Gleick notes that we create as much information in 48 hours five billion gigabytes worth as was created “between the birth of the world and 2003.” There is much to parse afterwards, but it focuses on how our perception of information has changed from an expression of our selves into “…a commodity that can be processed, like wheat or plutonium.”

Paper packaging was invented over a hundred years ago, but it took twenty years for the implications of that simple notion to blossom into brand marketing as we know it today. Gleick’s work, although a bit steep for casual reading, provides a number of surprising perspectives on information that can provide unusual context for many topics covered in this blog.

If I had a complaint, it would be that Gleick ultimately veers into shaky territory when he gets into quantum mechanics. There are many real-world consequences of information marketplaces that could have been expanded further, such as its naturally monopolistic characteristics or the effects of valuing speed over accuracy.

But man, what a read.