Knowing What We Know

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From the creation of the first encyclopedia to Wikipedia, award-winning writer Simon Winchester offers an all-encompassing exploration of how humans acquire, retain, and share information, and how technology reshapes our lives and minds. With the internet providing instant access to any topic, the question arises: what remains for our brains to do? As we increasingly devalue traditional knowledge—such as maths, map reading, and memorization—are we jeopardizing our capacity for thoughtful reflection? Winchester delves into how knowledge has been attained, stored, and disseminated throughout history, examining fields like education, journalism, and museum curation. He traces the evolution of knowledge diffusion from Babylonian cuneiform to the innovations of artificial intelligence, highlighting milestones such as Gutenberg, Google, and the Victorian Mundaneum, a vast collection of human knowledge stored in Belgium. This exploration prompts readers to consider the implications of abundant information devoid of wisdom. Are we losing the essence of rational thought? Does Descartes' assertion, "I think, therefore I am," still resonate in a world where wisdom may be waning? Winchester's work invites reflection on the future of knowledge and its impact on humanity.