.Although purporting to cover issues regarding society's relationship to technology, the authors present a short and poorly reasoned discussion of media violence, followed up with much fluff regarding gene therapy and genetic manipulation.
You could drive a mac truck through the logical gaps
Don't read this book. It will confuse you into thinking that the world of technology is dangerous and emotionally painful, without every actually explaining to you how or why. The only reason I don't give it fewer stars is that it's real easy to read. The problem is, it doesn't actually say anything. Read more

Subjects:  1. Future Studies    2. General    3. High technology    4. Social Aspects    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Technology    8. Technology And Social Change    9. Current Events / General   

Features

• Abridged
• Audiobook

Subjects:  1. Abridged Audio - Misc. Nonfiction    2. Astrophysics & Space Science    3. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    4. Future Studies    5. Science    6. Technology And Social Change    7. Science / Astrophysics & Space Science   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Science    3. Science And Civilization    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Social aspects    6. Sociology    7. Technology    8. Technology And Social Change   

Reviews (1)

Vivid illustration of Silicon Valley
This book could be dubbed as the ethnography of Silicon Valley in the eye of anthropologist. This book seems outdated at first glance. It��s two-decades-old, published in 1984. Since that time, so much has happened in the computer industry, the bread and butter of the Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley saw in the 1980s the era of microcomputer (PC) and in the 1990s the advent of the age of Internet. This book couldn��t deal with those kind of events naturally. But the underlying characteristics of the area hasn��t changed. Venture capitals and job-hoppings, hyper-competitive and individualistic lifestyle are there as usual. And those are vividly illustrated in this book with the texture of real business rendered with data garnered from interviews and anecdotes of not only eminent figures in the area but also ranks and files of the businesses. This book is inundated with lively details. Though there are flood of materials on Silicon Valley these days, this book doesn��t lose its relevancy for the weight of time. I strongly recommend this book if you want to figure out the way of doing in Silicon Valley. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Business/Economics    3. California    4. High technology industries    5. History    6. Industries - General    7. Microelectronics industry    8. Santa Clara Valley (Santa Clar    9. Santa Clara Valley (Santa Clara County)    10. Semiconductor industry    11. Technology And Social Change   

Reviews (1)

thoughtful and elegant
He describes the transformation of idea and language in the electronic age with grace and wit and joy. For everyone of us who has greeted the information age with something less than wholehearted enthusiasm, Irecommend Lanham's deeply thoughtful, elegant philosophy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts In General (Multi-Subject)    2. Computers and civilization    3. General    4. Literary Criticism    5. Literature - Classics / Criticism    6. Technology And Social Change    7. Cultural studies    8. Language Arts & Disciplines / Rhetoric    9. Social & Legal Aspects of Computing    10. Text & document processing: general   

Subjects:  1. Economic aspects    2. General    3. History: American    4. Social aspects    5. Sociology    6. Technology    7. Technology And Social Change    8. United States    9. United States - General    10. Economics    11. History / United States / General    12. Social Sciences    13. Technology: General Issues    14. USA   

Subjects:  1. Aims & Objectives    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Moral Education    5. Moral and ethical aspects    6. Study and teaching    7. Technology    8. Technology And Social Change    9. Values    10. Education / Philosophy & Social Aspects    11. Philosophy of education   

Reviews (18)

Social Commentary on Evolution by an Accomplished Scholar
Objections Sustained is a collection of essays by UC Berkeley law professor Phillip Johnson.In the first half of the book, Johnson presents nine short chapters about Darwinists and Darwinism. Johnson first takes aim at the myth that science and religion occupy completely separate realms.This myth, formally approved for public consumption by the National Academy of Sciences, is refuted by famous proponents of Darwinism like Thomas H. Huxley, who viewed Darwinism as the antidote to letting the "Divine foot in the door."
The rest of the story
Scientific Materialism is being assaulted by the very substance it allegedly holds dear, truth.It is interesting how "truth" is supported by dogma and emotional outbursts bordering on insane ranting,
Please be realistic about science.
A friend of mine works for an petrochemical exploration company.They specialize in determining potential locations of oil deposits by drilling cores into layers of sedimentary deposits and looking at the evolutionary sequences of micro-fossils which were accumulated millions of years ago on ancient sea-floors. Oil (and coal) deposits formed when decaying plant matter became buried under sediments and underwent subsequent chemical alteration.The plant material requires millions of years to be converted into oil or coal. (They're called fossil fuel for a reason, you know.)When you analyze a drill core sample, and if you find particular micro-fossils of species that only lived during a certain geological age that corresponds to the age when oil deposits formed, then you might be in an area where oil can be found.Her company gets contacts from huge oil companies to help them make multi-billion dollar decisions on where to drill for oil based partly on the information obtained by looking at micro-fossils.Oil companies have been doing this for decades. Don't believe me.Find out for yourself.Search the internet for websites about oil exploration micropaleontology.Next time you fill your tank, consider the role evolution played in both the creation and the discovery of the gas you're pumping into your car.I own stock in the company my friend works for and have made some nice returns on it.
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Subjects:  1. Evolution (Biology)    2. Life Sciences - Evolution - Human    3. Philosophy    4. Philosophy & Social Aspects    5. Philosophy Of Science    6. Religious    7. Science    8. Social Science    9. Social aspects    10. Sociology    11. Sociology - General    12. Technology And Social Change    13. Theology - Apologetics    14. Cultural studies    15. Ethics & moral philosophy   

Subjects:  1. (1964-1965)    2. 1888-1981    3. Fairs    4. History    5. Moses, Robert,    6. New York    7. New York (State)    8. New York World's Fair    9. Technology And Social Change    10. Moses, Robert   

