Uncommon Sense: Out of the Box Thinking for An In the Box World (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: silicon life, copyright lawyer, Mother Nature, Moore's Wall, Star Trek (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"You will find it hard to put down..." (Reading Chronicle, 29/7/04)

"A series of remarkable insights into work, communication, the family, communities and just about everything else touched by technology" (The Times, 23^rd September, 2004)

"You will find it hard to put down." (Institute of Directors, Autumn 2004)

"...a man with something to say to a world that should listen." (City to Cities, November/ December 2004)

"...his ideas are provocative, his opinions refreshing and his knowledge extensive...ideal for holiday reading..." (Library & Information Update, July 05)

"...a series of challenging insights into work, communication and the family... a must-read for anyone..." (Long Range Planning, Number 38, 2005)

Product Description

"Peter Cochrane is one of our most far-sighted visionaries, and brings brilliant clarity and focus to our understanding of ourselves and our technologies, and of how profoundly each is transforming the other." -Douglas Adams, Author, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

In Uncommon Sense, Peter Cochrane's follow up to the radical 108 Tips for Time Traveller, Peter explains how very simple analysis allows the prediction of such debacles as the 3G auction and the subsequent collapse of an industry, whilst simple-minded thinking is dangerous in the context of a world that is predominantly chaotic and out of control.

People balked when Peter suggested a wholesale move to eWorking, the rise of email and text messaging, and the dotcom regime mirroring the boom and bust cycle of the industrial revolution. His predictions of the use and growth of mobile devices and communication, or use of chip implants for humans to replace ID cards, passports, and medical records, or iris scanners and fingerprint readers - were all seen as unlikely. Today they are a reality.

How then will the world react to his predictions as set out in Uncommon Sense of a networked world of distributed ignorance and sharing overcoming an old world of concentrated skill and control? To everything becoming 'Napsterised' in every dimension, where storage and processing power cost nothing, and become connected without the help of the old network companies? A world where individuals create their own networks, where laws of copyright and resale, and old business models have to be changed as giant industries are dragged kicking and screaming out of the 19th Century and into the 21st?

Peter Cochrane poses and answers questions, suggests solutions, and raises red flags on issues that need to be addressed. Tables, diagrams, pictures and illustrations generously support all of the text, with the most difficult aspects illustrated by simulations and other material on a CD and links to a web site with an ongoing expansion of the themes addressed.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: Capstone (May 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 184112477X
• ISBN-13: 978-1841124773
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #478,141 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Snapshots, June 21, 2004

By	Leslie Tuerk "talk agent" (Princeton, NJ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As I rule I do not care for essay collections but I found this book to be completely worthwhile. Starting with a snapshot of his own educational issues, Cochrane opened my eyes to new possibilities in learning, and how to share ideas with others. Subsequent articles on topics that I was familiar with became fresh ideas and I found that I was not only able to follow (prehaps for the first time) but actually appreciate the various nuances on topics that I normally would not consider. The book uses both text and visuals to make clear some of the technical points and helps tie together issues ranging from learning to technology and all with a brilliant focus on business management.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insights on Business Technology, July 18, 2004

By	Janet Asteroff "Janet Asteroff" (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This series of essays from global thought leader Peter Cochrane is required reading for business technologists. Cochrane addresses the issues we think about-and don't think about-in ways that offer new insights into everyday challenges. His observations on giving presentations in "Salesmanship" will make people think twice about getting up in front of a room. These essays, which cover everything from security to online shopping to management to mobility (and beyond), are infused with creativity. Cochrane's ability to see around corners, and to look at the world just a bit differently in ways that ultimately make sense, will re-invigorate thinking and leave us better prepared for the next challenge.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kick-start your brain!, October 5, 2004

By	Michael Maternaghan "A reader" (Asheville, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm not sure how Cochrane can contain such a diversity of thought within a single mind but I'm very thankful that he can. The broad sweep of these essays has truly opened my eyes to the inexorable and interwoven position of technology in all aspects of our lives. Technology is not "out there" it's "in here". I feel more awake, better educated and perhaps a little afraid. Read this book to kick-start your brain, evolve your own "uncommon sense" and get involved in the dialogue. Cochrane is expert at illuminating our shadowy future. The issues addressed are some of the most important of our times. I highly recommend this book if you want to know what technology "means".