Forces of Production: A Social History of Industrial Automation / Edition 1

by David F. Noble

Overview

'A prodigious accomplishment. Through the depth of his research and the care of his narration, Noble has produced a detailed, gripping, and convincing work of social history, which adds detail, sinew, and emotion to our understanding of issues that are usually considered only in the abstract.'

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195040463
Publisher:	Oxford University Press, USA
Publication date:	02/25/1986
Edition description:	REPRINT
Pages:	427
Product dimensions:	5.31(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.81(d)

About the Author

David F. Noble is professor in the department of social and political thought at York University and is best known for his work on the social history of automation. He was the co-founder (with Ralph Nader and Al Meyerhoff) of National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest. He is also the author of numerous books including Beyond the Promised Land, Digital Diploma Mills, and The Religion of Technology.

David F. Noble is professor in the department of social and political thought at York University and is best known for his work on the social history of automation. He was the co-founder (with Ralph Nader and Al Meyerhoff) of National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest. He is also the author of numerous books including Beyond the Promised Land, Digital Diploma Mills, and The Religion of Technology.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Transaction Edition ix

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xvii

Part 1 Command and Control

Chapter 1 The Setting: The War Abroad 3

Chapter 2 The Setting: The War at Home 21

Chapter 3 Power and the Power of Ideas 42

Chapter 4 Toward the Automatic Factory 57

Part 2 Social Choice in Machine Design

Chapter 5 By the Numbers I 79

Chapter 6 By the Numbers II 106

Chapter 7 The Road Not Taken 144

Part 3 A New Industrial Revolution: Change without Change

Chapter 8 Development: A Free Lunch 195

Chapter 9 Diffusion: A Glimpse of Reality 212

Chapter 10 Deployment: Power in Numbers 230

Chapter 11 Who's Running the Shop? 265

Epilogue: Another Look at Progress 324

Appendices 355

Notes 367

Index 399

Editorial Reviews

[P]rovides a new generation of readers access to this important critique of blind adoption of “improvements” and the deeper cultural and economic implications of technology.” —Book News Inc.

From the Publisher

“[P]rovides a new generation of readers access to this important critique of blind adoption of"improvements" and the deeper cultural and economic implications of technology." —

Book News Inc.