Technology .... looking at Global Positioning System and Paper ...

These two non-fiction books deal with some amazing technologies: one developed in the last 50 years and one developed over thousands of years. 

Pinpoint by Greg Milner relates the relatively recent but very interesting history of GPS (Global Positioning System).  He notes, for example, that “although it is less visible, GPS’s influence on the world equals or exceeds that of the Internet… This seems odd because while the internet is a vast database … GPS is just a radio pulse, a descendant of the rhythmic blip emitted by Sputnik. But this whisper is so dependable, so ordered and clean, that GPS has become our heartbeat.” 

In fact, he cites numerous statistics like the estimate of roughly 5 billion GPS receivers. Milner also notes varied examples of applications like fleet management whether monitoring rickshaws in India, garbage trucks in China or taxis worldwide.  Inextricably related to military issues like terrorism and privacy concerns for parolees and the rest of us, the development and maintenance of GPS is a topic sure to fascinate our students and teachers.  Pinpoint by Greg Milner received a starred review from Booklist.

Paper by Mark Kurlansky (author of Salt and Cod) is subtitled “paging through history.” Kurlansky discusses details of paper invention and use first in China, then Korea, later in the Arab world and in Europe roughly a thousand years after the Chinese invented it; noting how “paper came into use at very different times in very different cultures as societies evolved and developed a need for it and circumstances required a cheap and easy writing material.” 

Throughout, Kurlansky argues that technology does not change society, but is a response to it.  Referring to inventors like Cai Lun, Gutenberg, or Edison, Kurlansky says, “these were people who took existing ideas or machines that were not suiting society’s needs and reworked them into technologies that did.”  Paper by Mark Kurlansky received a starred review from Booklist. 

101 Job Interview Questions You'll Never Fear Again by James Reed

101 Job Interview Questions You'll Never Fear Again by James Reed is a terrific compendium of questions and their rationales based on crowd-sourced work with interviewers and recruiters. As Reed points out, interviews in the past “would have been almost exclusively about skills and experience; these days your interview is just as likely to be about your personality and your mindset.”   

With its emphasis on 15 key interview themes, this title will be a valuable guide for recent graduates in particular.  The book is written in a very straight forward way with summaries and explanations throughout.

Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick

Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick is a work of non-fiction describing, as the subtitle notes, “George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the fate of the American Revolution.” Philbrick is a best-selling author (In the Heart of the Sea, Mayflower) and he has once again chronicled historic events based on thorough research; there are literally 100’s of references in the bibliography. 

The book’s story is fascinating, but so are the maps and over 70 images depicting individuals we often barely know from a brief mention in a history textbook. Philbrick does not hesitate to paint a multi-faceted picture, often describing Washington’s weaknesses (e.g., aggressiveness and temper) or Arnold’s accomplishments and stratagems (e.g., on Lake Champlain and Ticonderoga).  He analyzes their actions, basic character, and motivations, pointing to both Washington’s growth as a leader and Arnold’s well-known treachery as key factors in the ultimate victory.   

I found the text to be a bit dense at times, especially when recounting battles and troop movements. However, it was intriguing to reflect upon the varied backgrounds of the many individuals involved.  For example, Arnold was named for a great grandfather who had been an early governor of the Rhode Island colony. Philbrick’s descriptions also had me thinking in new ways about population densities, roads and travel, the technology of war, and the physical locations of 200 years ago, particularly since I had visited several in upstate New York.

Valiant Ambition by National Book Award winner Nathaniel Philbrick will definitely be of interest to history teachers and students.  This work was an Amazon book of the month selection and received starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly. 

NOTE:  Nathaniel Philbrick will in the Chicago area next week.  On Tuesday, May 31 he will speak at a noon luncheon at the University Club of Chicago.  That evening (7pm), he will be at the Book Stall, 811 Elm Street in Winnetka.  There is a fee for attending the luncheon -- contact the Book Stall for more info on both events.