Hitting the Books: Meet Richard Arkwright, 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.InBlood 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 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 the nineteenth century, entrepreneurship was not a... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2023-09-11 20:50:45 UTC ]
News tagged with: #company insists #independent contractors #endemic culture #automating cloth-making #founders aim #artificial intelligence

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Hitting the Books: Meet Richard Arkwright, the world's first tech titan'


Self-censorship hits Hong Kong book fair in wake of national security law

Far fewer politically sensitive titles are on display in the first such event since Beijing imposed sweeping new regulations Booksellers at Hong Kong’s annual book fair are offering a reduced selection of books deemed politically sensitive, as they try to avoid violating a sweeping national... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-07-15 10:57:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hong kong #coronavirus pandemic #draws hundreds #latest bestsellers #book fair


Saqi Books in London Hit by Monday’s Flash Flooding

An emergency fund has been opened to get quick aid to West London's Saqi Books, a publisher and bookstore reporting severe flood damage. The post Saqi Books in London Hit by Monday’s Flash Flooding appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-07-13 19:52:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #saqi books #emergency fund #west london #bookstore


World Refugee Day Observances: Book Aid Highlights Its Outreach

The United Kingdom's Book Aid International has made donations of more than 160,000 books in nine countries to refugee youngsters. The post World Refugee Day Observances: Book Aid Highlights Its Outreach appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-06-29 20:02:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #united kingdom #book aid


Scholastic’s Richard Robinson, Dead at 84, a Leader in Children’s Books

Calling reading a 'civil right,' Richard Robinson joined Scholastic in 1964 and led the company for almost 50 years. The post Scholastic’s Richard Robinson, Dead at 84, a Leader in Children’s Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-06-07 02:51:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post scholastic #books appeared #richard robinson #scholastic


U.S. Book Show: Anthony Doerr Builds Worlds

The author of the upcoming novel, ‘Cloud Cuckoo Land,’ rejoices in libraries, research, and books that transport readers to other lives and times. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-05-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book show #transport readers


U.S. Book Show: Booksellers on Navigating a Post-Pandemic World

A panel of indie booksellers discussed survival in a post-pandemic world, including the impact upon them of Amazon's predatory practices, and called upon publishers to recognize the e-tail giant's effects on independent bookselling as an industry-wide problem. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-05-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book show #post-pandemic world #e-tail giant #independent bookselling


Top Arab-World Authors at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

The cultural program at this year’s Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, curated by the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, features a strong roster of writers from the Arab world. (Sponsored) By Publishing Perspectives Staff s Publishing Perspectives readers will remember, the Emirates... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-05-25 01:43:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cultural program #arab world #physical formats


Tbilisi Opens Its UNESCO World Book Capital Year: ‘An Historic Day’

Constrained by the pandemic, a small but spirited weekend opens the 2021 UNESCO World Book Capital program in Tbilisi. The post Tbilisi Opens Its UNESCO World Book Capital Year: ‘An Historic Day’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-04-26 16:29:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #historic day #world book


World Book Day: Publishers Call for Canada’s Copyright Law To Be Fixed

Denouncing 'systemic exploitation of creators’ and publishers,’ Access Copyright cites more than C$150 million lost in unpaid royalties. The post World Book Day: Publishers Call for Canada’s Copyright Law To Be Fixed appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-04-25 22:48:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers call #unpaid royalties #world book #copyright law


World Book Day: A Rights Roundup From Five Markets

Today's Rights Roundup, coinciding with World Book Day, includes titles from Germany, Finland, Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The post World Book Day: A Rights Roundup From Five Markets appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-04-23 17:25:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #markets appeared #rights roundup #includes titles #united kingdom #world book


Keiichiro Hirano Leads Amazon Crossing’s World Book Day Titles

Translations now free in this year's offer include today's release of Keiichiro Hirano's bestseller in Tokyo, 'At the End of the Matinee.' The post Keiichiro Hirano Leads Amazon Crossing’s World Book Day Titles appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-04-15 23:53:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #world book


Want a best-selling book or hit movie? You need this 1 key ingredient, says research

Blockbuster projects share one common trait. Do you dream of opening that blockbuster restaurant, writing a New York Times best-selling book, or releasing a chart-topping album? A new study out of Northwestern University suggests a pivotal ingredient.Read Full Story Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2021-04-09 16:21:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hit movie #best-selling book


World Book Night plans revealed with Toksvig, Nicholls and Ishiguro

The Reading Agency has revealed full plans for World Book Night 2021 with writer, TV star and literacy advocate Sandi Toksvig as the 10th anniversary event's lead ambassador. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-31 18:13:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reading agency #tv star #world book #book night


8 of the Best Nonfiction Books About Girls Around the World

If you’re looking for nonfiction about girls around the world, check out these books, including Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook, Ryan Estrada, Hyung-Ju Ko. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-03-30 10:37:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nonfiction books #ryan estrada #banned book


Scholar of World War II Homefront Wins American History Book Prize

The New-York Historical Society award goes to a study of fractures in American society a year after Pearl Harbor, which resonates amid the pandemic today. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-03-15 16:00:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american society #pearl harbor #pandemic today #history book


The UK/Ireland World Book Day Emphasizes Family Reading

While Nielsen says reading declined 'slightly' in the pandemic year, the UK's World Book Day emphasis is on family reading with youngsters. The post The UK/Ireland World Book Day Emphasizes Family Reading appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-03-04 13:37:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pandemic year #nielsen #world book


Books exploring friendship and the natural world longlisted for 2021 Klaus Flugge Prize

The Klaus Flugge Prize, awarded to the "most promising and exciting newcomer" in children’s picture book illustration, has longlisted 20 books from illustrators whose debuts span friendship, love, family, the natural world and tales of daring. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-11 05:20:34 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #picture book


Meet the book club that’s helping to quickly vaccinate its town

The Fabulous Ladies Book Club has shown that immunization efforts aren’t just about getting shots into arms. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-01-26 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book club


Girl A: Abigail Dean on her shocking debut novel that's taking the book world by storm

Has this Google lawyer written the book of the year? The part-time author talks about the inspiration for her thriller about siblings who flee abusive parents and their ‘house of horror’Abigail Dean was about to turn 30 when she suddenly realised that her job as a lawyer was using up all the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-01-25 06:00:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #abigail dean #40th birthday #book world #debut novel


Amazon Hit with E-book Price Fixing Suit

The law firm that successfully sued Apple and five major publishers for colluding to fix e-book prices in 2011 has filed a class action against Amazon, accusing the company of colluding with the Big Five publishers to eliminate price competition from the e-book market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-01-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #major publishers #law firm #class action #e-book market #e-book #e-book price