Wise Animals

Feb 22, 2024 | linkedin.com | Wise Animals

Today was publication day for my new book about the deep past and future of technology, Wise Animals. I'll be doing plenty of writing, speaking and broadcasting around its themes this year: from Scottish book festivals to the Munich festival of the future; from conference on emergency medicine to consultations on the future of AI; from podcasts and essays to excitable newsletters. If you think I might be able to do something for you, do drop me a line.

Feb 22, 2024 | techtelegraph.co.uk | Wise Animals

Wise AnimalsTom Chatfield (Pan Macmillan)IN 1770, inventor Wolfgang von Kempelen claimed to have created a machine that could skilfully play chess against human opponents. Known as the Mechanical Turk, his contraption defeated many challengers, including Napoleon Bonaparte and Benjamin Franklin, and caused much amazement and debate about how it worked. It was eventually exposed as a hoax, however, with a human chess master hiding inside.

Feb 21, 2024 | newscientist.com | Sandrine Ceurstemont |Wise Animals

Every part of our lives is a result of humans co-evolving with techShutterstock/interstidWise AnimalsTom Chatfield (Pan Macmillan)IN 1770, inventor Wolfgang von Kempelen claimed to have created a machine that could skilfully play chess against human opponents. Known as the Mechanical Turk, his contraption defeated many challengers, including Napoleon Bonaparte and Benjamin Franklin, and caused much amazement and debate about how it worked.

Feb 19, 2024 | tomchatfield.substack.com | Tom Chatfield |Wise Animals

I have a new book out later this week. With apologies to those who may be fed up with my mentioning it, I’m in equal measure excited, proud and nervous about this one. It’s called Wise Animals and is by far the most ambitious, personal thing I’ve written. It traces the co-evolution of humanity and technology across the last few million years, and the lessons this deep past may hold for the present. Thanks for reading How To Think! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Oct 30, 2023 | tomchatfield.substack.com | Tom Chatfield |Wise Animals

I recently received the first proofs for my next book, Wise Animals. I’ve been writing it for the last three years, exploring its themes for the last decade and —frankly—I’m nervous about what the world will make of this one. It’s a work of non-fiction, but it’s also personal in a way my previous books haven’t been.