The shock of the old : technology and global history since 1900 / David Edgerton
Material type:
TextLanguage: English Publisher: London : Profile Books, 2019Description: xviii, 275 pages : illustrations (black and white) ; 20 cmISBN: 9781788163088Subject(s): Technology -- History | Technology and civilization | SocietyDDC classification: 303.483 Summary: Whereas standard histories of technology give tired old accounts of the usual inventions - planes, bombs - this book is based on a different idea. Its thrust is that for the full picture of the history of technology we need to know not about what a few people invented, but about what everyday people used - and when they actually used things, if it was a long time after invention. It therefore reassesses the significance of, for example, the Pill and IT, and shows the continued importance of technology such as corrugated iron and sewing machines. In taking this approach, David Edgerton challenges the idea that we live in an era of ever increasing change. Interweaving political, economic and cultural history, he shows what it means to think critically about technology and its importance.
| Item type | Current location | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Books | Institute of Public Enterprise, Library S Campus | 303.483 EDG (Browse shelf) | Available | 46249 |
Whereas standard histories of technology give tired old accounts of the usual inventions - planes, bombs - this book is based on a different idea. Its thrust is that for the full picture of the history of technology we need to know not about what a few people invented, but about what everyday people used - and when they actually used things, if it was a long time after invention. It therefore reassesses the significance of, for example, the Pill and IT, and shows the continued importance of technology such as corrugated iron and sewing machines. In taking this approach, David Edgerton challenges the idea that we live in an era of ever increasing change. Interweaving political, economic and cultural history, he shows what it means to think critically about technology and its importance.
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