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. Nicholas carr, the daily beast an amazing erudite and yet highly readable account of why and how information plays such a central role in all our lives, gleick s the information is amongst the most profound books written about technology over the last few years. A host of forces were converging to transmute the human understanding of time, some philosophical and some technological the electric. European explorers had been aware for a long time that the irregular rhythms of african drums were carrying mysterious messages. 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 heart of gleicks book is his treatment of the new information theory that shannon and computer scientist and mathematician alan turing.
Mar 07, 2011 the information, by james gleick, is to the nature, history and significance of data what the beach is to sand. To accomplish that he opens the book by discussing the advent of drumming, signals, telegraph, telephone and the computer. Acclaimed science writer james gleick presents an eyeopening vision of how our relationship to information has transformed the very nature of human consciousness. A former science writer for the new york times, gleick is the author of two bestselling biographies. Inscription reads for jonathan, best regards, james gleick the dust wrapper is a little creased at the top otherwise the book is as new. A history, a theory, a flood ebook written by james gleick. Three of these books have been pulitzer prize and national book award finalists, and they have been translated into more than twenty languages. The main characters of this science, non fiction story are. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the information. The information has also been published in ebook formats by fourth estate and random house, and as an audiobook by random house audio. 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. 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. Gleick s book, a search engine and no distractions.
Life and science of richard feynman, and the information. Wilson literary science writing award, and time travel. The information, by james gleick, is to the nature, history and significance of data what the beach is to sand. Time travel is another of james gleick s superb, unclassifiable books rich in obscure and illuminating information, laced with lyricism, wit, and startling and convincing insights. James gleick born august 1, 1954 is an american author, journalist, and biographer, whose books explore the cultural ramifications of science and technology.
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. This book report was written by laurel brenner, spring 2015. Mar 20, 2011 james gleick argues that information is more than just the contents of our libraries and web servers. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. He worked for ten years as an editor and reporter for the new york times, founded an early internet portal, the pipeline, and has written several books of popular science, including the information. James gleick, the author of the bestsellers chaos and genius, brings us his crowning work. A history, a theory, a flood by gleick, james isbn. The example is a drum language used in a part of the democratic republic of congo where the human language is kele. The life and science of richard feynman, and the information.
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. 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. First it was a heavenly bodya beacon, or a world, a. But even as relativity and quantum mechanics undermined that rigid certainty in the first half of the twentieth century, the scientific community. Mar 01, 2011 james gleick, the author of the best sellers chaos and genius, now brings us a work just as astonishing and masterly. 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. It is an exploration not only of the theoretical phenomenon of time travel but of our understanding of time itself. James gleick delivers a mindbending exploration of time travelfrom its origins in literature and science to its influence on our. Making a new science is the bestselling book by james gleick that first introduced the principles and early development of chaos theory to. The future of information is something were deeply interested in, but no such intellectual exploit is complete without a full understanding of its past.
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. A history, a theory, a flood by james gleick tim martin is thrilled by the information. Making a new science, explained chaos theory in laymans terms by focusing on the stories of those scientists who were pioneers in the field and was a finalist for the national book award and the pulitzer prize. A history, a theory, a flood a new book that may just be the book to read this year, flowing from tonal languages to. Wilson literary science writing award from the bestselling author of the acclaimed chaos and genius comes a thoughtful and provocative exploration of the big ideas of the modern era. Acclaimed science writer james gleick presents an eyeopening vision of how our relationship to information has transformed the very nature of human. The life and science of richard feynman, and more on. 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. His books have been translated into 30 more about james gleick.
James gleick, the author of the best sellers chaos and genius, n. European explorers had been aware for a long time that the irregular rhythms of african drums were carrying mysterious messages through the jungle. Wells writing and rewriting the fantastic tale that became his first book, an international sensation. The story of information begins in a time profoundly unlike our own, when every thought and utterance vanishes. It explains the concept of information by looking at a simple example. For centuries, scientific thought was focused on bringing order to the natural world. From african talking drums to wikipedia, from morse code to the bit, it is a fascinating account of the modern ages defining idea and a brilliant exploration of how information has revolutionised our lives. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read genius. James gleick, the author of chaos and genius, and one of the most acclaimed science writers of his generation, brings the reader into newtons reclusive life and provides startlingly clear explanations of the concepts that changed forever our perception of bodies, rest, and motionideas so basic to the twentyfirst century, it can truly be. James gleick books list of books by author james gleick. A history, a theory, a flood seeks to place information in historical context.
All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by. I wondered what aspect of information gleick would be treating knowledge and its communication and storage, the rise of information in physics as a conceptual inverse to entropy and its engagement in black hole theory, or even the information age. The first edition of the novel was published in 1987, and was written by james gleick. Acclaimed science writer james gleick presents an eyeopening vision of how our relationship to information has transformed the very nature of. His books have been translated into thirty languages. In the emergence of claude shannon and alan turings first stirrings of modern information theory, the authors skills as an interpreter of science shine. James gleick is our leading chronicler of science and technology, the bestselling author of chaos. James gleick, the author of the best sellers chaos and genius, now brings us a work just as astonishing and masterly. As a celebration of human ingenuity, the information is a deeply hopeful book. One year it was a scientific toy, without infinite possibilities of practical use. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 352 pages and is available in paperback format. The man who knew infinity english 3 in hindi free download 720p. James gleick s first chapter has the title drums that talk. Time travel is another of james gleicks superb, unclassifiable books rich in obscure and illuminating information, laced with lyricism, wit, and startling and convincing insights.
The highly entertaining new york times bestseller, which explains chaos theory and the butterfly effect, from the author of the information chicago tribune. A history, a theory, a flood by james gleick in doc, fb2, txt download ebook. Information, communication, and information theory. The life and science of richard feynman ebook written by james gleick. Stephens mentioned some of the words commonly used to describe the wealth of information available to us, such as flood, and explosion. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
From the bestselling author of the acclaimed chaos and genius comes a thoughtful and provocative exploration of the big ideas of the modern era. This is an engaging work that explores our understanding of information and how it has changed over time. 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. In the information james gleick tells the story of how human beings use, transmit and keep what they know. Imagine luxuriating on a wifiequipped desert island with mr. A chronicle from the information frontier by gleick, james and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. It was on the new york times bestseller list for three weeks following its debut.
See all books authored by james gleick, including chaos. The story of information begins in a time profoundly unlike our own, when every thought and utterance. Apr 29, 2011 information, it seems, is life itself, and gleick shows how shannons information theory not only led to computers and cyberspace, but also transformed biology into an information science. Gleick discusses african talking drums, information theory and its contributions to physics and biology, cryptography, alphabets and scripts, dictionaries, telegraphs, and more. James gleick s story begins at the turn of the 20th century, with the young h. Mar 10, 2011 james gleick s first chapter has the title drums that talk. 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. Gleick shows how information theory also breathed new life into psychology, leading to the emergence of cognitive science and the socalled informational turn, where the. Along the way, gleick profiles key innovators, including charles babbage, ada lovelace, samuel morse, and ceracin shannon, and reveals how our understanding of information is. Sep 01, 2008 james gleick was born in new york city in 1954.
Wilson literary science writing awardfrom the bestselling author of the acclaimed chaos and genius comes a thoughtful and provocative exploration of the big ideas of the modern era. James gleick argues that information is more than just the contents of. Although accessible and enjoyable, from chapter to chapter the book sometimes feels loose and unstructured, as the author jumps too quickly from one subject to another. Mar 06, 2012 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. A history, a theory, a flood by james gleick in doc, fb2, txt download e book.