The West Point Atlas of American Wars: 1900-1918 (West Point Atlas of American Wars)

The West Point Atlas of American Wars: 1900-1918 (West Point Atlas of American Wars)
Average customer rating:

THE cohesive book of maps WW1--totally indispensable

For previous reviews...

Not For Everyone

Excellent Book About War

Confused by Reviews

The West Point Atlas of American Wars: 1900-1918 (West Point Atlas of American Wars)
Vincent J. Esposito
Manufacturer: Henry Holt & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | United States | Military | History | Subjects | Books
World War I | Military | History | Subjects | Books
United States | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
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Atlas for the Second World War: Europe and the Mediterranean (West Point Military History Series)

ASIN: 0805053050

Customer Reviews:

THE cohesive book of maps WW1--totally indispensable .......2005-10-21

I'll start by saying these are the best maps covering WW1--and have been the one resource which has really enhanced my understanding of an often confusing, militarily at least (particularly on the Eastern front), conflict. Great maps of the palestine, mesopotamian, and gallipoli campaigns. More maps on the Caucausus, Armenian, and Far East would have been helpful.

The achille's heel of this volume is its title--most of this book has little relevance to contemporary US military activity (1900-1918)--the book covers WW1 exclusively a war the US didn't materially begin fighting until the spring of 1918, that is to say it's last 6 months.

So if you are looking for coverage of the operations against insurgents in the Phillipines, or the punitive raid into Mexico, keep looking. This book should be labeled the West Point Atlas of the Great War, and if that is what you're looking for you need to snatch up a used copy of this otherwise-5-star-book.

If this book was going to cover so many campaigns unrelated to the American military I wish there would have been some maps covering other wars of this period-the Russo-Japanese and the Turkish Balkan wars.

Still an excellent book!

For previous reviews..........2005-02-23

In a response to a previous review, this book is a reprint of the original which contained 1900-1953. That is why people are mentioning WWII. For some reason, the publishers decided only to have WWI in this volume. I own the two original volumes, printed in 1959, which were used by USMA cadets. Personally, I prefer the original books because they create a touch of actual history because of their use. They are amazing books which any military nut can spend hours enjoying. For anyone who thinks these books are boring; maybe you should move to Canada, because the battles in this book won you your freedom! :) ENJOY!

Not For Everyone.......2001-11-16

This book is probably very good for a student studying war, but it's by no means an interesting coffee table type of conversational piece. It's more like a textbook , not not for me, and not for you either, I suspect.

Excellent Book About War.......2001-09-03

If you are looking for a coffee table book about war, stop here. There is no need for you to continue. This one is as good as they come. However, this is not a book on West Point. (for that, I recommend "West Point", by Norman Thomas Remick). The title is somewhat confusing in that respect. But, don't let that stop you from looking at this great job done by the Dept. of Military Art and Engineering.

Confused by Reviews.......2000-05-26

Look I'm not actually reviewing this book - but I do have some comments about the reviews:

If the date is 1900-1918 in the title, how does this cover Bismarck's Germany, which would be before 1900? Similarly how serious is the league of nations coverage (which I would guess would be 1918-1939 approximately)

Book Description

Arthur Banks' classic map study of World War I has been out of print for some years, at a time when interest in the Great War is very much on the increase. Banks' 250 maps present both broad general surveys of political and military strategy and closely detailed treatments of individual campaigns and engagements. Introductions to each major stage and aspect of the war have been written by the distinguished military historian Alan Palmer.

Customer Reviews:

The one book about WWI you have to buy.......2001-09-18

This book, although humbly titled "military atlas" provides all the necessary information on the first WW, from the motivations and politics, to weapon types, warfare tactics, railroad systems not only in Europe, but on all the periphal campaigns as well and by the way, you get the most comprehensive maps on the preluding balkan wars as well. The maps themselves are in black&white, but perfectly presented, with clear, sharp contrasts, so that it's very easy to read them even if you're without military background.
The book succeeds in being the ideal starting point for anyone being even remotely interested in WW1.
Every map is accompanied by a short summary of what's going on, most of the times even in the maps themselves which makes the information very easy to consummate.
The real value of the book lies in the fact that it presents the actions and campaigns and politics without judging them, without being biased in any sort of way, may it be the old good vs. bad stereotype or the modern pacifistic viewpoint: It just provides information and what you do with it is up to you.
Highly recommended.

