Hitting the Books: Meet Richard Akrwright, the world's first tech titan

You didn't actually believe all those founder's myths about tech billionaires like Bezos, Jobs and Musk pulling themselves up by their bootstraps from some suburban American garage, did you? In reality, our corporate kings have been running the same playbook since the 18th century when Lancashire's own Richard Arkwright wrote it. Arkwright is credited with developing a means of forming cotton fully into thread — technically he didn't actually invent or design the machine, but developed the overarching system in which it could be run at scale — and spinning that success into financial fortune. Never mind the fact that his 24-hour production lines were operated by boys as young as seven pulling 13-hour shifts.   In Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech — one of the best books I've read this year — LA Times tech reporter Brian Merchant lays bare the inhumane cost of capitalism wrought by the industrial revolution and celebrates the workers who stood against those first tides of automation: the Luddites. Hachette Book GroupExcerpted from Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech by Brian Merchant. Published by Hachette Book Group. Copyright © 2023 by Brian Merchant. All rights reserved.The first tech titans were not building global information networks or commercial space rockets. They were making yarn and cloth. A lot of yarn, and a lot of cloth. Like our modern-day titans, they started out as entrepreneurs. But until... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2023-09-10 14:30:56 UTC ]
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Tyce, Michaelides and Jewell make Richard and Judy winter book club picks

Novels by début authors Alex Michaelides and Harriet Tyce will join Lisa Jewell on Richard & Judy's Winter Book Club list, with W H Smith.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-11 13:56:54 UTC ]
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World Book Night grows audiobook offer in 2020

World Book Night will expand its audiobook offering in 2020, after a successful pilot with John Green’s Turtles All the Way Down in 2019. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-10 07:35:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book night #audiobook #world book #john green


Clash of the Titans: Business Books 2019-2020

Forthcoming narratives about businesses new and old offer a window onto each company’s history as well as the social and economic contexts out of which they arose and which they in turn have influenced. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-29 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Tom Spurgeon, Who Surveyed the Comic Book World, Dies at 50

A reporter, editor and author, he co-wrote a biography of Stan Lee, oversaw a comics festival and started an award-winning website. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-11-21 22:50:30 UTC ]
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On World Children’s Day, the UN and IPA Highlight the SDG Book Club

On UNICEF's World Children's Day, the IPA reminds international publishers that their children's books can be part of the SDG Book Club. The post On World Children’s Day, the UN and IPA Highlight the SDG Book Club appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-11-20 13:09:40 UTC ]
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Author hits back after West Virginia library removes LGBT picture book from shelves

‘Gay adults grew up reading straight romances,’ says writer Daniel Haack after US library withdraws Prince & Knight from shelvesThe author of a rhyming picture book removed from the shelves of a West Virginia library has hit back at protesters, suggesting that anyone concerned the book could... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-11-20 12:31:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #picture book #wedding day #deliberate attempt #west virginia #hit back #adventure story #library shelves


One of the largest book publishers in the world announces new publisher.

Andy Ward has been named a new vice president and publisher at Random House. Formerly editor in chief, Ward moves into the spot long held by the beloved Susan Kamil, who died in September. Ward has edited the likes of David Mitchell, George Saunders, and Imbolo Mbue, and will see his role as... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-11-19 15:22:43 UTC ]
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Around the World in 8 Books: 2020 Global Historical Fiction

Look forward to a trip around the world, and back in time, while learning the history of far flung places with these 2020 global historical fiction reads. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-11-14 11:32:10 UTC ]
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Where Worlds Collide: Books on Politics and Religion

A plethora of books at the American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature annual conference examine the relationship between politics and religion in the age of Trump. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Richard Curtis signs deal to adapt children's book series into 'Love Actually for kids'

Film director Richard Curtis has signed a deal with Locksmith Animation to create an animated feature based on his festive children's books, in a project described as "Love Actually for kids".  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-06 05:51:00 UTC ]
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H.G. Parry: When We Read Books, We Bring Their Worlds Into Life

While all fiction writers can pull characters from their imaginations and commit them to the page, most readers can’t do what Charley Sutherland can: pull characters from the page and commit them to the real world. Sutherland’s fantastical ability is at the center of H.G. Parry’s debut novel The... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-10-25 08:46:30 UTC ]
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To Sell More Books, S&S Hits the Road

The S&S Selects PrePub Tour sends authors of books due out next season from Simon & Schuster’s five adult imprints across the country to schmooze with literary tastemakers around the country. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Crowdfunder for 'best non-fiction book club in world' smashes £100,000 target

A pair of friends crowdfunding to build the “best non-fiction book club in the world” have surged past their £100,000 target. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-09 18:14:15 UTC ]
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Tbilisi Named UNESCO’s World Book Capital for 2021

Tbilisi has been named UNESCO's 2021 World Book Capital, and the Georgian city will have the honor handed over to it by Kuala Lumpur. The post Tbilisi Named UNESCO’s World Book Capital for 2021 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-10-07 19:49:22 UTC ]
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Tasty Book Club Food Ideas to Use at Your Next Meeting

Here's a selection of tasty book club food ideas to make your next meeting a tasty event, from recipes to menus, drinks to snacks. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-09-30 10:34:26 UTC ]
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6 Science Fiction Books About Space That Are Out Of This World

Earth can be an exhausting place, so let's look beyond our planet and explore these science fiction books about space and other worlds. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-09-24 10:35:51 UTC ]
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Halls, Horowitz and Braithwaite make Richard and Judy Book Club picks

Books by Stacey Halls, Anthony Horowitz and Oyinkan Braithwaite are among the six novels in this autumn’s picks for the Richard and Judy Book Club. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-24 04:30:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book club #oyinkan braithwaite #anthony horowitz #stacey halls


Haig, Horowitz and James among World Book Day 2020 authors

Authors Matt Haig, Anthony Horowitz and Greg James are among those featured on World Book Day’s 2020 list. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-22 12:10:19 UTC ]
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Faith Meets Female Empowerment In These New Books

New titles address issues faced by today’s girls with highlights from the lives of powerful women in history, celebrations of cultural and physical differences, and faith-based teachings. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Free e-book: Hidden Words Hidden Worlds

Contemporary Short Stories from MyanmarIn 2017 the British Council produced an anthology of short stories from Myanmar.    In 2012 the British Council sought to take advantage of new freedoms in literature and travel through a programme of workshops. The aim of the five-year literature... Continue reading at British Council global

[ British Council global | 2019-09-10 08:55:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #short stories #anthology #troubled past #aspiring writers #free e-book