Books › Glut
Glut
Mastering Information Through the Ages
296 pages
A sweeping, interdisciplinary journey that reveals the ancient, biological roots of our modern digital obsessions.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like looking through a cosmic microscope that slowly zooms out to reveal the hidden architecture of human thought. It is a brisk, intellectually thrilling ride that connects the seemingly disparate worlds of primordial bacteria, medieval monasteries, and modern server farms. The mood is expansive and deeply curious, wrapping the reader in a comforting realization that our modern struggles with information overload are part of an ancient, ongoing evolutionary process. The prose is remarkably clear and synthetic, translating dense academic concepts from anthropology and computer science into an accessible, page-turning narrative. It will thoroughly delight curious generalists, tech historians, and anyone who loves discovering the deep, invisible threads that bind the natural world to the digital age.
- Mood
- expansive
- thought-provoking
- awe-inspiring
- Tone
- curious
- analytical
- sweeping
- accessible
- intellectual
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- evolution of knowledge · human drive to categorize · deep history of technology · interconnectedness of systems · biological roots of culture
- The writing
- Clear, engaging, and synthetic, effortlessly weaving dense historical and scientific facts into a cohesive, narrative-driven tapestry.
- The arc
- Begins with a dizzying sense of modern information overload and gradually grounds the reader in a comforting, awe-struck appreciation of our deep historical continuity.
- Who it's for
- Curious generalists, tech historians, and information nerds who love seeing the hidden threads connecting biology, ancient history, and the digital age.
About the book
What do primordial bacteria, medieval alchemists, and the World Wide Web have to do with each other? This fascinating exploration of how information systems emerge takes readers on a provocative journey through the history of the information age.
Spanning disciplines from evolutionary theory and cultural anthropology to the history of books, libraries, and computer science, writer and information architect Alex Wright weaves an intriguing narrative that connects such seemingly far-flung topics as insect colonies, Stone Age jewelry, medieval monasteries, Renaissance encyclopedias, early computer networks, and the World Wide Web. Finally, he pulls these threads together to reach a surprising conclusion, suggesting that the future of the information age may lie deep in our cultural past.
Description from Open Library.
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