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W. Brian Arthur

The Nature of Technology: What It Is and How It Evolves Hardcover – August 11, 2009

by W. Brian Arthur (Author)

53 customer reviews

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Leading scientific theorist W. Brian Arthur puts forth the first complete theory of the origins and evolution of technology, in a major work that achieves for the invention of new technologies what Darwin’s theory achieved for the emergence of new species.

Brian Arthur is a pioneer of complexity theory and the discoverer of the highly influential "theory of increasing returns," which took Silicon Valley by storm, famously explaining why some high-tech companies achieve breakaway success. Now, in this long-awaited and ground-breaking book, he solves the great outstanding puzzle of technology—where do transformative new technologies come from?—putting forth the first full theory of how new technologies emerge and offering a definitive answer to the mystery of why some cultures—Silicon Valley, Cambridge, England in the 1920s—are so extraordinarily inventive. He has discovered that rather than springing from insight moments of individual genius, new technologies arise in a process akin to evolution. Technology evolves by creating itself out of itself, much as a coral reef builds itself from activities of small organisms.

Drawing on a wealth of examples, from the most ancient to cutting-edge inventions of today, Arthur takes readers on a delightful intellectual journey, bringing to life the wonders of this process of technological evolution. The Nature of Technology is the work of one of our greatest thinkers at the top of his game, composing a classic for our times that is sure to generate wide acclaim.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What is technology in its nature, in its deepest essence? Where does it come from? How does it evolve? With contagious enthusiasm, Arthur, an economics professor and a pioneer of complexity theory, tries to answer these and other questions in a style that is by turns sparkling and flat. Technology is self-creating, though it requires human agency to build it up and reproduce it. Yet technology evolves much like organisms evolve, and Arthur cannily applies Darwin's ideas to technologies and their growth. All technologies descend from earlier ones, and those that perform better and more efficiently than others are selected for future growth and development. But radical novelty in technology cannot be explained by this model of variation and selection, so Arthur argues that novel technologies arise by combination of existing technologies. For example, a hydroelectric power generator combines several main components—a reservoir to store water, an intake system, turbines driven by high-energy water flow, transformers to convert the power output to a higher voltage: groups of self-contained technologies—into a new technology. Arthur's arguments will likely alter the reader's way of thinking about technology and its relationship to humanity. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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"Brian Arthur's brilliantly original analysis of how technology develops and evolves reminds me of Euclid's Geometry -- it's clear, simple and seemingly self-evident now that a master has spent years working it out. The Nature of Technology is a seminal work, thrilling to read and rich in implications for business as well as engineering and the social sciences." -- Richard Rhodes, Winner of a Pulitzer Prize in Nonfiction for The Making of the Atomic Bomb

"The Nature of Technology is the most important book on technology and the economy since Schumpeter. In clear, lucid prose and with fascinating examples, Arthur describes how technology 'creates itself' in an evolutionary process that has taken our world from stone tools to iPods. A work of deep and lasting importance that deserves to be widely read -- you will not think about technology the same way again." -- Eric D. Beinhocker, author of The Origin of Wealth

"The refreshing clarity that Brian Arthur brings to the most overwhelming force in the universe will benefit anyone trying to tame technology -- critics, eager boosters, and the perplexed alike." -- Kevin Kelly, author of New Rules for the New Economy

"Hundreds of millions of dollars slosh around Silicon Valley every day based on Brian Arthur's ideas." -- John Seeley Brown, former director of PARC

"We launched Java based on Brian Arthur's ideas." -- Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google

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Product details

Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Free Press; First Edition first Printing edition (August 11, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416544054
ISBN-13: 978-1416544050
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 53 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,047,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1155 in Social Aspects of Technology
- #1184 in History of Engineering & Technology
- #844 in Computers & Technology Industry

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Ongoing symbiosis between humans and our evolving tech

May 26, 2019

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

We are in 2009, Arthur is discussing the isomorphisms between the evolution of technologies and the evolution of living things like yourself. He starts with the provocative hypothesis that, in essence, technologies are alive and getting closer and closer to biological systems. If that is the case, kudos for Dawkins who said that evolution is the greatest show on earth, the only game in town. Thrilling. We are alive and evolving. Evolving using technology. By consequence, technology is speeding up our evolution. So, we evolve technology to evolve ourselves in a recursive loop. It is symbiosis! And Arthur did a great job knitting everything together.

