In 'What the Dormouse Said,' John Markoff weaves together the stories of the birth of the computer revolution and the counterculture of the 1960s. Through the lens of key figures like Douglas Engelbart and the early hackers of Silicon Valley, the book chronicles how ideas of consciousness and creativity collided with technology. Markoff explores the profound implications of this convergence on society, culture, and human potential. As the narrative unfolds, readers are invited to reflect on the trippy intersection of dreaming and reality that gave rise to our digital age. Could the visions of the past shape the future in unexpected ways?
By John Markoff
Published: 2006
""The networked world is not just a product of technology but a shared dream of collective intelligence, where our thoughts intermingle and create new realities.""
An analysis of the political and cultural forces that gave rise to the personal computer chronicles its development through the people, politics, and social upheavals that defined its time, from a teenage anti-war protester who laid the groundwork for the PC revolution to the imprisoned creator of the first word processing software for the IBM PC. Reprint.
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“"The networked world is not just a product of technology but a shared dream of collective intelligence, where our thoughts intermingle and create new realities."”
What the Dormouse Said
By John Markoff
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
John Markoff is a renowned American journalist and author, celebrated for his insightful explorations of technology, society, and their intricate relationship. A former senior writer for the New York Times, Markoff has a distinct writing style that combines rigorous research with accessible prose, making complex subjects understandable to a broad audience. His notable works include 'What the Dormouse Said: How the Sixties Counterculture Shaped the Personal Computer Industry' and 'Machines of Loving Grace: The Quest for Common Ground Between Humans and Robots.' Through his work, Markoff has skillfully chronicled the evolution of technology and its impact on our lives, earning recognition as a leading voice in technology journalism.
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