Sex, Bombs and Burgers: How war, porn and fast food created technology as we know it

Description

War. Fast Food. Pornography. Pervasive in our culture, these three obsessions may seem to represent the worst qualities of humankind. But what have our lust, greed and rage driven us to achieve? In this surprising and original book, Peter Nowak argues that most of the major technological advances of the last sixty years have stemmed from the trio of billion-dollar industries that cater to our basest impulses. From cling film to aerosols, digital cameras to cold medicine and GM foods to Google, many of the gadgets and conveniences we enjoy today can be traced back to either the porn, military or fast food industry. Nowak reveals such unexpected links as: -how the inventors of toys like Barbie and the Slinky perfected their creations with military-tech know-how. -why "one giant leap for mankind" brought us better hospital meals and stricter food quality control guidelines. -how innovations in the adult-film industry will help us build better robotic limbs.

Peter Nowak writes about technology for various media outlets around the world and was the senior science and technology reporter for CBC News Online for four years. His writing has appeared in newspapers including The Boston Globe, The South China Morning Post and The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Moving effortlessly from the Slinky to space-age Kimchee, this book is packed with fun, fascinating facts. But don't be fooled: exploring the myriad ways the industrial-military complex has radically transformed human life is serious business. Peter Nowak has given us an impressive contribution to the study of how technology creates and fulfills age-old appetites."--Hal Niedzviecki, author of "The Peep Diaries" "Nowak marshals an impressive arsenal of humor and insight to reveal the surprising history behind some of our best known and most loved technologies and toys. Who knew that sex, fast food, and fighting formed such a powerful, shameful trinity?"--Craig Silverman, author of "Regret the Error" and coauthor of "Mafiaboy" "Nowak weaves a compelling and surprising tale of the profit, drive, and sheer accident that have created much of the technological world around us. From the Internet to Silly Putty, Nowak shows how deeply cultural technology really is. If you think of innovation