Accurate, detailed and complete graphic account of WWI.......1999-04-30

This book is an essential companion for every First World War scholar or simply interested reader. The maps accurately illustrate the developing of operations on land and sea (including some on the submarine and mine warfare). The air war is very well illustrated as far as the zeppelin operations are concerned; I would have liked also a detailed account of bombers-fighters operations on the various fronts. Maps for the african, italian, palestinian, macedonian and mesopotamian fronts are included, together with those relating to the Western and Eastern theaters. I have found the tables on the various weapons very useful and complete. As an Italian reader I have to confess that I found the maps about the Italian front rather sketchy. Even with this little (and ultimately not much important) flaws, this is a great book, providing the reader with a definitive guide on the Great War fronts and warfare. Read it together with B. Liddel Hart's or J. Keegan's books on the conflict and you will have a reasonably complete understanding of WWI from the military point of view.

Average customer rating:

An Excellent companion
Atlas of World War I
Absolutely indispensable

Atlas of World War I

Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Atlases | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books

Historical | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0195210778

Book Description

"Every map, with its accompanying notes, is almost a chapter of history in itself....General readers as well as history students will value the atlas for its meticulously detailed information."-- Times Educational Supplement

This outstanding historical atlas from Martin Gilbert offers a definitive visual history of World War I. In 164 finely detailed, easy-to-read maps, it covers the origins of the war, the quarrels of the great European powers and the mobilization of 1914, plus the major battles and all the individual
campaigns--including the war at sea and in the air--putting them in the wider context of strategy. Beyond its thorough and precise military coverage, the atlas also explores the diplomatic, economic, and social aspects of the conflict, and many of the maps--such as a map of German food riots in
1916, a state-by-state map of opposition to the war in the United States in April, 1917, or a map analyzing India's manpower contribution to war--have put together normally scattered and diverse information with exceptional clarity. A final section of maps explores the political, economic, and human
aftermath of the war.
This fully revised Second Edition of The Atlas of World War I features new maps, including maps that detail the creation of Yugoslavia, and the Leipzig War Crimes Trials, and a map analyzing the manpower contribution of American soldiers, state-by-state.

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent companion.......2002-11-27

This is a terrific companion for anyone reading about World War One. The pages are filled with greatly detailed maps and footnotes that illuminate actions of armies, front line positions, withdrawls, alliances etc...
A valuable tool to reference to when reading a book that may not be mapped or with few or poorly drawn maps.

Atlas of World War I.......2001-09-04

Martin Gilbert describes his Atlas of World War One as an "introductory guide" but the reader will come away with much more than a mere introduction to the Great War. Gilbert uses 164 maps to illustrate virtually every aspect of the war from the first shots to the middle east to Africa to the final lines of the Versailles treaty. It even has maps of unfought campaigns of 1919.

Gilbert clearly has a thorough understanding of his subject and knows what makes for an effective war atlas. Color maps would have been more aesthetically pleasing, but something must remain for the eventual third edition. This book virtually eliminates any need for another rival atlas to be compiled, and any serious scholar of the war should endeavor to purchase this fine volume.

Absolutely indispensable.......1999-08-21

Whether you are a historical dabbler or a veteran, this book of maps and charts in exceptionally useful in deciphering the wordy mash that so many of the histories become. Keep it handy when reading any WW1 book.

The Routledge Atlas of the First World War: The Complete History (Routledge Historical Atlases)

Average customer rating:

A Real Gem of a Reference Tool

The Routledge Atlas of the First World War: The Complete History (Routledge Historical Atlases)
Martin Gilbert
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Reference | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Strategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books

World War I | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Atlases | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books

Historical | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books
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The First World War - The Complete Series
The First World War, Second Edition: A Complete History
The Oxford Illustrated History of the First World War
The First World War
The Routledge Atlas of American History (Routledge Historical Atlases)

ASIN: 0415285089

Book Description

This atlas offers a definitive visual history of World War I. In 164 finely detailed, easy-to-read maps, it covers the origins of the war, the quarrels of the great European powers and the mobilization of 1914, plus the major battles and all the individual campaigns including the war at sea and in the air--putting them in the wider context of strategy. Beyond its thorough and precise military coverage, the atlas also explores the diplomatic, economic, and social aspects of the conflict. Many of the maps--such as a map of German food riots in 1916, a state-by-state map of opposition to the war in the United States in April, 1917--have put together normally scattered and diverse information with exceptional clarity.

