The myth of the machine.
An in-depth look at the forces that have shaped modern technology since prehistoric times. Mumford criticizes the modern trend of technology, which emphasizes constant, unrestricted expansion, production, and replacement. He contends that these goals work against technical perfection, durability, so...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
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New York :
Harcourt, Brace & World,
[1967-70]
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| Edition: | [First edition]. |
| Subjects: |
| Summary: | An in-depth look at the forces that have shaped modern technology since prehistoric times. Mumford criticizes the modern trend of technology, which emphasizes constant, unrestricted expansion, production, and replacement. He contends that these goals work against technical perfection, durability, social efficiency, and overall human satisfaction. Modern technology fails to produce lasting, quality products by using devices such as consumer credit, installment buying, non-functioning and defective designs, built-in fragility, and frequent superficial "fashion" changes. "Without constant enticement by advertising," he writes, "production would slow down and level off to normal replacement demand. Otherwise many products could reach a plateau of efficient design which would call for only minimal changes from year to year." |
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| Item Description: | Vol. 2 has imprint: New York, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. |
| Physical Description: | 2 volumes : illustrations ; 25 cm Also issued online. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (volume 1, pages 297-323; volume 2, pages 439-469). |
| ISBN: | 0151639744 9780151639748 0156623412 9780156623414 |