Editorial Review

Michael Mazarr, an adjunct researcher at the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, tries to make sense of the end of the 20th century, identifying six fundamental trends reshaping the U.S. and the world and adopting what he calls "cautious optimism" in predicting what lies ahead. While Mazarr expects little to change in the developed Western world, he predicts instability in Africa, the Middle East, and India due to rapid population growth, disease, food and water shortages, and cultural conflicts. Advances in science and technology, he continues, will fuel rapid social change and create a global culture of free-market economies--unleashing instability in the process. World economies will increasingly be based on information, reorganizing the nature of work and increasing the gap between rich and poor; the globalization of world trade, economic activity, and communication will be met by a simultaneous rise in tribalism, and Mazarr predicts the conflict between the two will be "one of the major hallmarks of the coming decade." He also projects that a transformation of authority may result in a collapse of public confidence in all social authorities, and suggests that all of these trends will result in a worldwide feeling that things have never been so good, yet also leave people decidedly negative and pessimistic about the future. The first decade of the 21st century, Mazarr writes, will see "the most profound transition in human history," a period of both opportunity and risk. "Fate has provided us with the raw material of a new renaissance in human society, but it is up to us to make that renaissance a reality." Read more

Reviews (5)

Much food for thought
Peter Drucker wrote that every few hundred years there occurs a sharp transformation and within a few short decades society rearranges itself - its worldview, its basic values, its social and political structure, its arts, its key institutions; fifty years later, there is a new world. We are living through such a transformation today in which our major advances all but wreck societies.Organized around knowledge, we see the first hints of the information age that is undermining authority and creating a uniform world - a world full of surprises because it is uncertain whether humanity will use its power effectively and wisely. Reshaping our world are four global issues, nine themes and six trends; Mazarr provides policy recommendations for each trend - a total of 32 recommendations. The global issues are demography, natural resources, the environment, and human culture. The themes are:the paradoxical and contradictory nature of this period of transition; the blurring of boundaries between disciplines, industries and social enterprises; the new social morphology of our societies is networks; there is a shift from manufactured products to knowledge as the basic good of economic life; things that have worked well may no longer succeed and we must prepare for the inevitable down slope that accompanies progress; the new moral system embraces compassion, social equity, charity, concern for the natural environment, personal responsibility, religion and spiritual life; perception is as important as the facts; major social transformations are immensely disruptive; individuals and civic associations are empowered, leveling the playing field.
Globalization and Paradoxical Tribalization
Mazarr provides a detailed description and analysis of the current state of the world, presenting six trends for coming decades. Of particular interest is his description of the interplay of Globalization and Tribalization/Regionalization, which has implications for ethnic identities.

Eye Opening
The outlook of the book is neither pessimistic nor optimistic, but as realistic as possible. This book should provide a great jumping off point for anyone interested in the specific areas discussed, which involve most trends affecting policy making today.Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Economics    3. Economics - Theory    4. Forecasting    5. Forecasts    6. Future Studies    7. Genealogy    8. International - Economics    9. Political    10. Reference    11. Social change    12. Twenty-first century    13. Business & Economics / Economics / International    14. Impact of science & technology on society   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Civilization, Western    3. History    4. History Of Anthropological Thought    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Technology And Social Change    8. Technology and civilization    9. Anthropology    10. History of Science and Medicine, Philosophy of Science    11. Impact of science & technology on society    12. Philosophy of science    13. Political Science and International Relations    14. Science / History    15. Technology: General Issues   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (8)

Quite a wonderful cursory overview...
Granted, the articles do not go into belaboring details about each and every possible future development. But that is perfectly acceptable, as this is not designed to be a technical manual. In fact is's simply a speculative set of ideas of what might be coming based upon current trends. Granted it's generalist, and there is perhaps a bit of fluff.
Chris Seibold MyMac.com Book Review
...The future, being what it is, is notoriously hard to predict. Ed Zolli realizes the inherent difficulty of predicting the future but still remains bold enough to edit together some well-informed guesses in "Tech TV's Catalog of Tomorrow"... Looking ahead to a different and better future
While the advancement of computing technology gets most of the major headlines, there are an enormous number of other technical advances that will dramatically change our lives in the next decade. Some, like the development of extremely small machines, are major differences in kind from what we now have. However, many are simply the results of continued advances that have been proceeding at various speeds for decades. One example of this is the generation of electric power from wind. It was given a temporary boost in the late 70's as a consequence of what was then called the "energy crunch", but shortly after, fell out of favor. After two decades of low-velocity progress and rising utility rates, windmills are now economically viable alternatives to other types of power plants.Read more

Subjects:  1. Applied Sciences    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer Engineering    4. Computers    5. Computers - General Information    6. Forecasting    7. General    8. Social aspects    9. Social change    10. Technological forecasting    11. Technological innovations    12. Computers / Input-Output Equipment    13. General Theory of Computing    14. History of engineering & technology   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Computer Industry (Economic Aspects)    5. E-Commerce - General    6. Electronic commerce    7. General    8. Great Britain    9. Internet - General    10. Technology And Social Change    11. Business & Economics / Information Management    12. Impact of computing & IT on society    13. Impact of science & technology on society    14. Internet    15. Sustainability    16. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Subjects:  1. History    2. Popular Culture - General    3. Science    4. Social aspects    5. Sociology    6. Technology    7. Technology And Social Change    8. Technology and state    9. Anthropology    10. Impact of science & technology on society    11. Philosophy of science    12. Postmodernism   

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - General Information    2. Computer Science    3. Computers - General Information    4. Computers And Society    5. Computers and civilization    6. Information Technology    7. Information society    8. Social Aspects - General    9. Social Science    10. Social aspects    11. Sociology    12. Sociology - General    13. Technology And Social Change    14. Impact of computing & IT on society