Customer Reviews:

A Real Gem of a Reference Tool.......2003-07-26

The first edition of The Routledge Atlas of the First World War was published in 1970, and this new edition is extremely useful for readers interested in the conflict. Martin Gilbert has amassed something like 200 maps that cover various aspects of the First World. However, readers should realize that this is not a battle atlas that will depict every battle in great detail; rather, Gilbert's intent is to use maps to graphically portray many of the factors that shaped the war but that are often glossed over in textual accounts. While Gilbert does include maps of individual battles and campaigns, this atlas is designed to give the reader a fuller understanding of the political, military, economic and social factors that ultimately determined the outcome. Readers should also be advised that this atlas is heavily Anglo-centric, with only minimal coverage of the Eastern Front. The contributions of the French, Italians and Romanians are virtually absent from this volume. Despite this glaring bias, this atlas is still a useful reference tool (unless you are researching the French, Italian or Romanian armies).

The Routledge Atlas of the First World War consists of ten sections, five covering a single year of the war, one covering the prelude to war, one each on the war at sea and in the air, a section on the global war, and an aftermath. The section on prelude to war covers many well-known issues - such as the alliance system in Europe, the Berlin-Baghdad Railway, and ethnic politics in the Balkans - but it is nice to have all these put together in one graphic package. Oddly, there is no map detailing the various crises that preceded the war, such as the 1908 Bosnian Annexation Crisis.

The section on 1914 is good, covering the main campaigns on the East and Western Fronts, as well as naval actions overseas and the fate of the German colonies. Two significant omissions are the lack of a map of the Austrian invasion of Serbia or the French Plan XVII offensive that led to the Battle of the Frontiers. The section on 1915 is rather lame, with over-focus on British operations in Gallipoli and Mesopotamia, but only a handful of maps on the Eastern Front. Even the Western Front is down-played in the 1915 section, with no mention of the British Loos or Neuve Chapelle offensives, or any French operations. The 1916 section is also skimpy on non-British issues, with only one simple map of Verdun and no coverage of the Brusilov offensive.

The section on the air war is quite interesting, with maps depicting German zeppelin raids over England, London's air defenses, and British air raids on Germany. The section on the naval war has interesting maps of the British blockade, food riots in Germany, Allied merchant ship losses in the Mediterranean and in British waters, and American ship-building. The section on 1917 is better than the earlier sections on 1915-1916, with very nice maps of the underground mines at Messines Ridge, 3rd Ypres and several maps on the Eastern Front. The section on 1918 is also interesting, although the belated inclusion of a single map on the Italian Front is rather telling about the Anglo-centric nature of this volume. Certainly the most informative section of the Atlas is that covering the world at war, which has maps depicting the various war aims, India and the Commonwealth's contributions, British munitions production and British supplies to the Allies. The aftermath section is also useful for understanding the various treaties,

The Historical Atlas of World War I (Henry Holt Reference Book)
Average customer rating:

Well set out and concise

Superb

The Historical Atlas of World War I (Henry Holt Reference Book)
Anthony Livesey , and H. P. Willmott
Manufacturer: Henry Holt & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
World War I | Military | History | Subjects | Books
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General | Geography | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
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The Historical Atlas of World War II (Henry Holt Reference Book)

ASIN: 0805026517

Customer Reviews:

Well set out and concise.......2002-07-01

The version of this book that I have is called the 'The Viking Atlas of World War 1', but it appears to be the exact same book with the same author, published date and number of pages. What impresses me most about this book is the quality of the maps. There are more than 100 colour maps which trace the development of the major campaigns with unprecedented clarity. Along with the maps there are numerous photos and drawings which are all easily read and understood. The accompanying text is detailed but not overbearing. Overall this is a lovely reference of World War One which is very nicely balanced in its presentation. It also makes an informative accompaniment to the World War One grand strategic boardgame, 'Paths of Glory' by Ted S Racier of GMT games. This is a boardgame which those interested in reading this book may wish to explore. It is one of the best grand strategic boardgames available.

