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    Cover of American Genesis

    American Genesis

    Thomas P. Hughes

    "The book that helped earn Thomas P. Hughes his reputation as one of the foremost historians of technology of our age and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1990, American Genesis tells the sweeping story of America's technological revolution. Unlike other histories of technology, which focus on particular inventions like the light bulb or the automobile, American Genesis makes these inventions characters in a broad chronicle, both shaped by and shaping a culture. By weaving scientific and technological advancement into other cultural trends, Hughes demonstrates here the myriad ways in which the two are inexorably linked, and in a new preface, he recounts his earlier missteps in predicting the future of technology and follows its move into the information age."--BOOK JACKET.

    Electronics & Hardware
    Open LibraryAmazon
    Stats for nerds
    2recommend
    2mentions
    2people
    2013–2014years
    100% recommend

    What Hacker News says

    1. jonjackyDec 2013
      Thomas Hughes' books take a wider view than most of the others mentioned so far: American Genesis covers 1870 - 1970 and Rescuing Prometheus discusses the SAGE computerized air defense system, the Atlas missile, Arpanet, and the Boston central artery/tunnel project.
      thread
    2. nickpinkstonMay 2013
      If you want to hear how Tesla, Edison, etc. actually went about funding / building their companies - check out: "American Genesis"

      It's a history of the human / social part of this period of technology. So interesting to hear about J.P. Morgan essentially angel investing in Edison / Tesla + all the other unknowns like Elmer Sperry, etc.

      [1] http://www.amazon.com/American-Genesis-Invention-Technologic...

      thread

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