Overview

The Great Acceleration is an energizing account from a brilliant new writer of how our society is speeding up--and why we should embrace it. In this revelatory study of modern living, Robert Colvile inspects the various ways in which the pace of life in our society is increasing and examines the evolutionary science behind our rapidly accelerating need for change, as well as why it's unlikely we'll be able to slow down . . . or even want to. Exploring theories surrounding the effect of this speed on our minds and bodies, Colvile reveals how, contrary to gloomier predictions, living in a faster age might be beneficial for us, both physically and mentally. In addition to the universe of social media, he examines the opportunities that faster communication and operation could bring to everything from music, film, and books to transportation, politics, and government. Comparing developments in cities and villages, advanced economies and underdeveloped countries, East and West, The Great Acceleration explains how the positives outnumber the negatives and, if this acceleration is truly inevitable, why we should rush to embrace it.

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9781632864550

Table of Contents

Reviews

A punchy and wide-ranging book about how our lives and our society are speeding up, when to apply the brakes, and how to enjoy the ride. --Tim Harford, author of ADAPT and THE UNDERCOVER ECONOMIST STRIKES BACK It's true, life is speeding up. But don't despair: overall that's a good thing for prosperity and quality of life, though it may not feel so as the e-mails pile up. This book is as fast-paced as its subject matter, and well worth making time for. --Mark Lynas, author of SIX DEGREES and THE GOD SPECIES Compulsive, illuminating and ever-so-slightly terrifying. --Mail on Sunday Colvile is an entertaining writer and his subject is a fascinating one. --Evening Standard An excellently researched and thoughtful guide to the changes wrought by technology on the media, pop culture, finance, medicine, transport, and teenagers' social lives. --Spectator Colvile is never less than engaging. Not a paragraph passes without an appealing factoid ... It is also inflected by a healthy sense of humour . . . Given how easy it is to accentuate the negative, this is a book well worth reading, especially for the technological naysayers. --Daily Telegraph An alert and readable survey of the effects of the great acceleration on tech firms, social media, art, news media, politics, banking and the environment. Its statistics are certainly striking. --Sunday Times It's rare to go for a whole paragraph without learning something unexpected, funny or disturbing. The amount of research [Colvile] has done is impressive. The Great Acceleration is really an excellent book. --The Times A punchy and wide-ranging book about how our lives and our society are speeding up, when to apply the brakes, and how to enjoy the ride. Tim Harford, author of ADAPT and THE UNDERCOVER ECONOMIST STRIKES BACK It's true, life is speeding up. But don't despair: overall that's a good thing for prosperity and quality of life, though it may not feel so as the e-mails pile up. This book is as fast-paced as its subject matter, and well worth making time for. Mark Lynas, author of SIX DEGREES and THE GOD SPECIES Compulsive, illuminating and ever-so-slightly terrifying. Mail on Sunday Colvile is an entertaining writer and his subject is a fascinating one. Evening Standard An excellently researched and thoughtful guide to the changes wrought by technology on the media, pop culture, finance, medicine, transport, and teenagers social lives. Spectator Colvile is never less than engaging. Not a paragraph passes without an appealing factoid It is also inflected by a healthy sense of humour . . . Given how easy it is to accentuate the negative, this is a book well worth reading, especially for the technological naysayers. Daily Telegraph An alert and readable survey of the effects of the great acceleration on tech firms, social media, art, news media, politics, banking and the environment. Its statistics are certainly striking. Sunday Times It s rare to go for a whole paragraph without learning something unexpected, funny or disturbing. The amount of research [Colvile] has done is impressive. The Great Acceleration is really an excellent book. The Times

A punchy and wide-ranging book about how our lives and our society are speeding up, when to apply the brakes, and how to enjoy the ride. Tim Harford, author of ADAPT and THE UNDERCOVER ECONOMIST STRIKES BACK It's true, life is speeding up. But don't despair: overall that's a good thing for prosperity and quality of life, though it may not feel so as the e-mails pile up. This book is as fast-paced as its subject matter, and well worth making time for. Mark Lynas, author of SIX DEGREES and THE GOD SPECIES Compulsive, illuminating and ever-so-slightly terrifying. Mail on Sunday Colvile is an entertaining writer and his subject is a fascinating one. Evening Standard An excellently researched and thoughtful guide to the changes wrought by technology on the media, pop culture, finance, medicine, transport, and teenagers social lives. Spectator Colvile is never less than engaging. Not a paragraph passes without an appealing factoid It is also inflected by a healthy sense of humour . . . Given how easy it is to accentuate the negative, this is a book well worth reading, especially for the technological naysayers. Daily Telegraph An alert and readable survey of the effects of the great acceleration on tech firms, social media, art, news media, politics, banking and the environment. Its statistics are certainly striking. Sunday Times It s rare to go for a whole paragraph without learning something unexpected, funny or disturbing. The amount of research [Colvile] has done is impressive. The Great Acceleration is really an excellent book. The Times

Author Information

Robert Colvile is a regular commentator on politics, culture and technology. He has been UK news director at BuzzFeed, and head of comment at the Daily Telegraph and Telegraph.co.uk. He has a master's in international relations from Cambridge, and previously produced an acclaimed report on the Internet's political impact. @rcolvile

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