Steven Johnson: How Play Made The Modern World

Hear from bestselling author Steven Johnson on the ideas outlined in his new book, Wonderland: How play made the Modern World.

In this vivid examination, Johnson offers a surprising history of popular entertainment, from games and illusion to music, fashion and pubs, and the role they have played in shaping our world.

Contending that the pursuit of novelty and wonder is a powerful driver of world-shaping technological change, Johnson argues that throughout history the cutting edge of innovation lies wherever people are working the hardest to keep themselves and others amused.

So if want to know where technology is headed, we should be playing close attention to the way we play and – Johson says – we will find the future wherever people are having the most fun.

Steven Johnson is the international bestselling author of ten books, including How We Got to Now, Where Good Ideas Come From, The Invention of Air, The Ghost Map and Everything Bad is Good for You. He writes for Time, Wired, The New York Times and Wall Street Journal and is the host and co-creator of the PBS and BBC2 5-part TV series How We Got to Now.

Steven will be in conversation with Second Home member and founder of 52 Insights, Ari Stein.