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Dale B. Halling

Important Topic

February 2, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

There are flashes of brilliance in this work. The topic is very important and the author provides fairly clear definitions and useful examples. As the author clearly demonstrates technology is what defines are standard of living. The author’s understand that all technology is build on existing elements is very important. His explanation that neither technology nor the economy is ever in equilibrium is a point that cannot made too often. His suggested definition of economics is a profound movement in the right direction. Also his explanation that both technology and biological entities are built hierarchically and higher levels of technology cannot be created until the building blocks are in place is very important. His computer “experiment” about the development of logic circuits was very interesting. Most writing on technology and “innovation” is nonsense, with no definition, no useful conclusions, no defined course of action – it is all smoke and mirrors with anecdotal facts, worthy of PT Barnum.

Here are some of couple of complaints.
1) I am constantly amazed that people can talk about technology and inventions and not even mention patents. Many of the concepts the author struggles with have been dealt with by patent attorneys for years. Now in fairness the author could teach the Supreme Court a thing or two about technology, however note that none of the Supreme Court justices are patent attorneys. For instance, the author discovers that any technology can be expressed a system or a process. This is something every patent attorney learns during their first year and is clearly explained in Landis on the Mechanics of Claim Drafting.

2) The author’s definition of invention and standard engineering needs to be rethought. Standard engineering is the creation of a specific instance of an invention to fit a particular need. For instance, standard engineering involves modifying a high pass operational amplifier to work for a specific design frequency or modifying it to handle a higher power signal. The engineer is not creating a new class of objects he is modifying an existing technology (invention) to meet a particular need.

An invention is a human creation with an objective result, while art is a human creation with a subjective result. By objective result I mean one that is repeatable, in a scientific sense like an incandescent light bulb produces light when the appropriate electrical signal is applied. This definition is consistent with what the author calls a technology and always involves a unique combination of elements and always refers to a class of objects, such as high resistance incandescent light bulbs. An invention is always a class of things, it is a creation not a reproduction (Production).

The author could learn a lot about how to define a technology or invention by studying how patent claims work (yes I am a patent attorney).

3) I think the author’s definition of economy is a step in the right direction. He states economy is “the set of arrangements and activities by which a society satisfies it needs” and economics is the study of this. This is such a good step in the right direction, but “society” should be changed to “human beings.” This may sound like a small difference but it makes clear that economics applies even in small groups, even for an individual living on a deserted island. This is important because it eliminates the nonsense that what makes no sense in isolation makes sense with a large group of people.

Overall a very admirable effort.

Dale B. Halling, Author of Pendulum of Justice and The Decline and Fall of the American Entrepreneur.

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Ernesto Hernandez

Worth every word read and time spent

October 5, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

By far one of the best and most concise and less repetitive writers. His ideas are deep and well researched. His knowledge is broad and deep. His conclusions are solid and accesible. This is a must read for anyone with familiar understanding of technologies who has been trying to better understand the roots of innovation or the evolution of technology.

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shane higgins

Essence for understanding the radical evolution of technological innovation.

January 24, 2019

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I liked the way the book made me think deeply on how technology is continuously shaping our world. My means to a human purpose with the piece is helping with the visualization of A.I. implementation and it's many implications.

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Wayne Lynn

If you're wondering about how to think about technology...

February 20, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I haven't read anything like this before. It really hit home with me in terms of how technology keeps evolving. Also, how technology and the economy are so incredibly intertwined. If you're in business and your industry is being impacted by rapid changes in technology this book is "ground level" required reading.

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Andrew D. Rudin

An admirable book about a hard-to-define topic.

December 11, 2013

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Imagine that a college professor assigns you this topic, you write a book that doesn’t contain a single picture, flowchart or diagram, you give it a dull title, and it’s hit! A page turner! The crowd goes wild! It’s immediately clear that Arthur has not only spent a lot of time thinking about his topic, he’s brilliant in how he presents it. If you sell technology, or just work with it every day, I can’t think of a more important book to read right now. Among Arthur’s insights: 1) technologies inherit capabilities from the technologies that preceded them, 2) components of technology are themselves systems, and 3) all technologies harness and use at least one physical phenomenon.

3 people found this helpful

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RD74

It had some good thoughts, but he followed the mantra of many ...

October 5, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

My boss suggested the book. It had some good thoughts, but he followed the mantra of many authors, "when something can be said clearly in 100 words, why not instead use 1000?" That made it somewhat tedious reading.

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german bula

This work is remarkable!!!! it is ...

November 18, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This work is remarkable!!!! it is a must. If you want to know something about technology... you must read it. I am waiting for the next Brian Arthur's book on the subject...

4 people found this helpful

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