December 2007


Back in the summer I suggested to my editor that it would be really nice to be able to have James Burke write a foreword for Pandora’s Box. Having provided suitable words for an approach I left it with the editors to contact his agent and see if he was willing to do so. I received my author copies of the book today and was really pleased to find that James Burke had written the foreword, and there is a quote from him on the back cover:

I.T. has triggered complex social, political, economic and ethical issues that need urgent action if we are to survive the coming decades of unprecedented technological change. This book is a must-read for all those who want to understand the issues or, more important, want to help in their resolution.

In the foreword he calls the book “lucid and comprehensive”.
James Burke’s socio-technical TV programmes and books (particularly Connections and The Day the Universe Changed) were a major influence on my interest in this area, so it’s particularly gratifying to me to have his imprimature on our book.

A relatively standard psychomteric test, so far as I can tell.

My Personality

Neuroticism
62
Extraversion
36
Openness To Experience
59
Agreeableness
41
Conscientiousness
88

You are generally calm, although some situations can make you feel anxious or tense, however you feel enraged when things do not go your way. You are sensitive about being treated fairly and feel resentful and bitter if you think you are being cheated. You get overwhelmed by too much noise and commotion and do not like thrill-seeking activities. You are not interested in the arts and do not display aesthetic sensitivity. You naturally assume that most people are fair, honest, and have good intentions, however you feel superior to those around you and sometimes tend to be seen as arrogant by other people. You take your time when making decisions and will deliberate on all the possible consequences and alternatives.

Test Yourself Compare Yourself View Full Report

I got an email from my editor at Wiley on Thursday 13th December to confirm that Pandora’s Box is actually available from Friday 14th December. She’ll be shipping our author copies to us tomorrow and the book is now available for ordering. Amazon, unfortunately, are showing it as “out of stock” but 697,474 in their Sales Rank (hey, it’s a start and must mean they’ve got some pre-orders for it). I don’t think I’ll actually believe it’s real until I’ve got my copies in my sweaty paws next week, but it looks like it’s finally made it!