Publisher's Summary
From the bestselling author of Chaos and Genius comes a revelatory chronicle that shows how information has become the defining quality of the modern era. James Gleick's masterful narrative explores how the very nature of human consciousness has been transformed by our evolving relationship with information.
Beginning in an age when every thought vanished at the moment of utterance, the book traces humanity's journey through the invention of scripts, alphabets, and the long-misunderstood talking drums of Africa. Gleick introduces us to pivotal figures like Charles Babbage, Ada Byron, Samuel Morse, Alan Turing, and Claude Shannon, whose contributions shaped our modern understanding of information.
As we enter the information age, The Information provides crucial insights into how we got here and where we're heading, examining our contemporary experience as experts of bits and bytes in a world of endless data.
Featured Reviews
"Masterful Historical Analysis"
Gleick weaves together technological advancement and human consciousness in a fascinating exploration of how information has shaped our world. The narration brings complex concepts to life.
"Profound and Engaging"
A remarkable journey through the history of human communication and information processing. The audiobook format perfectly conveys the evolution of information sharing.