Superb.......1999-08-19

An excellent overview of the major battles of "the Great War." The maps are vivid, accurate and understandable. The accompanying text and photgraphs are also well done and compliment the maps. By far the best of the World War I atlases, and generally superior to even the West Point Atlas of American Wars, 1900-1918, which is also excellent.

West Point Atlas for the Great War: Strategies and Tactics Of The First World War (West Point Military History)

Average customer rating:

West Point Atlas for the Great War

West Point Atlas for the Great War: Strategies and Tactics Of The First World War (West Point Military History)

Manufacturer: Square One Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

Strategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books

World War I | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Historical | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books

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The Great War (West Point Military History)
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Atlas for the American Civil War (The West Point Military History Series)

ASIN: 0757001599

Customer Reviews:

West Point Atlas for the Great War.......2007-01-12

Schnelle und gute Lieferung. Jeder Zeit wieder. Über dieses Thema gibt es nichts besseres!

The Children's Atlas of the 20th Century: Chart the Century from World War I to the Gulf War and from "Teddy" Roosevelt to Nelson Mandela

Average customer rating:

The State of Atlanta?

The Children's Atlas of the 20th Century: Chart the Century from World War I to the Gulf War and from "Teddy" Roosevelt to Nelson Mandela
Sarah Howarth
Manufacturer: Millbrook Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0761310002

Customer Reviews:

The State of Atlanta?.......2003-07-18

I have to confess I didn't get beyond the first map on page 9. That's because the map of the U.S. on that page has the following states bordering the Gulf of Mexico to the west of Georgia: 1) Atlanta, which looks oddly like Alabama; 2) Alabama, which borders the Mississippi River; and 3) Mississippi, which borders Texas.

These simple and obvious mistakes did not inspire confidence in me for the rest of the maps on which I might not so easily spot the mistakes. Therefore I put this book aside and told my nine-year old that it was unreliable.

Book Description

Based on the unique collection at the Public Record Office at Kew, England, this amazing assortment of more than 100 military maps charts the Napoleonic conflict from its start in 1803 to the defeat at Waterloo in 1815. Each one is beautifully hand drawn, accompanied by a caption explaining its significance. The maps reveal in fascinating detail how the events were plotted out, including the major battles at Trafalgar and Austerlitz. Follow the fighting and clashes in the Eastern Front in Germany, Russia, and Austria; the Southern Front in Spain and Portugal; and the crucial encounters in Belgium. Simon Forty, a highly praised military writer, presents a concise history of both the war and military mapping. This collection is an essential compilation, providing a unmatched insight into the organization of one of the greatest campaigns of all time.

Average customer rating:

Historical Maps of World War I

Manufacturer: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0641663919

Product Description

These 125 rare and fascinating historical documents chart the boundaries of the Great War from its start in 1914 to the Armistice. Detailed maps show the trench lines of the major Western Front battlefields sitting side-by-side with Lawrence of Arabia's campaigns in Palestine and the Middle East. Naval battles in the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean appear alongside details of ANZAC's Gallipoli campaign or Canadian battles at Vimy Ridge. Plans for rolling barrages at Serre on the Somme contrast with details of operations in East Africa (the setting for the popular movie The African Queen). One section focuses entirely on the United States' involvement in the fighting, while the introduction provides a brief background of the war and an examination of military mapping.

Average customer rating:

Historical Maps of World War I
Simon Forty
Manufacturer: PRC Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Reference | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

World War I | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books
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Atlas for the Great War (West Point Military History Series)

ASIN: 1856486508

Book Description

These rare and fascinating historical documents chart the boundaries of the Great War from its start in 1914 to the Armistice. Detailed maps show the trench lines of the major Western Front battlefields sitting side-by-side with Lawrence of Arabia's campaigns in Palestine and the Middle East. Naval battles in the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean appear alongside details of the ANZAC's Galipoli campaign or Canadian battles at Vimy Ridge. Plans for rolling barrages at Serre on the Somme contrast with details of operations in East Africa (the setting for the popular movie The African Queen). One section focuses entirely on the United States' involvement in the fighting, while the introduction provides a brief background of the war and an examination of military mapping-its history, who did it, where it was done. Each of the 125 maps has informative captions. It's a must for military buffs.

