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Reinventing Knowledge: From Alexandria to the Internet Illustrated Edition

4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 76 ratings
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“It has the power to wrench familiar aspects of history into new and surprising shapes.”―Laura Miller, Salon

Here is an intellectual extravaganza, a dazzling history of the key institutions that have shaped and channeled knowledge in the West from the classical period to the present. Fashioned with elegance and wit, this exhilarating survey carries us through the pivotal points of institutional change and cultural transformation. It is full of memorable characters, from the flamboyant founder of the great library at Alexandria and the arrogant medieval logician Peter Abelard to the dashing global adventurer von Humboldt. In its compact history we find the perfect context for understanding the vast changes we are experiencing now in the landscape of knowledge. 6 illustrations
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  1. ISBN-10
    0393337715
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0393337716
  3. Edition
    Illustrated
  4. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  5. Publication date
    September 8, 2009
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1 x 8.3 inches
  8. Print length
    344 pages
  9. See all details
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4 out of 5 stars
76 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides interesting and well-researched information. They describe it as a great, fascinating read that does a good job of looking at each major shift. However, opinions differ on the reading pace - some find it engaging and conversational, while others consider it a heavy read and not a casual one.

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Information qualityReadabilityReading pace
12 customers mention "Information quality"9 positive3 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They appreciate the side information and mention it encourages thought about knowledge patterns and evolution. The book is a valuable resource for history enthusiasts, with helpful footnotes for further study.

"...Perhaps most importantly, it encourages thought about how the patterns of knowledge carried through history will affect us today and moving forward..." Read more

"...This book is about the preservation and evolution of knowledge. At no point do I feel it was reinvented, except perhaps now...." Read more

"...Knowledge management professionals are fortunate to have such an interesting and readable summary of the major knowledge preserving and..." Read more

"...It encourages people to be motivated to seek knowledge from the cradle to grave. This book is a whistle blower." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and informative. They say it's well-researched with useful footnotes for further study. The book covers major shifts in how the world operates.

"...This book does a good job of looking at each major shift in how knowledge has evolved, examining the similarities and differences between them...." Read more

"...Otherwise, a great book." Read more

"...This book is a whistle blower." Read more

"Fascinating read, well researched and carefully footnoted for further study...." Read more

10 customers mention "Reading pace"6 positive4 negative

Customers have different views on the book's reading pace. Some find it engaging and conversational, with a readable summary of major knowledge. They appreciate the thorough notes and index. Others find it heavy and difficult to read, with long and dense paragraphs.

"...In all, I found this book to definitely be worth reading. It has some valuable information, especially for those who love studying history...." Read more

"...This book was obviously written by some very intelligent people...." Read more

"...professionals are fortunate to have such an interesting and readable summary of the major knowledge preserving and disseminating institutions over..." Read more

"This is another book that she be a great reading curriculum for high schools and in some university colleges...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Jason Hodge
    5.0 out of 5 stars A lot of good information for those willing to work for it.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This book seems to inspire a "love it or hate it" response from its readers, with very little room in between. I read Reinventing Knowledge for a college course, and this widely split opinion of the book was very evident in my class. I find myself on the "love it" side, but will do my best to give an objective view of both the strengths and weaknesses of this book.

    On the positive side, there is some very interesting information in this book. The authors look at the history of how knowledge is created, transmitted and preserved, stretching from ancient Greece through the late twentieth century. This book does a good job of looking at each major shift in how knowledge has evolved, examining the similarities and differences between them. I have read this book twice, and picked up much more on the second reading, after having gotten used to the dry writing style. There are a number of patterns stretching through the historical material covered by the authors, which really made me think and wonder how these patterns will apply in today's world and into the future.

    Unfortunately, getting at the gems of information presented by McNeely and Wolverton takes a lot of work on the reader's part. The book is written in a very dry, technical style with language that at times seems intentionally and unnecessarily complex and convoluted. This is why I gained so much more from my second reading, as much of the first was spent adapting to the complex writing and looking up unfamiliar terms. I would definitely recommend getting the Kindle version of this book as the built in dictionary makes the process much quicker and less painful.

    The other main complaint I have about this book has to do with my expectations based on the title of the book. Given that the title includes "From Alexandria to the Internet" I expected the authors to take a close look at the current shift happening to internet-based collaboration, education and knowledge storage. However, the internet barely rated a few pages in the conclusion, with no real in-depth examination. I would have found the book to be much more satisfying if it had spent a chapter carrying the historical patterns built throughout the book into the present day, even if it did not speculate on what this could mean for the future.

