cultural-influence
The influence of writers like Edgar Rice Burroughs, Stanley G. Weinbaum, and H.G. Wells on the popular imagination of Mars is highlighted.
2 chapters across 2 books
The View from Serendip (1978)Arthur C. Clarke
This chapter reflects on the arrival of Mariner 9 at Mars in 1971 and the revolutionary photographic data it provided, which dispelled earlier misconceptions such as Percival Lowell's canals. Clarke discusses the cultural and scientific legacy of Mars in literature and astronomy, the evolving understanding of Mars as a dynamic and potentially life-supporting planet, and the psychological aspects of human perception and belief in phenomena like the canals and UFOs. He also anticipates future discoveries and the possibility of life on Mars by the end of the century.
The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies (2014)Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee
Chapter 1, titled 'THE BIG STORIES,' primarily consists of a series of references and citations that frame the historical and intellectual context for understanding technological progress and societal change. The chapter draws on works by historians, economists, and scientists to outline broad patterns in history, the evolution of power and technology, and the role of knowledge in shaping the future. It sets the stage for discussing how past developments inform the current era of rapid technological advancement.