High Tech High Touch: Technology and Our Search for Meaning

by John Naisbitt and Nana Naisbitt

Book Overview

The one great megatrend of the new millennium. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0767903838
• ISBN13: 9780767903837
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Broadway Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

"The railroad rides Mankind"

I must agree with a number of other reviewers about this book. It promises a lot more than it gives. It too it seems to me beats a pretty dead horse, when coming down as major point on media violence as major abuse of technology. It is not that this is wrong, but rather that it is such a glaring and commonplace truth that one does not need it to be banged into one's head over and over again. About the basic idea of a split between the high tech material world and the 'high touch' inner world, this too has a certain feeling of the commonplace. I also do not believe it accurate , if only because the technical obviously works on our feelings, and our feelings transform the world of the technical. I suppose the main conclusion of this work is that we have to be careful, use technology wisely, not become its slaves. A lot of people for a long time in the Western world have become making this point. Consider Thoreau " The railroad rides mankind" . There is however information in this book on new developments in various areas of scientific and technical work. This can be valuable. But on the whole one must look elsewhere for true wisdom on the subject.

Highly Recommended!

Megatrends author John Naisbitt's new book (co-written by daughter Nana Naisbitt and artist Douglas Philips) is a fat book of ideas that touches upon genetics, art, media violence, time sensibilities and even South Park. Unlike most futurists, the authors make judgment calls about future timelines and inclinations. However, they agree with other futurists that full immersion virtual reality is coming, although they add that it's probably not a good thing, especially for your kids. Their compelling discussion of the genetic revolution is wide-ranging and fair-handed. Their interesting take on media violence and video games seems more controversial, evidencing a distaste that echoes the genre's most hostile opponents. Their view of modern art, which touts body part art (i.e. Piss Christ and sliced cows) but ignores the computer-driven fruition of amateur filmmaking, also seems odd. You may find yourself arguing and fighting with this very stylish, well-written book, but we [...] promise you won't be bored.

A little ecentric!

My congratulations go to the author who was able to compile a book about the "new" economy and information age. The only downfall of the book is in the extreme examples that Naisbat used to explain why mass media is hurting our lives as humans. Overall, an enjoyable and entertainable read.

Got your own answers yet?

Recently I always keep asking myself a question: " Are we addicted to the Internet world too much?" This book raises some good questions for us to begin to think about: 1. Do we favor the quick fix, from religion to nutrition? 2. Do we fear and worship technology? 3. Do we blur the distinction between real and fake? 4. Do we accept violence as normal? 5. Do we love technology as a toy? 6. Do we live our lives distanced and distracted?Reading this book is a very good beginning to look for signs of these symptoms in the world we live as well as in our culture. "Technology always originates from human nature."

Compelling look at tomorrow today

In High Tech - High Touch, a new book by John Naisbitt and coauthors Nana Naisbitt and Doug Philips, the questions of the next millennium are raised. The authors do not answer these questions, but they urge us to begin discussing them. Where are we taking technology or is it taking us? Has technology fulfilled its promise of giving us more leisure time or has it made our lives busier and more complex? Is the line between real and virtual blurring and if it is what does that mean to our children and our society? Are we on the verge of a leap in evolution through genetic engineering or will we tinker with life and create monsters like Dr. Frankenstein? Will religion and science find ways to understand and appreciate each other or will they continue their bitter battle over the turf of truth? And what does the Specimen Art movement say about who we are and where we're going? High Tech - High Touch is a fascinating exploration of these and other significant questions of our time. I highly recommend it to everyone living on our little island in space.