Packed With Knowledge!, 06 May 2004
Why would a villager draw polluted drinking water from a canal where a dead donkey floats instead of using a nearby tap to get clean drinking water? Why did it take hundreds of years for the British Navy to give sailors oranges and lemons when tests had proven that citrus fruit cured the scurvy that killed sailors and left vessels under-manned? Why do eminently sensible things not happen? If you’ve ever wondered, this book will give you the answers. It’s a thick, heavy, academic tome, but spiced with abundant anecdotes and observations that make it an easy, enjoyable read. This is the rare book that combines solid intellectual content with thought-provoking entertainment. We highly recommend this classic from 1962 to all audiences, but especially those whose business it is to understand and use the social mechanisms through which innovations must diffuse.

Latest and updated, 10 Jan 2004
First published way back in 1962, this fifth edition of the classic study of the social, technological and political influences on the mechanisms by which innovation are shared and penetrate markets includes a wealth of new insights. Alongside many of the original studies of the diffusion of such developments as pesticide use in Iowa, treatments for scurvy in the British Navy, the hypodermic needle, the concept of the kindergarten and the use of snowmobiles is a host of revealing cases based on more recent developments: From mobile phone adoption in Finland, global internet usage and electric cars through to the oral re-hydration therapy campaign in Egypt, the publishing success of ‘Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood’, and the adoption of Hate Crime laws in the US, multiple new examples are used to reflect on and reinforce many of the original concepts: The role of change agents and opinion leaders, adoption theory, virtual networks, critical mass and the transfer of knowledge are all reappraised to give a new lease of life to this authoritative text.

The definitive text on the subject, 03 Jan 2001
This updated edition of the best work on the diffusion of ideas and innovations is essential reading for a range of disciplines from sociology through technology transfer to MBA students. It is lucid, uses examples well and has as little jargon as is consistent with the complexity of the ideas being expressed. Five stars.

Very comprehensive , must for marketeers, 17 Feb 1999
The book is a comprehensive cover of the word of mouth communications medium. Well worth reading.

Packed With Knowledge!, 06 May 2004
Why would a villager draw polluted drinking water from a canal where a dead donkey floats instead of using a nearby tap to get clean drinking water? Why did it take hundreds of years for the British Navy to give sailors oranges and lemons when tests had proven that citrus fruit cured the scurvy that killed sailors and left vessels under-manned? Why do eminently sensible things not happen? If you’ve ever wondered, this book will give you the answers. It’s a thick, heavy, academic tome, but spiced with abundant anecdotes and observations that make it an easy, enjoyable read. This is the rare book that combines solid intellectual content with thought-provoking entertainment. We highly recommend this classic from 1962 to all audiences, but especially those whose business it is to understand and use the social mechanisms through which innovations must diffuse.

Latest and updated, 10 Jan 2004
First published way back in 1962, this fifth edition of the classic study of the social, technological and political influences on the mechanisms by which innovation are shared and penetrate markets includes a wealth of new insights. Alongside many of the original studies of the diffusion of such developments as pesticide use in Iowa, treatments for scurvy in the British Navy, the hypodermic needle, the concept of the kindergarten and the use of snowmobiles is a host of revealing cases based on more recent developments: From mobile phone adoption in Finland, global internet usage and electric cars through to the oral re-hydration therapy campaign in Egypt, the publishing success of ‘Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood’, and the adoption of Hate Crime laws in the US, multiple new examples are used to reflect on and reinforce many of the original concepts: The role of change agents and opinion leaders, adoption theory, virtual networks, critical mass and the transfer of knowledge are all reappraised to give a new lease of life to this authoritative text.

The definitive text on the subject, 03 Jan 2001
This updated edition of the best work on the diffusion of ideas and innovations is essential reading for a range of disciplines from sociology through technology transfer to MBA students. It is lucid, uses examples well and has as little jargon as is consistent with the complexity of the ideas being expressed. Five stars.

Very comprehensive , must for marketeers, 17 Feb 1999
The book is a comprehensive cover of the word of mouth communications medium. Well worth reading.

