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Beyond Engineering: How Society Shapes Technology (Sloan Technology Series)
From Library Journal This thoughtful, well-researched title by science writer Pool (Eve's Rib, LJ 5/1/94) lays out a rich, comprehensive view of the development of modern technologies, with a keen emphasis on how nontechnological factors?such as the sociological, political, and simply serendipitous?shape such complex technologies. Pool begins with a positivism vs. "social construction" epistemological debate (essential to understanding technological knowledge, he argues) and a discussion of the effects of history, economics, political science, sociology, risk analysis, management science, and psychology on the technology that has both ameliorated humankind's condition and made it worse. The progress in modern aviation, computers, automobiles, bovine growth hormone, treatment for AIDS, and nuclear power (the evolution of which is treated extensively and serves as an underlying current throughout the book) is covered carefully in a fluent style. Copious end notes buttress the solid exposition. Recommended for general science collections.?Robert C. Ballou, Atlanta Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. Product Review "It's a truism that technology has driven modern history. In this wise, insightful book, Robert Pool explores the deeper truth that history shapes technology."--Richard Rhodes, author The Making of the Atomic Bomb. Reader Reviews Beyond Engineering is the brightest of the many shining stars that make up the Sloan Technology Series. It is easily the most educational, enlightening and thought provoking ("The One Best Way" by Kanigel being a close second) of the series, and will be the barometer by which I personally measure all future popular technology books. Mr. Pool looks at the way in which technology and society shape each other by looking at eight key elements of these interactions. These areas form the chapters of Beyond Engineering, with Mr. Pool frequently using many poignant technological case studies, biotechnology, steam powered automobiles, the Xerox Alto, and many others. The recurring case study which unites the book is that of the nuclear power industry in the U.S. Despite the non-chronological nature of this story, it is told thoroughly, using just the right amount of technical explanation to explain without overwhelming. Indeed, Mr.Pool began his book as a history of the US Nuclear Power Industry, but changed his topic as several other authors beat him to it ("Nuclear Choices" by R. Wolfson and "Nuclear Renewal" by R. Rhodes). It is a good thing they did, otherwise he would not have looked at this as merely a case study, in which to frame socio-technological interaction. The eight areas that are covered; momentum, idea creation, business, complexity, choices, risk, control and trade-offs are very quickly paced and liberally sprinkled with very poignant references. His thematic review of the subject matter is similar to the author Lisa Jardine's histories of the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution. The most frequently referred to text is Kuhn's classic "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions." This book could be viewed as the technological adaptation of Kuhn's scientific applications. There are no ways in which the text disappoints, and it would be difficult to endorse it any more enthusiastically than I am. This book will be of benefit to anyone that works in technology, has a general interest in that area, is curious about nuclear power, or is simply looking for a good book. Comment | | (Report this)
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