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alidottie's review against another edition
4.0
I love interesting science writing. There were a few things I wasn't excited about--I think it was the section on sound that I skimmed a bit. I also didn't agree with the author the way he seemed to think all things proven scientifically negated the Bible's stories. I love how a book that reveals so much of what mankind misunderstood yesteryear assumes all the answers we have now are the final solutions and answers. As if there is not more that is well beyond our limited (even now) capacities to comprehend.
Nevertheless, over all is was quite enjoyable to follow his logic as one thing led to others in the unfolding of Now.
Nevertheless, over all is was quite enjoyable to follow his logic as one thing led to others in the unfolding of Now.
sucy524's review against another edition
5.0
This book was both entertaining and educational which is usually a hard combination to find. I found myself sharing what I learned with anyone that was willing to listen and searching on the internets for more detail on what I just learned. I particularly loved learning about Ada Lovelace and her incredible work on the general purpose computer. This was a great read and I highly recommend it. I just found out this is a show on PBS, so time to look that up! Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book "there was no light bulb moment in the story of the light bulb" - Steven Johnson
abbyperryman's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
clareobrien92's review against another edition
4.0
The six innovations are: Glass, cold, sound, clean, time, and light.
Key takeaways: much of invention happens simultaneously because the right conditions exist for humanity to be ready for the next big thing. But for those who are way ahead of their time, being at the intersection of two fields like math and art (ada lovelace) enable what appears to be genius, along with high intellect of course. Much of human innovation is not like the butterfly effect where we can’t really trace one things affect on others – it’s more like a hummingbird effect, where we can see that hummingbirds evolved clearly to take advantage of flowers evolution of storing nectar.
Some interesting examples of this from the book include how the invention of air conditioning reshaped where Americans live and thus the political map. Also, how the invention of glass shaped inward looking artistic movement such as romanticism. How the development of flash photography to take pictures in the pyramids lit up photos of tenements and inspired the desire for social change policy.
The development of electricity and lightbulbs meant we no longer had to kill sperm whales in our quest for artificial light, but it’s part of sparking climate change and thus threatens all life.
Sewer systems and the raising of Chicago up above lake level enabled modern life in cities and grew life expectancies.
Key takeaways: much of invention happens simultaneously because the right conditions exist for humanity to be ready for the next big thing. But for those who are way ahead of their time, being at the intersection of two fields like math and art (ada lovelace) enable what appears to be genius, along with high intellect of course. Much of human innovation is not like the butterfly effect where we can’t really trace one things affect on others – it’s more like a hummingbird effect, where we can see that hummingbirds evolved clearly to take advantage of flowers evolution of storing nectar.
Some interesting examples of this from the book include how the invention of air conditioning reshaped where Americans live and thus the political map. Also, how the invention of glass shaped inward looking artistic movement such as romanticism. How the development of flash photography to take pictures in the pyramids lit up photos of tenements and inspired the desire for social change policy.
The development of electricity and lightbulbs meant we no longer had to kill sperm whales in our quest for artificial light, but it’s part of sparking climate change and thus threatens all life.
Sewer systems and the raising of Chicago up above lake level enabled modern life in cities and grew life expectancies.
erlhopkins's review against another edition
5.0
5/5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
this book is so freaking cool.
i, a lover of strange and unusual facts that i somehow (read: intentionally) stumble upon, gleaned so many new things while reading this !!
catch me at the next party talking about how thomas edison wasn’t the first to invent the lightbulb, how doctors loved to go deliver babies after having their hands in dead bodies, the phonograph was used opposite how it was intended, and a really uncomfortable fact about sperm whales.
gah. there’s so many fascinating things.
this book is so freaking cool.
i, a lover of strange and unusual facts that i somehow (read: intentionally) stumble upon, gleaned so many new things while reading this !!
catch me at the next party talking about how thomas edison wasn’t the first to invent the lightbulb, how doctors loved to go deliver babies after having their hands in dead bodies, the phonograph was used opposite how it was intended, and a really uncomfortable fact about sperm whales.
gah. there’s so many fascinating things.
yates9's review against another edition
3.0
Great start of a book but the author doesn’t carry through a d doesn’t justify the title which seems to promise cimpleteness.
The book is a fun romp across connected technologies and how they enabled each other leading to deep changes in culture and society.
The book is a fun romp across connected technologies and how they enabled each other leading to deep changes in culture and society.