A must read for students of the history of science, 13 Oct 2002
Lynn White's seminal work is now regarded as one of the most widely read and influential works of historical scholarship in the twentieth century.
Well written, lucid, and to the point, the book is highly accessible.
In three short sections, White propounds his theory of profound technological change in Europe during the medieval period...and the effect this had on Europe's social and cultural fabric.
His first thesis is perhaps the best known: the argument that the formation of feudalism was made possible by the introdution of the stirrup into medieval Europe.
White's second section goes on to to show the importance of various agrarian innovations to the 'agricultural revolution' in medieval Europe.
His last section discusses the the growth in the use of 'power machinery' in the Middle Ages.
Readers should take note however: times have moved on since White, and our understanding of the history of technology in the medieval ages has advanced immeasurably (thanks, in no small part, to White). White's arguments on the Stirrup and the agricultural revolution have been widely critisized and to a large extent discredited.
The book, however, remains a classic in its field.

A book of scientific proportions, 10 Jan 2001
This book is one of the few books that really summarize medieval technology in comparison with social change without unneccessary details. There isn't a single useless paragraph, and although it is a rather dificult book to follow, it demonstrates how and why things took place where they took place (I won't give spoilers). I bought this book as reference material for a project and I am more than satisfied. It is rather difficult to encounter the subject matter outside of huge encyclopedias with so much detail and so substantiated. In the course of my research I've come up with few books that provide so much condensed knowledge, properly backed by historical evidence. I absolutely recommend it.

Packed With Knowledge!, 06 May 2004
Why would a villager draw polluted drinking water from a canal where a dead donkey floats instead of using a nearby tap to get clean drinking water? Why did it take hundreds of years for the British Navy to give sailors oranges and lemons when tests had proven that citrus fruit cured the scurvy that killed sailors and left vessels under-manned? Why do eminently sensible things not happen? If you’ve ever wondered, this book will give you the answers. It’s a thick, heavy, academic tome, but spiced with abundant anecdotes and observations that make it an easy, enjoyable read. This is the rare book that combines solid intellectual content with thought-provoking entertainment. We highly recommend this classic from 1962 to all audiences, but especially those whose business it is to understand and use the social mechanisms through which innovations must diffuse.

Latest and updated, 10 Jan 2004
First published way back in 1962, this fifth edition of the classic study of the social, technological and political influences on the mechanisms by which innovation are shared and penetrate markets includes a wealth of new insights. Alongside many of the original studies of the diffusion of such developments as pesticide use in Iowa, treatments for scurvy in the British Navy, the hypodermic needle, the concept of the kindergarten and the use of snowmobiles is a host of revealing cases based on more recent developments: From mobile phone adoption in Finland, global internet usage and electric cars through to the oral re-hydration therapy campaign in Egypt, the publishing success of ‘Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood’, and the adoption of Hate Crime laws in the US, multiple new examples are used to reflect on and reinforce many of the original concepts: The role of change agents and opinion leaders, adoption theory, virtual networks, critical mass and the transfer of knowledge are all reappraised to give a new lease of life to this authoritative text.

The definitive text on the subject, 03 Jan 2001
This updated edition of the best work on the diffusion of ideas and innovations is essential reading for a range of disciplines from sociology through technology transfer to MBA students. It is lucid, uses examples well and has as little jargon as is consistent with the complexity of the ideas being expressed. Five stars.

Very comprehensive , must for marketeers, 17 Feb 1999
The book is a comprehensive cover of the word of mouth communications medium. Well worth reading.

A must read for students of the history of science, 13 Oct 2002
Lynn White's seminal work is now regarded as one of the most widely read and influential works of historical scholarship in the twentieth century.
Well written, lucid, and to the point, the book is highly accessible.
In three short sections, White propounds his theory of profound technological change in Europe during the medieval period...and the effect this had on Europe's social and cultural fabric.
His first thesis is perhaps the best known: the argument that the formation of feudalism was made possible by the introdution of the stirrup into medieval Europe.
White's second section goes on to to show the importance of various agrarian innovations to the 'agricultural revolution' in medieval Europe.
His last section discusses the the growth in the use of 'power machinery' in the Middle Ages.
Readers should take note however: times have moved on since White, and our understanding of the history of technology in the medieval ages has advanced immeasurably (thanks, in no small part, to White). White's arguments on the Stirrup and the agricultural revolution have been widely critisized and to a large extent discredited.
The book, however, remains a classic in its field.

