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A review by tormerritt
We the Dead: Preserving Data at the End of the World by Brian Michael Murphy
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
We the Dead: Preserving Data at the End of the World by Brian Michael Murphy is unlike any other Nonfiction book I have read. An absolutely fascinating and philosophical look at data preservation! Immediately, the cover caught my eye. It looks like a 1950s rock album turned apocalyptic and reminded me of Fallout, for my video game lovers out there.
Murphy starts this book off with his experience at the Corbis Film Preservation Facility. Something I did not know, is that CFF is just one of many vaults in Iron Mountain's National Data Center in Boyers, Pennsylvania, but there are currently over 2,600 data centers in the U.S. Some of the data center's clients include Stephen Spielberg, United Airlines, Warner Brothers, HBO, and Nationwide Insurance.
Murphy discusses the term, "Mummy Complex" throughout the book:
"When we preserve, we manifest our Mummy Complex and tell ourselves that no matter what happens in this uncertain world, that no matter who is left alive when a war or economic meltdown or rash of terrorist attacks concludes, a trace of us will remain."
Murphy goes on to say it is not unlike the Egyptains who preserved their organs so that they too, could be used in the afterlife. This is a very philosophical way of looking this topic and that really piqued my interest.
So basically, humans rely on digital infrastructure to preserve, record and redistribute data. Anything from photos, film, books, artifacts, records, etc. Murphy shares many examples of data throughout time. Along with his fantastic writing, he shares some captivating photographs from different archives.
I would reccomend this to anyone interested in a fascinating glimpse in to the past, present, and future of data. A unique and engrossing read!
Murphy starts this book off with his experience at the Corbis Film Preservation Facility. Something I did not know, is that CFF is just one of many vaults in Iron Mountain's National Data Center in Boyers, Pennsylvania, but there are currently over 2,600 data centers in the U.S. Some of the data center's clients include Stephen Spielberg, United Airlines, Warner Brothers, HBO, and Nationwide Insurance.
Murphy discusses the term, "Mummy Complex" throughout the book:
"When we preserve, we manifest our Mummy Complex and tell ourselves that no matter what happens in this uncertain world, that no matter who is left alive when a war or economic meltdown or rash of terrorist attacks concludes, a trace of us will remain."
Murphy goes on to say it is not unlike the Egyptains who preserved their organs so that they too, could be used in the afterlife. This is a very philosophical way of looking this topic and that really piqued my interest.
So basically, humans rely on digital infrastructure to preserve, record and redistribute data. Anything from photos, film, books, artifacts, records, etc. Murphy shares many examples of data throughout time. Along with his fantastic writing, he shares some captivating photographs from different archives.
I would reccomend this to anyone interested in a fascinating glimpse in to the past, present, and future of data. A unique and engrossing read!