Book
Head in the cloud : why knowing things still matters when facts are so easy to look up / William Poundstone.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780316256544 (hardcover)
- Physical Description: x, 340 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
- Edition: First edition.
- Publisher: New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2016.
Content descriptions
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Knowledge, Theory of. |
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stroud Branch | 306.420973 Pou | 31681010020493 | NONFIC | Available | - |
- Baker & Taylor
Looks at the state of knowledge in the American public, and demonstrates how many areas of knowledge correlate with quality of life, politics, and behavior, arguing that being knowledgeable has significant value even when facts can be looked up with little effort. - Baker & Taylor
Describes the importance of inherent knowledge in the mobile Internet age, when you can look up anything any time, and uses Big Data survey technology to examine how knowledge relates to a person's health, wealth, politics and behavior. 40,000 first printing. - Grand Central Pub
The real-world value of knowledge in the mobile-device age.
More people know who Khloe Kardashian is than who Rene Descartes was. Most can't find Delaware on a map, correctly spell the word occurrence, or name the largest ocean on the planet. But how important is it to fill our heads with facts? A few keystrokes can summon almost any information in seconds. Why should we bother learning facts at all?
Bestselling author William Poundstone confronts that timely question in Head in the Cloud. He shows that many areas of knowledge correlate with the quality of our lives -- wealth, health, and happiness -- and even with politics and behavior. Combining Big Data survey techniques with eye-opening anecdotes, Poundstone examines what Americans know (and don't know) on topics ranging from quantum physics to pop culture.
Head in the Cloud asks why we're okay with spelling errors on menus but not on resumes; why Fox News viewers don't know which party controls Congress; why people who know "trivia" make more money than those who don't; how individuals can navigate clickbait and media spin to stay informed about what really matters.
Hilarious, humbling, and wildly entertaining, Head in the Cloud is a must-read for anyone who doesn't know everything.