A book of scientific proportions, 10 Jan 2001
This book is one of the few books that really summarize medieval technology in comparison with social change without unneccessary details. There isn't a single useless paragraph, and although it is a rather dificult book to follow, it demonstrates how and why things took place where they took place (I won't give spoilers). I bought this book as reference material for a project and I am more than satisfied. It is rather difficult to encounter the subject matter outside of huge encyclopedias with so much detail and so substantiated. In the course of my research I've come up with few books that provide so much condensed knowledge, properly backed by historical evidence. I absolutely recommend it.

Good introduction to the subject, 20 Apr 2007
This book gives an good overview of the subject with good examples. The book is very useful for students who haven't got experience with this subject, for people who do have experience it is not very useful since the content is most likely already known.

More experienced students I would advice this book: Strategy Analysis and Practice by John McGee, Howard Thomas, and David Wilson.


Well respected innovation resource, 19 Mar 2005
Now in its fourth major edition, this 1000 page compendium of a wide range of papers covering many topics related to technology and innovation management has been edited by leading researchers Robert Burgelman, Clayton Christensen and Steven Wheelwright. The five main chapters address integrating technology and strategy, implementing technology strategies, developing innovation capabilities, creating a development strategy and innovation challenges in established firms. Highlighted the breadth and depth of content and experience that now exists in this area, this remains an ideal source of both theoretical and practical examples to stimulate thinking.

Packed With Knowledge!, 06 May 2004
Why would a villager draw polluted drinking water from a canal where a dead donkey floats instead of using a nearby tap to get clean drinking water? Why did it take hundreds of years for the British Navy to give sailors oranges and lemons when tests had proven that citrus fruit cured the scurvy that killed sailors and left vessels under-manned? Why do eminently sensible things not happen? If you’ve ever wondered, this book will give you the answers. It’s a thick, heavy, academic tome, but spiced with abundant anecdotes and observations that make it an easy, enjoyable read. This is the rare book that combines solid intellectual content with thought-provoking entertainment. We highly recommend this classic from 1962 to all audiences, but especially those whose business it is to understand and use the social mechanisms through which innovations must diffuse.

Latest and updated, 10 Jan 2004
First published way back in 1962, this fifth edition of the classic study of the social, technological and political influences on the mechanisms by which innovation are shared and penetrate markets includes a wealth of new insights. Alongside many of the original studies of the diffusion of such developments as pesticide use in Iowa, treatments for scurvy in the British Navy, the hypodermic needle, the concept of the kindergarten and the use of snowmobiles is a host of revealing cases based on more recent developments: From mobile phone adoption in Finland, global internet usage and electric cars through to the oral re-hydration therapy campaign in Egypt, the publishing success of ‘Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood’, and the adoption of Hate Crime laws in the US, multiple new examples are used to reflect on and reinforce many of the original concepts: The role of change agents and opinion leaders, adoption theory, virtual networks, critical mass and the transfer of knowledge are all reappraised to give a new lease of life to this authoritative text.

The definitive text on the subject, 03 Jan 2001
This updated edition of the best work on the diffusion of ideas and innovations is essential reading for a range of disciplines from sociology through technology transfer to MBA students. It is lucid, uses examples well and has as little jargon as is consistent with the complexity of the ideas being expressed. Five stars.

Very comprehensive , must for marketeers, 17 Feb 1999
The book is a comprehensive cover of the word of mouth communications medium. Well worth reading.

