From the author of the New York Times bestseller The Inevitable— a sweeping vision of technology as a living force that can expand our individual potential
In this provocative book, one of today’s most respected thinkers turns the conversation about technology on its head by viewing technology as a natural system, an extension of biological evolution. By mapping the behavior of life, we paradoxically get a glimpse at where technology is headed-or “what it wants.” Kevin Kelly offers a dozen trajectories in the coming decades for this near-living system. And as we align ourselves with technology’s agenda, we can capture its colossal potential. This visionary and optimistic book explores how technology gives our lives greater meaning and is a must-read for anyone curious about the future.
About What Technology Wants
From the author of the New York Times bestseller The Inevitable— a sweeping vision oftechnology as a living force that can expand our individual potential
This provocative book introduces a brand-new view of technology. It suggests that technology as a whole is not a jumble of wires and metal but a living, evolving organism that has its own unconscious needs and tendencies. Kevin Kelly looks out through the eyes of this global technological system to discover “what it wants.” He uses vivid examples from the past to trace technology’s long course and then follows a dozen trajectories of technology into the near future to project where technology is headed. This new theory of technology offers three practical lessons: By listening to what technology wants we can better prepare ourselves and our children for the inevitable technologies to come. By adopting the principles of pro-action and engagement, we can steer technologies into their best roles. And by aligning ourselves with the long-term imperatives of this near-living system, we can capture its full gifts. Written in intelligent and accessible language, this is a fascinating, innovative, and optimistic look at how humanity and technology join to produce increasing opportunities in the world and how technology can give our lives greater meaning.
Kevin Kelly, author of the acclaimed Out of Control (called “required reading for all executives” by Fortune) is editor-at-large of Wired magazine. He has been involved in such cultural innovations as The Hacker’s Conference and The Well. He lives in the Bay Area.
About Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly, author of the acclaimed Out of Control (called “required reading for all executives” by Fortune) is editor-at-large of Wired magazine. He has been involved in such cultural innovations as The Hacker’s Conference and The Well. He lives in the Bay Area.
