Book Recommendation
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:32 am
"The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains" by Nicholas Carr.
He argues that the tools we use to think with – our “intellectual technologies” – not only shape our habits of thought but exert an actual physical influence on the neurons and synapses in our brains. I look at the Internet, an extraordinarily powerful intellectual technology, in this context, examining what the scientific and historical evidence tells about the effects it is having on our thoughts, memories, and even emotions – and how different the effects are from those exerted by earlier intellectual technologies such as the printed book.
I loved this book, not just because of it's thorough research, readability, and insights but because of a thoughtful section dealing with the importance of mapping in the history of civilization.
This is the best non-fiction book I've read in the past decade or more. As more and more people allow themselves to become so totally preoccupied (fixated) with their smart phones, well, it's a great antidote to that. We're rapidly loosing the ability to enjoy immersive, deep reading.
Here's a teaser quote about the influence of map making:
"The use of a reduced, substitute for space for that of reality is an impressive act in itself. But what's even more impressive is how the map advanced the evolution of abstract thinking throughout society. The combination of the reduction of reality and the construct of analogical space is an attainment in abstract thinking of a very high order indeed for it enables one to discover structures that would remain unknown if not mapped. The technology of the map gave to man a new and more comprehending mind, better able to understand the unseen forces that shape his surroundings and his existence."
He argues that the tools we use to think with – our “intellectual technologies” – not only shape our habits of thought but exert an actual physical influence on the neurons and synapses in our brains. I look at the Internet, an extraordinarily powerful intellectual technology, in this context, examining what the scientific and historical evidence tells about the effects it is having on our thoughts, memories, and even emotions – and how different the effects are from those exerted by earlier intellectual technologies such as the printed book.
I loved this book, not just because of it's thorough research, readability, and insights but because of a thoughtful section dealing with the importance of mapping in the history of civilization.
This is the best non-fiction book I've read in the past decade or more. As more and more people allow themselves to become so totally preoccupied (fixated) with their smart phones, well, it's a great antidote to that. We're rapidly loosing the ability to enjoy immersive, deep reading.
Here's a teaser quote about the influence of map making:
"The use of a reduced, substitute for space for that of reality is an impressive act in itself. But what's even more impressive is how the map advanced the evolution of abstract thinking throughout society. The combination of the reduction of reality and the construct of analogical space is an attainment in abstract thinking of a very high order indeed for it enables one to discover structures that would remain unknown if not mapped. The technology of the map gave to man a new and more comprehending mind, better able to understand the unseen forces that shape his surroundings and his existence."