**From the New York Times-bestselling author of Where Good Ideas Come
From and Unexpected Life, a new look at the power and legacy of great
ideas.
**
In this illustrated history, Steven Johnson explores the history of
innovation over centuries, tracing facets of modern life (refrigeration,
clocks, and eyeglass lenses, to name a few) from their creation by
hobbyists, amateurs, and entrepreneurs to their unintended historical
consequences. Filled with surprising stories of accidental genius and
brilliant mistakes--from the French publisher who invented the
phonograph before Edison but forgot to include playback, to the
Hollywood movie star who helped invent the technology behind Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth--How We Got to Now investigates the secret history behind the
everyday objects of contemporary life.
In his trademark style, Johnson examines unexpected connections between
seemingly unrelated fields: how the invention of air-conditioning
enabled the largest migration of human beings in the history of the
species--to cities such as Dubai or Phoenix, which would otherwise be
virtually uninhabitable; how pendulum clocks helped trigger the
industrial revolution; and how clean water made it possible to
manufacture computer chips. Accompanied by a major six-part television
series on PBS, How We Got to Now is the story of collaborative networks
building the modern world, written in the provocative, informative, and
engaging style that has earned Johnson fans around the globe.
