How we got to now
by Steven Johnson · first published 2014
69% recommend31% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Traces six everyday innovations, such as clean water, light and cold, to the earlier developments that made them possible; engaging and well written for general readers curious about how ideas build on each other.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"From the New York Times-bestselling author of Where Good Ideas Come From and Everything Bad Is Good for You, a new look at the power and legacy of great ideas. In this illustrated volume, Steven Johnson explores the history of innovation over centuries, tracing facets of modern life (refrigeration, clocks, and eyeglass lenses, to name a few) from their creation by hobbyists, amateurs, and entrepreneurs to their unintended historical consequences. Filled with surprising stories of accidental genius and brilliant mistakes-from the French publisher who invented the phonograph before Edison but f
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2014–2025The Alchemy of Air
Thomas Hager
Recommended by 12 · mentioned by 1312 recommend · 13 mention12 recommend · 1312 recommend
2010–2025Leonardo da Vinci
Walter Isaacson, Jordi Ainaud i Escudero, Beruryah Ben Barukh
Recommended by 23 · mentioned by 4423 recommend · 44 mention23 recommend · 4423 recommend
2010–2023Where good ideas come from
Steven Johnson
Recommended by 33 · mentioned by 4833 recommend · 48 mention33 recommend · 4833 recommend
2008–2026The making of the atomic bomb
Richard Rhodes
Recommended by 117 · mentioned by 161117 recommend · 161 mention117 recommend · 161117 recommend
2010–2026The Idea Factory
Jon Gernter
Recommended by 94 · mentioned by 12194 recommend · 121 mention94 recommend · 12194 recommend
2008–2026A Brief History of Time
Stephen Hawking
Recommended by 76 · mentioned by 16876 recommend · 168 mention76 recommend · 16876 recommend
2013–2026The Martian
Andy Weir
Recommended by 117 · mentioned by 207117 recommend · 207 mention117 recommend · 207117 recommend
2014–2026Zero to One
Peter A. Thiel, Blake Masters
Recommended by 166 · mentioned by 413166 recommend · 413 mention166 recommend · 413166 recommend
If you like this story, I recommend reading How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World. Its a quick read and very interesting. And, yes, "cold" is one of the six. https://www.amazon.com/How-We-Got-Now-Innovations/dp/1594633...
on “The far-reaching effects of air conditioning” ↗I love Stephen Johnson, the author. His show on Prime/PBS "How we got to now" was an incredible series about how small innovations with glass, sound, and light made the modern world possible, and he does it with a lot of charm. Highly recommended for the HN audience!
on “Beyond the Bitcoin bubble” ↗If you’re interested in this sort of thing, check out Steven B. Johnson’s “How We Got To Now”, which discussed this. https://www.pbs.org/show/how-we-got-now/ It’s only six episodes, and quite fascinating.
on “Raising of Chicago” ↗Fiction: Permutation City - Greg Egan Revival - Stephen King Glasshouse - Charles Stross The City - Dean Koontz Non-fiction: Predictable Revenue - Aaron Ross How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World - Steven Johnson The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation - Jon Gertner How Doctors Think - Jerome Groopman Frankenstein's Cat:…
on “Ask HN: What are some good books you have recently read?” ↗This reminded me of the book "How We Got To Now" by Steven Johnson. Really interesting book on how development in certain fields enabled other innovations ("adjacent possible"). Really well written and super interesting book! Also, bonus points for…
on “Understanding the economic significance of the light bulb” ↗How We Got to Now, Steven Johnson. Walks you through a half dozen foundational inventions and the process through which they came to be. Fascinating to see what the inventors were trying to solve vs. how the world ended…
on “Ask HN: Books you wish you had read earlier?” ↗I recommend reading How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World https://www.amazon.com/How-We-Got-Now-Innovations/dp/1594633...
on “Ask HN: What’s the most important modern simple invention?” ↗…https://www.amazon.com/Supposedly-Fun-Thing-Never-Again/dp/0... • Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynmann!: https://www.amazon.com/Surely-Youre-Joking-Mr-Feynman/dp/039... • Faster: https://www.amazon.com/Faster-Acceleration-Just-About-Everyt... • How We Got To Now: https://www.amazon.com/How-We-Got-Now-Innovations/dp/1594633...
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite audiobooks?” ↗Somewhat related, I also enjoyed the book "How We Got to Now" by Steven Johnson. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/316142/how-we-got-t...
on “Veritasium: Light bulbs are linked to the invention of computer” ↗Even though I had stumbled/read about Hedy Lamarr earlier, the book "How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World"[1] by Steven Johnson was the one that got me to read it in detail. The book is exciting and would definitely be one of my casual reading suggestions. 1. https://www.amazon.com/How-We-Got-Now-Innovations/dp/1594633...
on “An Austrian-American actress/inventor pioneered basis for WiFi, GPS, & Bluetooth” ↗Stephen B Johnson's "How we got to now" was enlightening on the topic of discovery for me (https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/how-we-got-now)
on “Most life on Earth is dormant, after pulling an 'emergency brake'” ↗This year, I decided to read more fiction, and I like it.[1] Here are some of the interesting non-fiction books I liked; - Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology by Chris Miller - How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World by Steven Johnson - The Accidental Masterpiece: On the Art of Life and Vice Versa by Michael Kimmelman - The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin - The TATAS:…
on “Ask HN: Best non-fiction book you read in 2024?” ↗…with one of your favorite Western musicians at some point. His Zen-inspired approach to creativity and acceptance of ideas, wherever they may come from, is an essential tool in any polymath's toolbox. - How We Got to Now by Steven Johnson. I really enjoyed learning how the world-changing inventions that we take for granted were often invented by creatively gluing together wildly divergent ideas, to ultimately make something…
on “A Return to Polymathy (2015) [pdf]” ↗How We Got to Now is excellent! Quick and fascinating read. Especailly loved the story about Ada Lovelace at the end - waaay ahead of her times.
on “The Creative Apocalypse That Wasn’t” ↗If you haven't yet read "How We Got to Now", I think you'd really like it. What you've concluded is one of the major themes of the book. I thought it was fascinating. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00INIXU5I/
on “The history of barbed wire” ↗