A must read for students of the history of science, 13 Oct 2002
Lynn White's seminal work is now regarded as one of the most widely read and influential works of historical scholarship in the twentieth century.
Well written, lucid, and to the point, the book is highly accessible.
In three short sections, White propounds his theory of profound technological change in Europe during the medieval period...and the effect this had on Europe's social and cultural fabric.
His first thesis is perhaps the best known: the argument that the formation of feudalism was made possible by the introdution of the stirrup into medieval Europe.
White's second section goes on to to show the importance of various agrarian innovations to the 'agricultural revolution' in medieval Europe.
His last section discusses the the growth in the use of 'power machinery' in the Middle Ages.
Readers should take note however: times have moved on since White, and our understanding of the history of technology in the medieval ages has advanced immeasurably (thanks, in no small part, to White). White's arguments on the Stirrup and the agricultural revolution have been widely critisized and to a large extent discredited.
The book, however, remains a classic in its field.

A book of scientific proportions, 10 Jan 2001
This book is one of the few books that really summarize medieval technology in comparison with social change without unneccessary details. There isn't a single useless paragraph, and although it is a rather dificult book to follow, it demonstrates how and why things took place where they took place (I won't give spoilers). I bought this book as reference material for a project and I am more than satisfied. It is rather difficult to encounter the subject matter outside of huge encyclopedias with so much detail and so substantiated. In the course of my research I've come up with few books that provide so much condensed knowledge, properly backed by historical evidence. I absolutely recommend it.

Good introduction to the subject, 20 Apr 2007
This book gives an good overview of the subject with good examples. The book is very useful for students who haven't got experience with this subject, for people who do have experience it is not very useful since the content is most likely already known.

More experienced students I would advice this book: Strategy Analysis and Practice by John McGee, Howard Thomas, and David Wilson.


Well respected innovation resource, 19 Mar 2005
Now in its fourth major edition, this 1000 page compendium of a wide range of papers covering many topics related to technology and innovation management has been edited by leading researchers Robert Burgelman, Clayton Christensen and Steven Wheelwright. The five main chapters address integrating technology and strategy, implementing technology strategies, developing innovation capabilities, creating a development strategy and innovation challenges in established firms. Highlighted the breadth and depth of content and experience that now exists in this area, this remains an ideal source of both theoretical and practical examples to stimulate thinking.

strange, but true!, 14 May 2001
Warning - do not read this book if you expct answers! Do read this book if you are fascinated by the multi-layered nature of births, and deaths, of modern technologies. In Aramis, Latour attempts the invention of a new literary genre -'scientifiction'. It seems his aim is to describe the strange genesis of technological inventions, from their inception as 'ideas', through their many states of change, to their sucessful 'birth' or consequent termiantion. The book is a hybrid, both of form and content - being neither fully fiction, nor plainly scientific report. Latour, weaves a narrative network that takes the reader on a journey through the all stages of technological creation, political, ethical, social, scientific, economic. But more than this, the story of Aramis is the story of the desperate attempt of a piece of technology to become; to be endowed with life in the realm of public transport, and so cease being an abstract idea and become a concrete thing. A strange, but strangely compelling read.

Packed With Knowledge!, 06 May 2004
Why would a villager draw polluted drinking water from a canal where a dead donkey floats instead of using a nearby tap to get clean drinking water? Why did it take hundreds of years for the British Navy to give sailors oranges and lemons when tests had proven that citrus fruit cured the scurvy that killed sailors and left vessels under-manned? Why do eminently sensible things not happen? If you’ve ever wondered, this book will give you the answers. It’s a thick, heavy, academic tome, but spiced with abundant anecdotes and observations that make it an easy, enjoyable read. This is the rare book that combines solid intellectual content with thought-provoking entertainment. We highly recommend this classic from 1962 to all audiences, but especially those whose business it is to understand and use the social mechanisms through which innovations must diffuse.

Latest and updated, 10 Jan 2004
First published way back in 1962, this fifth edition of the classic study of the social, technological and political influences on the mechanisms by which innovation are shared and penetrate markets includes a wealth of new insights. Alongside many of the original studies of the diffusion of such developments as pesticide use in Iowa, treatments for scurvy in the British Navy, the hypodermic needle, the concept of the kindergarten and the use of snowmobiles is a host of revealing cases based on more recent developments: From mobile phone adoption in Finland, global internet usage and electric cars through to the oral re-hydration therapy campaign in Egypt, the publishing success of ‘Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood’, and the adoption of Hate Crime laws in the US, multiple new examples are used to reflect on and reinforce many of the original concepts: The role of change agents and opinion leaders, adoption theory, virtual networks, critical mass and the transfer of knowledge are all reappraised to give a new lease of life to this authoritative text.