The Whale and the Reactor: A Search for Limits in an Age of High Technology
Average customer rating:

recognition and reflection

This is a Great Book!!

This is a Great Book!!

Darkness of Technology

Stop and Think About It!

The Whale and the Reactor: A Search for Limits in an Age of High Technology
Langdon Winner
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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General | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0226902110

Book Description

"The questions he poses about the relationship between technical change and political power are pressing ones that can no longer be ignored, and identifying them is perhaps the most a nascent 'philosophy of technology' can expect to achieve at the present time."—David Dickson, New York Times Book Review

"The Whale and the Reactor is the philosopher's equivalent of superb public history. In its pages an analytically trained mind confronts some of the most pressing political issues of our day."—Ruth Schwartz Cowan, Isis

Customer Reviews:

recognition and reflection.......2006-03-24

In The Whale and the Reactor, Langdon Winner asserts that technology is inseparably connected with politics, in that the technological decisions we make are often decisions significantly shaped and motivated by political forces. Some of these politically shaped technologies are obvious, such as those created for and used by the military. However, most are much more subtle. Winner provides an example early in the book about the bridges over parkways in Long Island, New York, describing how they are only nine feet tall. He then claims that these bridges were actually politically designed and built to achieve a specific social affect; to keep busses, and thus the poor and racial minorities, out of public parks.
Winner's primary intention is not necessarily to restructure or provide alternatives to the role politics has in technology, but rather to first recognize it. Winner asserts that the concept of technological determinism is much too strong, but claims that currently we exist in technological somnambulism, "willingly sleepwalking through the process of reconstituting the conditions of human existence." Although it need not be, technology, driven by politics, is shaping the world in which we live, rather than a cognitive society as a whole.
Winner also argues that politics also uses the promise of technology to restructure and format society to its liking. Many technologies need a specific structure around them to function at their greatest potential. By controlling technology, something society has blindly placed their faith in, politics can in turn control the structure of society necessary for technology to prosper. This does not, however, take into consideration the possibility that instead of society attuning itself to the demands of technology, technology may instead attune itself to the demands of society. The characteristics of technology may in fact be a result of cultural values rather than exclusively political ones.
Either way Winner makes a significant point in that whatever our current situation is, we appear to be sleepwalking through it. To rectify our condition, we must first recognize, and reflect on it thoroughly. Winner's book is well worth reading and at the very least sheds some important light on our circumstance at present.

This is a Great Book!!.......2003-02-27

The debate that our book club spawned from the material was intense and exciting.

This book clearly defines an interesting problem that is hidden underneath a complex facade of consumerism and innovation. Winner chooses not to offer alternatives to our pursuit of unlimited technology, but instead, he describes certain aspects of technology, such as politics, that should be taken into consideration as society blindly accepts technology on a product-by-product basis. How are we being limited?? This is an important question to ponder as you read this.

His way of citing examples is actually VERY humorous and embarrassing at times, which makes the book easy and enjoyable to read. Instead of being told WHAT to be aware of, he sets up a method that informs the reader on HOW to be MORE aware of the technology around us and the implications of it. I believe that this a very effective way to make people think without ranting about political views, etc.

I wish they would reissue this book with a beautiful cover design, it truly deserves more attention.

This is a Great Book!!.......2003-02-27

We have just finished this book in our Book Club here in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The debate that we spawned from the material was intense and exciting.

I wish they would reissue this book with a beautiful cover design, it truly deserves more attention...

Darkness of Technology.......2002-02-08

In this book, Langdon Winner presents a philosophical description of the position of those who oppose the paramount place technology has taken in society. Central to Winnerýs argument is his observation that technology is inherently political. He presets two ways in which this is so. The first, which is rather unconvincing, is that a piece of technology can be used as a means of political coercion. He cites the fact that Robert Moses designed the overpasses on the parkways around New York City to be so low as to prevent buses from using them. This ensured that low-income people could not live in the communities adjacent to these parkways which was a political aim of Moses. Now Moses used technology in this case but since technology represents the means by which things are done in the world, this seems to have been inevitable.

Winner makes a much more convincing case for his second form of politics in technology. Any technology requires a compatible environment to work in to achieve maximum efficiency. People who benefit from a specific technology will through political means strive to change society to achieve this compatibility. Specific technologies carry their own political imperatives.

