Task #13: Read a nonfiction book about technology.

[Addie Dehart]

Leslie Ann wrote: "Addie wrote: "Does anyone have some good biotechnology/ genetic engineering suggestions? That area definitely interests me more than the non-living side of technology."

I found this list: http://w..."

Thank you so much! I'm sure I can find a book that I am interested in on that list.

[Bonnie G.]

Addie wrote: "Does anyone have some good biotechnology/ genetic engineering suggestions? That area definitely interests me more than the non-living side of technology."

Do you think The Gene: An Intimate History would work? Its on my TBR.

[Monica]

I think for this one I'm looking at:

Elon Musk: Inventing the Future
Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy
Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

[Addie Dehart]

Bonnie wrote: "Addie wrote: "Does anyone have some good biotechnology/ genetic engineering suggestions? That area definitely interests me more than the non-living side of technology."

Do you think [book:The Gene..."
I"d be curious about other's opinion on this too. I think it sounds right up my ally. Initially I thought it would be more of a science book than technology, but the following line from the synopsis makes me think it might work" What becomes of being human when we learn to “read” and “write” our own genetic information?"

[Cass]

Brandyn wrote: "Would "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" be too big of a stretch for this category?"

This is not a stretch at all. In fact, if anyone has not yet read this book, it's a very interesting read!!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

[Barbara]

Brandyn wrote: "Would "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" be too big of a stretch for this category?"

I would consider it absolutely appropriate for this task. HeLa cells are an essential tool for most of modern cell biology/medical science.

[ChezJulie]

Melanie wrote: "The History of Reading is on the list for this one. I guess because we move from clay tablets to electronic tablets?"

Hi Melanie. I teach about books, and the book has always been considered a technology (and a very successful one). So clay tablets and books printed on a press are as much technology as e-books. Maybe your question will give others who are not interested in computers and modern technology some ideas for this category.

Would The Wright Brothers qualify?

I think so. There's a good deal about how they come up with the idea for, design, and test the plane. It's a great read, too.

[Monica]

Today Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars is on sale $3.99 (kindle) part of the gr awards sale.

[Matt]

Wallace wrote: "Brandyn wrote: "Would "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" be too big of a stretch for this category?"

I don't think it's a stretch at all. Medicine is technology, after all.

Really this is a p..."

Nice, I'm going to read this one too then. Been meaning to get into it for years.

[Kirsten]

Barbara wrote: "Brandyn wrote: "Would "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" be too big of a stretch for this category?"

I would consider it absolutely appropriate for this task. HeLa cells are an essential tool ..."

also important for ethics of technology

[Elizabeth]

I've been considering The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks or Hidden Figures as well. I would honestly rather do something about more historical technology than current technology.

[Viv]

I am considering The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars for this one. According to the blurb, the women "helped discern what the stars were made of, divided them into meaningful categories for further research, and even found a way to measure distances across space by starlight." That counts as technology, right?

Like Elizabeth and others, I'm more interested in historical aspects of technology than current tech.

[Rokkan]

Searched through amazon freebies and found a book on solar energy to read for this topic. Solar Energy: The physics and engineering of photovoltaic conversion, technologies and systems is now on my list for this topic

[Leanne]

I'm wondering like some others if "The Gene" qualifies? Really struggling for ideas that I'd find interesting for this...

[Erin]

Elizabeth I was also thinking of Hidden Figures but I'm not sure if it counts as technology.

[Ashley]

Unbound: How Eight Technologies Made Us Human, Transformed Society, and Brought Our World to the BrinkI believe I have found my choice for this task.

[Ira]

I'm reading Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom

[Nancy]

I picked The Geography of Genius by Eric Weiner. I'm really enjoying it. The observations he makes are enlightening. I'm not sure I would have picked it up at all if not for this challenge!

[Madison E.]

I think books on the historical context of technology will count. Technology is broad, much better broader than just the electronic devices we think of today. If you find something with a more narrative or historical twist on a technology and that appeal more to you than something highly technical, go for it!

[Cheri]

Monica wrote: "Today Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars is on sale $3.99 (kindle) part of the gr awards sale."

Thanks, Monica! I got it and just finished reading it for this challenge. The author does a good job explaining some of the science, and the technological changes alongside the changing roles of the women made a nice pairing. There wasn't a lot of analysis of the women's roles, but all in all I'm glad I read the book.

[Virginia]

Future Crimes: Everything Is Connected, Everyone Is Vulnerable, and What We Can Do About It sounds like it would fit the category?

[Tina]

I may go with which has been categorized by on goodreads as "Technology". If anyone needs this, there is also a list on goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/genres/tech...

[Chris]

A couple of months ago I read The Speed of Sound: Breaking the Barriers Between Music and Technology: A Memoir by Thomas Dolby and loved it. Dolby is/was, of course, a successful singer/songwriter/musician in the '80s and ditched the music business in the '90s to become something of a Silicon Valley pioneer. The first half of the book deals mainly with his upbringing and music career (which is fascinating), but the second half is definitely focused on technology. I suppose it partially qualifies for this category? At any rate, something to consider. I found his writing style quite engaging.

