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About the Author

Scholar, writer and educator Leo Marx was educated at Harvard University, where he received a B. A. and a Ph. D. Marx taught at the University of Minnesota, Amherst College, and MIT. The school has also created the Leo Marx Career Development Professorship in the History and Culture of Science and show more Technology to honor his service. Marx's works, such as "The Machine in the Garden," explore the relationship between technology and culture in the past two centuries. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Includes the names: editor Leo Marx, LEO MARX (EDITOR)

Works by Leo Marx

Associated Works

The Scarlet Letter (1850) — Foreword, some editions — 36,327 copies

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A classic analysis of the inadequacy of technological determinism as an explanation of the historical evolution of technologies and the societies in which they evolve.
 
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sfj2 | 1 other review | Oct 20, 2022 |
I read this book is fits and bursts during lunch during the work week usually. Each chapter is by a different author so it worked out rather well.

All in all the idea of technological determinism is that technology drives history. The invention of the heavy plow changed society in Europe or the invention of the printing press required society to change. While technology adaptation within society does/can change society the overall opinion is that technology itself does not drive change. It is merely one piece at work in the march of change. One reason this is apparent is that every society does not have the same changes when new technologies appear. Some changes that are tied to new technologies do not happen in a society until a significant amount of time has passed. So, technology may be an agent of change but it should only be viewed as a part of the greater picture when one measures the factors that drive societal change.

Overall the book contained some good analysis on the subject but it was somewhat technical in nature. This was not written to appeal to the broad masses.
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Chris_El | 1 other review | Mar 19, 2015 |

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Works
8
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3
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733
Popularity
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Rating
½ 3.4
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2
ISBNs
17
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2

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