How We Got to Now Six Innovations That Made the Modern World By Steven Johnson

New York Times best selling author Steven Johnson recently spoke to a Noblis Technology Tuesdays audience about the findings in his book, How We Got to Now. In his trademark style, Johnson examines unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated fields: how the invention of airconditioning enabled the largest migration of human beings in the history of the speciesto cities such as Dubai or Phoenix, which would otherwise be virtually uninhabitable; how pendulum clocks helped trigger the industrial revolution; and how clean water made it possible to manufacture computer chips. Noblis is a nonprofit science, technology, and strategy organization that brings the best of scientific thought, management, and engineering expertise in an environment of independence and objectivity. We are accomplished scientists, analysts, engineers, management experts, researchers, and technology specialists who work in areas that are essential to our nation s well being. Our work focuses on solving comple