Now in itself the co-evolution of society and technology is not necessarily harmful to human society. Modern technology requires and educated work force and hence drives a political imperative for an educated middleclass population. The needs of technology and a beneficial state of society are compatible in this case. However Winner does not see it this way. He sees technology as an independent force for change that will indifferently discard traditions and social structures that are incompatible with it. Reading his descriptions of society, one realizes that Winner appreciates what could be called the ýdarkness of societyý in analogy to the ýdarkness of god.ý

The darkness of god is the sense of ineffable mystery when one contemplates the power and intentions of god. The magnificence of god is tied to the fact that he is infinitely good and beyond human comprehension. His ineffable mystery provides comfit to his believers. In the same way, Winner wants to find a sense of belonging in society. He objects to the technological view that society is a purely instrumental means of achieving some desirable end. For his society is the thing that gives meaning. Depriving it of this renders the individual helpless and alone.

Winner attempts to understand why others do not see society in this way. In particular he tries to understand why people are quite willing to adapt themselves and their society to the needs of technology. Winner sees that this acceptance of technological change has brought prosperity but cannot see how shallow economic prosperity is preferable to a stable meaning-giving society. Hence the Whale and the Reactor of his title.

What Winner seems to miss is that while technology has political imperatives, as he correctly observes, it is also subject to political imperatives. There is no monolithic thing called technology. Rather there are various technologies that all compete to fit into what would best be called a ecosystem of technological and societal arrangements. Successful technologies then must be aware and adapt to the needs of the larger ecosystem of society. Societal and technological arrangements co-evolve and a successful arrangement must be sensitive to larger needs outside of itself.

This co-evolution is best done in a open educated affluent society that is tolerant of change and divergent views. Technology rather than being a straightjacket requiring conformity from members of society is a slave to societyýs needs. It will be By fostering an open educated society it creates the conditions that foster the dignity of the individual. The very political imperatives that control technological development are the reasons why people are willing to adapt to technology. They adapt in an open educated way that provides frees them from obsolete constraints while emphasizing long held beliefs of individual dignity and freedom.

The movies ýModern Timesý and ýMetropolisý show technology in the way it is viewed by Winner. Technology is shown as an over-powering force that indifferently shapes mankind to its needs. However the dystopias presented in these movies and seen by Winner has not come about. Society has become more open. Society has become freer with the political changes driven by technology.

Winner decries the lack of meaning and tradition he sees around him. To him meaning comes from society and change eliminates meaning. For others, meaning comes from an eternal process of which change is a part. Meaning is not fixed but a continual striving for understanding. Technology is accepted because it is part of that process. Technology is then part of an ineffable darkness by which mankind evolves its meaning.

This is a book well worth reading. Winner's views have wide consonance in society. His feeling of unease in the face of technological change is shared by many. There is a wide gulf in understanding between those who share Winner's view and the bulk of society which finds that its beliefs are compatible with technological change. This gulf can be seen by the mutual incomprehension on both sides of the globalization debate. I disagree with Winner's views and find his view of technology as political incomplete. However he masterfully describes the issues that a5re driving these worldwide protests. Most of these protests are inarticulate expressions of an emotional horror at the loss of meaning. Winner provides us with an insightful analysis of the issues that is clear and thoughtful.

This is a book well worth reading.

Stop and Think About It!.......2001-08-09

A popular morning radio broadcast here in Detroit has a great bit periodically entitled this, "Stop and think about it." Winner passionately writes with this theme in mind when it comes to technology.

As technology as we now know it seems steamrolling always into new area never ventured and most react with "can't stop progress," this book delivers the good gift of "we'd better start, stopping and thinking more carefully about it." The "it" is the impact of technologies upon society.

Discussions of risk analysis, tradeoffs, environment and ecology, and of course, economics and politics and social sciences and philosophy are all here.

I came away at times frustrated with the critique going on which didn't truly provide great alternatives, but certainly one obtains from reading this profitable work the valuable premise, i.e. shouldn't we be engaging more seriously in setting limits on technology?

Stem cells, and medical technology regarding life & death issues have clearly pushed the technological envelope to the breaking point for all of society. Engage with this subject. This book is good place to enter the dialogue.

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