Globe Pequot / Prometheus
Pages: 360
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Trim: 6⅜ x 9¼
978-1-63388-578-3 • Hardback • October 2019 • $25.00 • (£18.99)
978-1-63388-579-0 • eBook • October 2019 • $23.50 • (£17.99)
"A must-read. As a specialist in both national security and technology, Daniel M. Gerstein is uniquely qualified to explain the societal changes occurring within the United States and across the globe. He expertly describes the ongoing competition taking place in research and development centers worldwide. In doing so, he emphasizes the importance of getting it right—that is, promoting science and technology that will lead to even greater advances while also ensuring that the future remains friendly for later generations.” - Joseph I. Lieberman, senator from Connecticut (1989–2013)
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“Much of the 21st-century world is enabled, structured, or defined by technology. Gerstein offers a highly readable history and analysis of technology, explored through his own experiences as a military officer, a senior civilian government official, and a private citizen. Rich in anecdotes and examples, this book provides expert and nonexpert readers with a clear explanation of both where technology comes from, and how to smooth the path from scientific discovery to user-friendly applications. Finally, Gerstein makes some eminently reasonable recommendations about how we might more responsibly manage the powerful, dual-use, and disruptive advancements that will surely be part of our future.” - Tara O’Toole, MD, MPH, senior fellow and executive vice president at In-Q-Tel and former undersecretary of the DHS Science and Technology Directorate
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“Gerstein brings a unique perspective to The Story of Technology, as both a national security expert and a technologist. He examines, in a compelling fashion, the inextricable link between humans and technological advancement—and specifically how the latter has granted America security, economic, and societal advantages. But he also cautions, rightly, that many of the foundations on which these advantages have been built are eroding, threatening our interests and perhaps even redefining what it means to be human. This book is a must-read for our national leaders, technology specialists, and general readers alike.” - General David Petraeus, US Army (ret.), former commander of the troop surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, and former director of the CIA
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“For decades, computer power doubled every eighteen months, to the point that the internet and smartphones have practically become extensions of our bodies. Now the power of biotechnology is doubling just as fast, bringing with it not only new medical breakthroughs but also rogue scientists who are experimenting with altering the human genome. All the while, a tidal wave of artificial intelligence rolls toward us. Gerstein helps us understand how we got here, what may be coming next, and how we might cope with it.” - Christopher Chyba, professor of astrophysics and international affairs, Princeton University
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“The clearest, most comprehensive overview of technology, and the government’s role in developing it, that I’ve seen. Rich with insights from Gerstein’s personal experiences in the military and in the Department of Homeland Security, it’s a must-read for entrepreneurs looking for traction with the government, and for anyone seeking to understand what technology’s all about.” - Gen. Wesley K. Clark, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe
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“Gerstein takes the reader on a fascinating journey from a hot debate over blockchain technology at a wine bar to an inside look at the ins and outs of the Department of Homeland Security. In describing technology as being both a constant companion throughout human existence, and, at times, an unwanted interloper, Gerstein provides interesting bookends to his analysis. He argues that the future of technology is not preordained and that the type of future that humankind desires must be carefully considered as part of an important policy debate.” - Governor Thomas Ridge, first Secretary of Department of Homeland Security
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