    In all, I found this book to definitely be worth reading. It has some valuable information, especially for those who love studying history. Getting the most out of this book does require active studying and effort, it is not a casual read. Given the effort and thought, however, there is a lot of good information to be had. Perhaps most importantly, it encourages thought about how the patterns of knowledge carried through history will affect us today and moving forward into the future.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Misty S. Perry
    3.0 out of 5 stars Rehashing the history of Knowledge
    Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Reinventing Knowledge
    This book could have easily been called, rehashing knowledge. Really it is a history book that describes the knowledge paradigm shifts throughout history. I feel that the title is a bit misleading, as I would have thought that they were insinuating something about the paradigm shift we are currently in, the web 2.0 era. Further, I feel that the subtitle, "from Alexandria to the Internet" is also misleading. The internet is hardly touched upon, except briefly in the conclusion. Obviously, it should come later in the book, being that it is a broad section of human history and we have only recently incorporated this technology into our knowledge base. But seeing how ubiquitous the internet is today, it seems that the web deserved an entire chapter.
    I would not say that this book is not worth reading, however. I feel that it is. It really depends what you are looking to learn, whether you will find this text useful, or even entertaining. I think that it appeals to a certain sector of the public. In a word: academics. With a sub-group of history buffs, and others that have a passion for very old information. There is much depth to the chapters on the Library of Alexandria, the Monastery, The University (original concept, not modern), the Disciplines, the Republic of Letters and the Laboratory. A lot of depth on the most ancient forms of knowledge. Not much in regard to the current system in place. Because of this, I feel like a sequel is in order. Where does the internet come in? How is it so easily overlooked??? The title clearly states it. We have come from the days of the Alexandrian model of a library, now to the current, digital model. We use the Kindle, the Nook, and out home computers to find and read information. Is this less valid? I think not.
    Perhaps I am biased, because I feel that we are such a lucky generation to have access to the amount of knowledge that we do. We have, now, almost limitless knowledge, and nearly unlimited access. I wish that the book went into more detail about what this means for the future. Where will the "information superhighway" lead? Surely the archives of Wikipedia could at least compete on a small scale with the libraries of ancient empires. I feel that it surpasses it. Why is it that the internet is not taken seriously? It should be, as our youth depends on its content to guide them in everyday activities, whereas in ancient times, the information was not available to everyone, everywhere as it is today. Knowledge had limitations. Now that we have removed that barrier, and are working toward access to the internet in even the most remote areas of the world, we do not see the same knowledge disparity. The problem is no longer that we cannot reach the information that we want. The problem is now filtering out information that we do not want. Over stimulating, is what the internet truly is. We suffer from too much information instead of not enough. But this up and coming generation is thriving with this.
    What we really need is the genuine interest in gaining knowledge. What we may see is that our future is already being taken for granted. We assume it will still be there when we need or want the information. People are not learning, they are skimming. They are not reading, they are browsing. What if the title had stated: "we have come this far, and now we may just throw it away."
    We take knowledge for granted. This book will show generation after generation that had the forethought to continue to preserve what they had. This book is about the preservation and evolution of knowledge. At no point do I feel it was reinvented, except perhaps now.
    Another note worth mentioning, this book is a very heavy read. It is not something you want to curl up with by the fireside, as it will likely lull you to sleep. Better yet, read it early, as you would the paper, with a large cup of coffee to keep you alert. If reading a paper copy, I recommend carrying a thesaurus or dictionary, if you are not an English or History major, you will likely come across many words that will need clarification. This book was obviously written by some very intelligent people. For the rest of the general reading public, you may need a good reference throughout. That is why I would recommend the Kindle or digital version for this book. The built in dictionary is very handy in a situation such as this. If I recall correctly, there is an excerpt that describes this issue quite astutely, in part it says that classical Latin was "Less bogged down by scholastic circumlocutions." When I looked up the word "circumlocutions" I had to laugh a little. It means "the use of many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or elusive." I felt that the authors "spoke around" points quite a lot. If you have a meager vocabulary, this book could become frustrating very quickly. Otherwise, a great book.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Thijs Martens
    1.0 out of 5 stars Boek valt uit elkaar
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on April 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    De helft van de paginas zijn niet eens vast. Veel valt uit dit boek. Ik zou 100% niet aanraden of opnieuw kopen. Ik wil eigenlijk gewoon mijn geld terug
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