[Lauconn]

Ashley wrote: "I'm leaning towards Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science-and the World - any thoughts from the community? I'm really not a non-fiction reader but this book caught my eye and wou..."

I read this book (actually, listened to it, and the audio was great) last year, and loved it. Some of the women featured were/are engineers and inventors, so I don't see why it wouldn't fit.

[Kirsten]

Not sure what to read for this one. I'll have to see what catches my eye. I love science, but I'm not much of a tech fan.

[Jess (oracle_of_madness)]

does What If? Serious Scientific answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions count? i picked it up and there is a lot of technology in this book considering all it discusses

[Julie]

Janet wrote: "Book Riot wrote: "Some posts that might help:

http://bookriot.com/2014/11/12/45-fav...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

http://www.smithso..."

The first list from Book Riot is a great list of fiction books, but the requirement is nonfiction, so I don't think it qualifies.

[Selena]

Hmm...this one was on my to-read list and I think it may work: American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers
by Nancy Jo Sales.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Ashley]

Lauconn wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I'm leaning towards Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science-and the World - any thoughts from the community? I'm really not a non-fiction reader but this book caught..."

Awesome, thanks for the feedback Lauconn!

[Maddie]

Chessa wrote: "Would Mary Roach's Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void work for this? Because I've been meaning read Mary Roach."

She also has a book about war =)

[Courtney]

I just started reading Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. It was on one of the bookriot lists at the beginning of this thread so I know it qualifies, and it seems to be pretty interesting so far. I can't wait to dive further into it.

I'm glad I chose this task as the second one for me to tackle.

[Lindsay]

I just finished So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Robson and am going with that. I highly recommend it! It explores the concept of shame that the Internet can bring about social media platforms. So still about technology, but from a more psychological angle.

[Cliff]

Think I am going to go with Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void, it seems both humorous and interesting. Thanks for the recommendations guys!

[Bonnie G.]

Courtney wrote: "I just started reading Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. It was on one of the bookriot lists at the beginning of this thread so I know it qualifies, and it seems to ..."

Thanks for mentioning this. It has been on my TBR pile for years and I would not have thought if it for this challenge!

[Barb]

I'm currently reading Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist's Guide To Thriving In The Age of Accelerations. I've always enjoyed Thomas Friedman's explanatory journalism. Another one that is new along the same lines is Whiplash https://www.amazon.com/dp/1455544590/...

[Katie]

For this I will read The Technology of Orgasm: "Hysteria," the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction. Since I have experience researching human sexuality, this seemed perfect!

[Jean]

These look interesting! Older technology, but still fascinating.

The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge

The Great Railroad Revolution: The History of Trains in America

Race of the Century: The Heroic True Story of the 1908 New York to Paris Auto Race

The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914

[Erin]

Katie wrote: "For this I will read The Technology of Orgasm: "Hysteria," the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction. Since I have experience researching human sexuality, this seemed perfect!"

Okay, that sounds like a fun read! :D

[Kate]

Someone may have already mentioned it, but Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time is a fantastic read.

[David]

I read "Astrophysics: A Very Short Introduction" by James Binney late in the year 2016. The front of the book has a very long list of Short Introduction books on all kinds of science and technology. Work up a reading list that may take years to finish. I found it useful to continue a meaningful discussion with a climate change denier that started at our local community club Christmas party. He's a long-retired high school teacher. Astronomy and astrophysics could become a Thing as big as adult coloring books were in 2015. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Kirsten]

Cliff wrote: "Think I am going to go with Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void, it seems both humorous and interesting. Thanks for the recommendations guys!"

It is hilarious! I used to listen to the audiobook while walking my dogs and they hated it because - for some bizarre reason - I have to stop walking while laughing out loud!

[Bobby]

I'm thinking about reading one of these:

Turing's Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe

The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains

Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television

[Kirsten]

Turing's Cathedral! That's a good one!

[Diana]

After browsing the technology tag for inspiration, I decided on How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Changed the Modern World by Steven Johnson.

[Lisa]

Just finished Elon Musk: Inventing the Future. I'm not really a fan of non-fiction, but this one was interesting to hear about how he got started and how he prospered.

[Pamela]

I'm thinking about Alan Turing: The Man Who Knew Too Much about him inventing the Enigma machine - or Ada's Algorithm: How Lord Byron's Daughter Ada Lovelace Launched the Digital Age.

[Christy]

I'm going to finally finish River of Shadows: Eadweard Muybridge and the Technological Wild West by Rebecca Solnit for this one! I started it once before, but the timing was off to give it the attention it deserves; the first 50 pages at least were fascinating and well written.

[Elyse]

Would Elon Musk: Inventing the Future count? This genre is not my forte. lol

[Shawn]

The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge

I might use this one. Thanks!

Also considering The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York

[Shawn]

Is a dictionary considered technology?

If so, I can recommend this book, The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary.