Dawn of the New Everything

By: Jaron Lanier

Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Length: 14 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this captivating audiobook, Jaron Lanier - the father of virtual reality - explains its dazzling possibilities by reflecting on his own lifelong relationship with technology

Bridging the gap between tech mania and the experience of being inside the human body, Dawn of the New Everything is a look at what it means to be human at a moment of unprecedented technological possibility.

Through a fascinating look back over his life in technology, Jaron Lanier, an interdisciplinary scientist and father of the term virtual reality, exposes VR's ability to illuminate and amplify our understanding of our species and gives listeners a new perspective on how the brain and body connect to the world. An inventive blend of autobiography, science writing, philosophy, and advice, this audiobook tells the wild story of his personal and professional life as a scientist, from his childhood in the UFO territory of New Mexico to the loss of his mother, the founding of the first start-up, and finally becoming a world-renowned technological guru.

Understanding virtual reality as being both a scientific and a cultural adventure, Lanier demonstrates it to be a humanistic setting for technology. While his previous publications offered a more critical view of social media and other manifestations of technology, in this audiobook he argues that virtual reality can actually make our lives richer and fuller.

©2017 Jaron Lanier (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

"[Oliver Wyman] narrates in a reflective tone that fits well with Lanier's mix of recollections, philosophy, and explanations of technology...Lanier takes the listener through VR breakthroughs like Nintendo's Power Glove and delves into the psychology involved in the VR experience." (AudioFile Magazine)

good but geared toward Virtualreality specialists

The below is a review of the Audible audiobook edition of this work

In a nutshell, this book is part biography, part history of virtual reality and Silicon Valley and part a reflection of the author’s many, many interesting views on virtual reality, software, hardware, technology and internet based social media (among other topics).

The book starts off with Mr. Lanier’s youth which was not exactly bright. His mother died when he was relatively young and he lived most of his youth, with his father, living in adjunct poverty. His family was so poor that he even lived in a shack that his father had built in the desert in New Mexico. Then the book moves to his adventures in early adolescence which were very haphazard and, at least from a financial perspective, very marginal. Then it moves on to him moving on to success albeit, quite surprisingly considering his poverty filled roots, with little mention of money. He, instead of pursuing this, pursued intellectual activities and priorities. The money flowed not from direct effort targeting it but, instead, indirectly by happenstance. The book provides quite a bit of insight into his personality.

The book then progresses beyond his early life to his “professional” and describes, based on his very active participation in, the field of virtual reality. Much of this occurred in the early stages of virtual reality’s development (i.e., 1980s and 1990s) in a Silicon Valley environment. Hence the reader obtains a picture of how that field developed technologically, a picture of Silicon Valley and its culture of the time and venture capital of the time in that environment. There is also an in-depth discussion of his at VPL Research, one of the first companies developing virtual reality technology. Much of this discussion is quite detailed and technically oriented hence, at least in this reviewer’s opinion, would be more of interest to the specialist (and practioner in the field of virtual reality) than the layman.

In addition, and very importantly, it includes the large number of interesting views of the author regarding the internet, social media, software, human-machine interfaces and, of course, the many aspects of technology relating to virtual reality (i.e., software, viewing hardware, human-machine interfaces in this environment, etc.). He presents many interesting views and beliefs, for example, his belief on why software with a phenotropic architecture would be much more secure than what is being used today. Also, how and why current software architecture came to be adopted instead of that alternative. His views regarding this technology, again and this reviewer cannot stress it enough, are very interesting albeit a layman may not comprehend (or appreciate) this as much as the specialist, the technologically savvy and practioners in the field of virtual reality.

The book does have a few weaknesses. For example there is little discussion on the potential benefits and pitfalls of virtual reality. There is little to no discussion regarding the use of virtual training as a training tool or the dangers of becoming addicted to virtual reality worlds. Perhaps this is because the author believes that the main audience this book is written for, the technologically knowledgeable, would not need such a discussion. Unfortunately laymen may not. This is the main weakness of the book in this reviewer’s opinion. It is really geared to that audience and laymen would not gain that much out of it.

With respect to the audible version of this book, it is relatively well read. Never monotone or uninteresting.

The future and how we will get there

I didn’t know Jaron Lanier before reading this book. He is a fascinating person who has contributed a lot to our modern society. He offers important insights into the creation of our technology and its limits and flaws. He is also a grea

Always Great Perspective

The early pioneers of computer networking had perspectives that were as diverse as they were Hopefully so of those will return.

I really don't want to come off as overly generous

...but as far as I am concerned this book deserves 5 stars across the board.
If you follow or are interested in any of Jaron Lanier's work, you will love this book.

Really does touch on everything! Brilliantly

Well written and well read. Relevant. Delves into reality as much as virtual reality and helps us to see that virtual reality may help us further define our present reality, if the demons that plague our current reality can be held at bay. A deep and important story, told with pace, variance, and proposition that everyone can understand. It may be too slow for some, but I listened to it slow and at leisure and wouldn't mind to listen to a few of the chapters again and again.

Thank you Mr. Lanier, sincerely.

in an age where insanity seems to be the new normal a considered and truly educated voice is a rare but starkly contrasted gem. Thank you so much, Jaron, for your thoughts, your work, your humanity and your willingness to put this out.

useful perspective and philosophy grounded in lived experience

Lanier opens the kimono on the history of virtual reality from a pro human and pro tech perspective with personal reflections that kick Silicon Valley’s ass. In a constructive way. This audio book starts slow. It takes you in many directions and ultimately goes deep. His suggestions for the future deserve to be heard, discussed and somehow integrated in people’s and society’s learning. I loved listening to this audiobook.

A more personal work from a singular thinker

Half autobiography, half discussion of the history and possibilities of VR, this book does both marvelously. Lanier is among the clearest, sanest thinkers in the tech world.

Loved the book

Virtual reality is a subject interesting enough, but when you put it together with Jaron a Lanier and his own story, it is too good to let go.

An Eye Opener/New Philosophy for Life

This book is essential for everyone. Lanier's path to VR and beyond touches on almost every concievable cultural, technogical, and political shift in the past century. The anectdotes of bizarre stories from Lanier's life are masterfully written with painstaking deference to pioneers of computer science, programming, business, music, film, and even architecture. The audiobook narration is charming and easy to lose hours at a time listening to. I am excited to read/listen to the rest of Jaron Lanier's books.