workingwriter reviewed World Brain by H. G. Wells
Review of 'World Brain' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
I first encountered this book published in 1938 by way of the documentary film, "Google and the World Brain." The film casts a disparaging light on the Google Book initiative (at the very least, you should ask permission from authors if you want to digitize and profit from their books). The film includes footage of H. G. Wells discussing his idea of the "world brain" that could help all of us be better informed and better thinkers.
Not being familiar with the book, I went looking for a copy. Have to admit I was surprised to learn my public library still had a circulating copy. When I picked it up, I was even more surprised that the spine indicated this copy was older than I was, with date stamps going back to 1955!
But you're really interested in what the book is about. This is a collection of articles and …
I first encountered this book published in 1938 by way of the documentary film, "Google and the World Brain." The film casts a disparaging light on the Google Book initiative (at the very least, you should ask permission from authors if you want to digitize and profit from their books). The film includes footage of H. G. Wells discussing his idea of the "world brain" that could help all of us be better informed and better thinkers.
Not being familiar with the book, I went looking for a copy. Have to admit I was surprised to learn my public library still had a circulating copy. When I picked it up, I was even more surprised that the spine indicated this copy was older than I was, with date stamps going back to 1955!
But you're really interested in what the book is about. This is a collection of articles and speeches written in 1936-37 focused on the idea of a noncommercial "World Encyclopedia." At this time, authoritarian systems were on the rise, and democracy seemed to be failing in the wake of the Great Depression. Wells believed that democracy wasn't working because people weren't educated enough to govern. Wells was, of course, a middle-class product of the rigid British class system.
Reading this book some 75 years later, you feel like he's predicting Wikipedia (with experts writing the drafts instead of you and me), not Google so much. You'll also find some familiar attacks on the quality of the teaching corps, along with amazement that teachers stick together when attacked.
"World Brain" is worth tracking down. I wonder if Google Books has it?