The Great Acceleration
How the World is Getting Faster, Faster
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ISBN10: 163286455X
ISBN13: 9781632864550
Hardcover
400 Pages
$28.00
CA$34.00
In this revelatory study of modern living, Robert Colvile inspects the various ways in which the pace of life in our society is increasing and examines the evolutionary science behind our rapidly accelerating need for change, as well as why it's unlikely we'll be able to slow down . . . or even want to.
Exploring theories surrounding the effect of this speed on our minds and bodies, Colvile reveals how, contrary to gloomier predictions, living in a faster age might be beneficial for us, both physically and mentally. In addition to the universe of social media, he examines the opportunities that faster communication and operation could bring to everything from music, film, and books to transportation, politics, and government.
Comparing developments in cities and villages, advanced economies and underdeveloped countries, East and West, The Great Acceleration explains how the positives outnumber the negatives and, if this acceleration is truly inevitable, why we should rush to embrace it.
Reviews
Praise for The Great Acceleration
"An excellently researched and thoughtful guide to the changes wrought by technology on the media, pop culture, finance, medicine, transport, and teenagers’ social lives."—Spectator (UK)
"Colvile is never less than engaging. Not a paragraph passes without an appealing factoid . . . It is also inflected by a healthy sense of humour . . . Given how easy it is to accentuate the negative, this is a book well worth reading, especially for the technological naysayers."—Daily Telegraph (UK)
"An alert and readable survey of the effects of 'the great acceleration' on tech firms, social media, art, news media, politics, banking and the environment. Its statistics are certainly striking."—Sunday Times (UK)
"A punchy and wide-ranging book about how our lives and our society are speeding up, when to apply the brakes, and how to enjoy the ride."—Tim Harford, author of Adapt and The Undercover Economist Strikes Back
"It's true, life is speeding up. But don't despair: overall that's a good thing for prosperity and quality of life, though it may not feel so as the e-mails pile up. This book is as fast-paced as its subject matter, and well worth making time for."—Mark Lynas, author of Six Degrees and The God Species