Technics and Civilization

by Lewis Mumford

It was a very important book, because it started this debate about the effect technologies have on societies from a political viewpoint: whether they actually enable certain political forces to take greater control over individuals. It was particularly important given the fact that it was written in the 1930s, with the rise of Nazism in Europe. I think many of the debates we’re having now – about, for example, is the internet changing our brains? – all essentially go back to some of those criticisms by Mumford.