“A history-changing, paradigm-altering look at the evolution of the human capacity to process data,” according to the Oregonian, Gleick’s latest book makes even the most unexciting material “brim with tension.” The science can be overwhelming at times (quantum teleportation, anyone?), but Gleick provides clear explanations and analogies. For those less scientifically minded, he keeps the narrative moving along with fascinating facts, colorful digressions, and vivid portraits of long-forgotten inventors. Although the New York Times Book Review complained that later chapters on the meaning of information veered from science into the treacherous terrain of philosophy, other reviewers considered his final ruminations insightful and eloquent. Readers may find The Information a dense and demanding read, but this illuminating book is well worth the effort. This is an excerpt from a review published in Bookmarks magazine.