Lewis Mumford Book order

The book draws parallels between the profound changes in 20th-century human life and the revolutionary shift that led early humans into civilization. It explores how modern advancements and societal developments echo the transformative experiences of our ancestors, providing insight into the evolution of human communities and the impact of progress on society.

Technics and Civilization first presented its compelling history of the machine and critical study of its effects on civilization in 1934 - before television, the personal computer, and the Internet even appeared on our periphery. Drawing upon art, science, philosophy, and the history of culture, Lewis Mumford explained the origin of the machine age and traced its social results, asserting that the development of modern technology had its roots in the Middle Ages rather than the Industrial Revolution. Mumford sagely argued that it was the moral, economic, and political choices we made, not the machines that we used, that determined our industrially driven economy. Equal parts powerful history and polemic, Technics and Civilization was the first comprehensive attempt in English to portray the development of the machine age over the last thousand years - and to predict the pull the technological still holds over us today.

Focusing on utopias of reconstruction, Lewis Mumford explores influential ideas from Plato to the twentieth century, analyzing how they propose to reshape society. He examines notable works, including More's Utopia and H.G. Wells's fiction, and presents a checklist to evaluate societal alignment with utopian ideals, covering aspects like governance, living standards, and the arts. This foundational text not only reflects Mumford's innovative scholarship but also addresses enduring issues such as social equity and the interplay of science and creativity, relevant to contemporary challenges.

The classic study of the city -- its origins, its transformations, and its prospects. Winner of the National Book Award.