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  • What Technology Wants

  • By: Kevin Kelly
  • Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
  • Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (509 ratings)

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What Technology Wants

By: Kevin Kelly
Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
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Publisher's summary

This provocative book introduces a brand-new view of technology. It suggests that technology as a whole is not a jumble of wires and metal but a living, evolving organism that has its own unconscious needs and tendencies. Kevin Kelly looks out through the eyes of this global technological system to discover "what it wants." He uses vivid examples from the past to trace technology's long course and then follows a dozen trajectories of technology into the near future to project where technology is headed.

This new theory of technology offers three practical lessons: By listening to what technology wants, we can better prepare ourselves and our children for the inevitable technologies to come; by adopting the principles of proaction and engagement, we can steer technologies into their best roles; and by aligning ourselves with the long-term imperatives of this near-living system, we can capture its full gifts.

Written in intelligent and accessible language, this is a fascinating, innovative, and optimistic look at how humanity and technology join to produce increasing opportunities in the world and how technology can give our lives greater meaning.

©2010 Kevin Kelly (P)2010 Tantor
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Editorial reviews

Cutting-edge technology watchdog Kevin Kelly has done it again. It is no longer silly to think of technology as having a pulse, and the former editor of Wired magazine certainly has his finger on it. In this compelling new view of the many parallels between biological development in humans and humans' development of technology, the interconnectedness of the biosophere and the technium has never been so clear. Supergeeks rejoice, not only for this exciting speculation on what our future holds, but also for the fact that it is narrated by the one and only Paul Boehmer, a terrific Shakespearean actor better known for his role as stranded Vulcan in one of the most beloved eipsodes of Star Trek: Enterprise.

Boehmer gives voice to this deep scientific inquiry with energy and precision. Kelly is keen on researching a breadth of evidences to secure his theory about what technology wants from us, and Boehmer steps lightly through the many lists of supporting examples in a tone that shows just how captivating they are. Did you know that rock ants have a system for calculating the volume of a room, in order determine the appropriate dimensions of the nest they want to build? Did you know that the Amish are in a heated debate over the possible adoption of cell phones? Did you know that a toaster makes decisions? The scope of Kelly's considerations is astounding.

This comprehensive look at technology as a near-living system will shock and delight both luddites and technophiles alike. Kelly's previous major work, Out of Control, was at the top of the Wachowski brothers' required reading list for actors in their Matrix film trilogy. This time around, the first few chapters are almost like watching the evolutionary montage that opens Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Perhaps the futuristic trajectory of Kelly's book is slightly more optimistic and his conclusion somewhat more scientific, but given the mirror of Kubrick's film, Trekkie Paul Boehmer is the perfect choice of narrator for this weirdly wonderful book. Megan Volpert

What listeners say about What Technology Wants

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Important to understand

What did you love best about What Technology Wants?

This book provides a basic understanding of what technology is and where it's going. In terms of impact on my thinking, it rates in the top dozen books I've read and my personal business library exceeds 800 books at this point. If you are a thinking person who wonders where humanity is going in the short term as well as the long term, I think you'll enjoy this book.

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Brilliant ideas, extravagant conclusions

There are many thought-provoking insights that are mind-expanding, unfortunately, these all get extrapolated into an almost preachy defense of why this must all be correct. It is a well thought-out theory that could have been better articulated in about half the time. The author is perpetually taking the long way around and in the final chapter you understand that he is more emotionally invested in his concepts than academically critical. Everything you would expect from a futurist, but the writing just drags on and on somewhat pretentiously defensive.

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is the technium the evolution of evolution?

What made the experience of listening to What Technology Wants the most enjoyable?

The perspective in this book is very unique. Kelly is able to give a clear indication of what direction we are going. He is honest about the possible pit falls of our obsession with technology but also realistic about all that it has give us and will give us.

What other book might you compare What Technology Wants to and why?

I was prompted to read this book from Creating a Mind, Abundance and Better Angels. These books cite many of the same sources and draw some of the same conclusions.

What about Paul Boehmer’s performance did you like?

Paul Boehmer gives a lot to the material by getting out of the way.

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Disappointed

While his insight on technology is a must, I don't understand why he had to talk about freewill. His theory on the subject of freewill is not just weird but also delusional.

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It should be Required Reading for Everyone

The book presents information that is essential for one to understand what is happening. It puts everything (or almost everything) into perspective.

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Great book, terrible reader.

I think the reader was a robot. It was very difficult not to be continually distracted by all the inappropriate pauses, weird emphasis on arbitrary words, and what i can only describe as "Speaking in italics". Kelly's book is fantastic though. Go get it in paper and you will love it. So much great food for thought about so many Big Picture topics. It is one of my very favorite books and Kevin Kelly is my favourite thinker alive today.

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Slow at the end, otherwise recommend.

I suggest listening to the last few hours at 1.5x-2x. Hopefully future editions will shrink that down. It got painful to listen to even though I’d still call it a great book.

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Thought Provoking

I read widely in the areas of technology, innovation, and the social aspects of networking. Kevin Kelly’s “What Technology Wants” took me by surprise. It took me at least into the proverbial “deep end of the pool.” Easy to understand and follow, Kelly approaches technology from the perspective of the “technium”. Technium is the label he attaches to the globalized, interconnected stage of technological development. He approaches technology and innovation, then from this unusual perspective. If I follow, Kelly suggests that technology (technium) is the sum total of man’s progress – the thousands of years of progress. He also broadly defines technology in terms of nonhuman species as well. This is a very thought provoking book with many implications. It is well written though the listener may want to review sections periodically. It is approachable by anyone with a passing interest and nontechnical background. The narration of Paul Boehmer is very good as well. Audible fans may want to couple Kelly’s book with Steven Johnson’s “Where Good Ideas Come From” and Clay Shirky’s “Cognitive Surplus.” Both of those books consider parallel issues. In sum, Kelly has provided Audible listeners a great service with “What Technology Wants.” I look forward to seeing more from him in the future.

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An important read

As a technology professional, I found this book to one of the more important books I had read (Steven Pinker, Malcolm Gladwell, Nassim Taleb). It provides an extrapolation of the speed, the pattern, and the vision of humanity future (albeit not a good one).
I will take the blue pill...

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Outstanding book

Really well put together and thoughtful look at our world, our lives, and our technology. Enjoyed it thoroughly.

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