The definitive text on the subject, 03 Jan 2001
This updated edition of the best work on the diffusion of ideas and innovations is essential reading for a range of disciplines from sociology through technology transfer to MBA students. It is lucid, uses examples well and has as little jargon as is consistent with the complexity of the ideas being expressed. Five stars.

Very comprehensive , must for marketeers, 17 Feb 1999
The book is a comprehensive cover of the word of mouth communications medium. Well worth reading.

A must read for students of the history of science, 13 Oct 2002
Lynn White's seminal work is now regarded as one of the most widely read and influential works of historical scholarship in the twentieth century.
Well written, lucid, and to the point, the book is highly accessible.
In three short sections, White propounds his theory of profound technological change in Europe during the medieval period...and the effect this had on Europe's social and cultural fabric.
His first thesis is perhaps the best known: the argument that the formation of feudalism was made possible by the introdution of the stirrup into medieval Europe.
White's second section goes on to to show the importance of various agrarian innovations to the 'agricultural revolution' in medieval Europe.
His last section discusses the the growth in the use of 'power machinery' in the Middle Ages.
Readers should take note however: times have moved on since White, and our understanding of the history of technology in the medieval ages has advanced immeasurably (thanks, in no small part, to White). White's arguments on the Stirrup and the agricultural revolution have been widely critisized and to a large extent discredited.
The book, however, remains a classic in its field.

A book of scientific proportions, 10 Jan 2001
This book is one of the few books that really summarize medieval technology in comparison with social change without unneccessary details. There isn't a single useless paragraph, and although it is a rather dificult book to follow, it demonstrates how and why things took place where they took place (I won't give spoilers). I bought this book as reference material for a project and I am more than satisfied. It is rather difficult to encounter the subject matter outside of huge encyclopedias with so much detail and so substantiated. In the course of my research I've come up with few books that provide so much condensed knowledge, properly backed by historical evidence. I absolutely recommend it.

Good introduction to the subject, 20 Apr 2007
This book gives an good overview of the subject with good examples. The book is very useful for students who haven't got experience with this subject, for people who do have experience it is not very useful since the content is most likely already known.

More experienced students I would advice this book: Strategy Analysis and Practice by John McGee, Howard Thomas, and David Wilson.


Well respected innovation resource, 19 Mar 2005
Now in its fourth major edition, this 1000 page compendium of a wide range of papers covering many topics related to technology and innovation management has been edited by leading researchers Robert Burgelman, Clayton Christensen and Steven Wheelwright. The five main chapters address integrating technology and strategy, implementing technology strategies, developing innovation capabilities, creating a development strategy and innovation challenges in established firms. Highlighted the breadth and depth of content and experience that now exists in this area, this remains an ideal source of both theoretical and practical examples to stimulate thinking.

strange, but true!, 14 May 2001
Warning - do not read this book if you expct answers! Do read this book if you are fascinated by the multi-layered nature of births, and deaths, of modern technologies. In Aramis, Latour attempts the invention of a new literary genre -'scientifiction'. It seems his aim is to describe the strange genesis of technological inventions, from their inception as 'ideas', through their many states of change, to their sucessful 'birth' or consequent termiantion. The book is a hybrid, both of form and content - being neither fully fiction, nor plainly scientific report. Latour, weaves a narrative network that takes the reader on a journey through the all stages of technological creation, political, ethical, social, scientific, economic. But more than this, the story of Aramis is the story of the desperate attempt of a piece of technology to become; to be endowed with life in the realm of public transport, and so cease being an abstract idea and become a concrete thing. A strange, but strangely compelling read.

Easy to read, 11 Mar 2004
There are rather few books on the topic of Photonic crystals. When I started a Master Project about Photonic crystals my Supervisor recomended this book. It is considering the subject quite easy to read and understand and the author is good at including graphic illustrations to help understanding.
John D. Joannopoulos is also the author of many technical articles, some of which I have used in my research.