Into the breach steps the gifted science writer james gleick. Profile james gleick, leading american science writer, transformed the worlds consciousness with his 1987 book, chaos. James gleick is a leading american science journalist, historian, and biographer. Gleick, whose 1987 work chaos helped to kickstart the era of modern popular science, is one. A history, a theory, a flood by james gleick in doc, fb2, txt download e book. A kaleidoscopic look at the concept of time travel. This book report was written by laurel brenner, spring 2015. Some worried that the telegraph would be the death of newspapers, james gleick observes in this fascinating book, but newspapers could. From the bestselling author of the acclaimed chaos and genius comes a thoughtful and provocative exploration of the big ideas of the modern era. Mar 07, 2011 the information, by james gleick, is to the nature, history and significance of data what the beach is to sand. In his formidable new book, the information, gleick explains how weve progressed. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 352 pages and is available in paperback format.
James gleick s new book documents the rising role of information in our lives, and technologys role in increasing its velocity, volume, and importance. A history, a theory, a flood, due to be published in march 2011, is a magisterial popular history that illustrates how information has become the. The book is not written as a straightforward history, which might have been a temptation for someone charting the progress of. Author and journalist james gleick tells the story of information technologies that, he claims, changed the very nature of human consciousness. James gleick is an author with 10 videos in the cspan video library. Three of these books have been pulitzer prize and national book award finalists, and they have been translated into more than twenty languages. James gleick is our leading chronicler of science and technology, the bestselling author of chaos. In his latest book, awardwinning author gleick the information. A history, a theory, a flood is a book by science history writer james gleick published in march 2011 which covers the genesis of our current information age. James gleick born august 1, 1954 is an american author, journalist, and biographer, whose books explore the cultural ramifications of science and technology. The life and science of richard feynman, and more on. The life and science of richard feynman, and the information.
A history, a theory, a flood seeks to place information in historical context. The main characters of this science, non fiction story are. James gleick is our leading chronicler of science and technology, and the author of chaos and genius, both nominated for the national book award, and isaac newton, which was shortlisted for the pulitzer prize. A history, a theory, a flood met up with sarah crown at the edinburgh international book festival.
James gleick from the invention of scripts and alphabets to the long misunderstood talking drums of africa, james gleick tells the story of information technologies that changed the very nature of human. Acclaimed science writer james gleick presents an eyeopening vision of how our relationship to information has transformed the very nature of human consciousness. The information, by james gleick, is to the nature, history and significance of data what the beach is to sand. Mar 08, 2011 bit by bit, the information reveals everything at the core of everything lies a binary onoff switch, says james gleick, the author of a new book called the information. James gleick science writer, threetime pulitzer prize finalist and author of the information. James gleick argues that information is more than just the contents of our libraries and web servers.
A fascinating intellectual journey through the history of communication and information, from the language of africas talking drums to the invention of written alphabets. James gleick, the author of the best sellers chaos and genius, now brings us a work just as astonishing and masterly. Making a new science, which was a pulitzer prize and national book award finalist in 1987, and the information. James gleicks new book documents the rising role of information in our lives, and technologys role in increasing its velocity, volume, and importance.
All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. James gleick delivers a mindbending exploration of time travelfrom its origins in literature and science to its. Acclaimed science writer james gleick presents an eyeopening vision of how our. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Gleick loves the layered detail, which might cause some to sigh, tmi. The information is so ambitious, illuminating and sexily theoretical that it will amount to aspirational reading for many of those who have the mettle to tackle it.
In 1948, as james gleick shows in his rich and fascinating new book, claude shannon transformed information into something completely. In his formidable new book, the information, gleick explains how weve progressed from seeing information as the expression of human thought and emotion to looking at it as a commodity that can be processed, like wheat or plutonium. Recognized for his writing about complex subjects through the techniques of narrative nonfiction, he has been called one of the great science writers of all time. A history, a theory, a flood is a book written in 2011 by james gleick what the telegraph accomplished in years the telephone has done in months. To accomplish that he opens the book by discussing the advent of drumming, signals, telegraph, telephone and the computer. Best books of 2016 boston globe the atlantic from the acclaimed bestselling author of the information and chaos comes this enthralling history of time travela concept that has preoccupied physicists and storytellers over the course of the last century. James gleick books list of books by author james gleick. See all books authored by james gleick, including chaos. We sort the mail, build sandcastles, solve jigsaw puzzles, separate wheat from chaff, rearrange chess pieces, collect stamps, alphabetize books. Review this book of previously published essays by the author of and is an eclectic chronicle of the information revolutions first 10 years. A history, a theory, a flood, which won the royal societys winton prize for science and pens hesselltiltman history prize in 2012, among several others. Nov 22, 2012 james gleick science writer, threetime pulitzer prize finalist and author of the information.
James gleick, the author of the best sellers chaos and genius, n. As a celebration of human ingenuity, the information is a deeply hopeful book. Its only the beginning, writes popscience writer gleick isaac newton, 2003, etc. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by. A history, a theory, a flood is a book by science history writer james gleick published in march 2011 which covers the genesis of our current. James gleick is our leading chronicler of science and technology, and the author of chaos and genius, both nominated for the national book award, and.
This is an engaging work that explores our understanding of information and how it has changed over time. Mar 20, 2011 james gleick has such a perspective, and signals it in the first word of the title of his new book, the information, using the definite article we usually reserve for totalities like the. A history, a theory, a flood, james gleick describes a technological innovation so transformative that it was heralded as one of the grand waymarks in. The story of information begins in a time profoundly unlike our own, when every thought and. The story of information begins in a time profoundly unlike our own, when every thought and utterance vanishes. Making a new science, an accessible introduction to the complex field of chaos theory. It is an exploration not only of the theoretical phenomenon of time travel but of our understanding of time itself. A history, a theory, a flood, james gleick does not pretend to answer these questions fully. James gleick has such a perspective, and signals it in the first word of the title of his new book, the information, using the definite article we usually reserve for totalities like the.
I came to this volume with only a vague idea about information and information theory but having been very impressed by gleick s book on chaos chaos. Rather, he aims to show the possibilities these questions pose for the human race, which evolves from both obvious and obscure forms of. His books have been translated into thirty languages. The first edition of the novel was published in 1987, and was written by james gleick. One year it was a scientific toy, without infinite possibilities of practical use. The average author, full of himself, would probably write about 1,191 pages and you wouldnt be able to lift the book. Why the basis of the universe isnt matter or energy. And how have our lives adjusted to its omnipresence. Rather, he aims to show the possibilities these questions pose for the human race, which evolves from both obvious and obscure forms of information, from the messages carried by drumbeats and emails to the. Information, communication, and information theory.
I though galileos daughter was the best book i read last year, and this one is a close second. The last decade of the twentieth century came as a surprise, writes james gleick. It was on the new york times bestseller list for three weeks following its debut. A history, a theory, a flood ebook written by james gleick. But for completist cybergeeks and infojunkies, the book delivers a solid summary of a dense, complex.
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