Product Description

A follow up to the first edition, Information Anxiety 2 teaches critical lessons for functioning in today's Information Age. In this new book, Wurman examines how the Internet, desktop computing, and advances in digital technology have not simply enhanced access to information, but in fact have changed the way we live and work. In examining the sources of information anxiety, Wurman takes an in-depth look at how technological advances can hinder understanding and influence how business is conducted.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #430095 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 350 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Information might want to be free, but why should we free it? We've got enough troubles keeping track of all the petabits running around untethered already, and we risk a computer counterrevolution if we let the situation get much crazier. Information architect Richard Saul Wurman swept the field clear in 1989 with his groundbreaking book foreseeing the problems of data clutter and proposing a radical new means of organising and presenting knowledge humanistically; he has substantially revised it for the new century as Information Anxiety 2.

This volume is sparklingly clear and readable and offers insight not only to designers, educators and content developers, but also to anyone who needs to communicate effectively through dense clouds of facts. If Wurman occasionally indulges in new-agey pop psychology, his analysis is never muddy and the more hard-headed reader will forgive him soon enough. The discussion alternates between describing the deeply stressful task of absorbing poorly organised data and exploring solutions that require a bit of rethinking but reward such an investment with improved understanding and, maybe, a state change from information to wisdom. We could do worse, and if we don't pay attention to Wurman and his colleagues, we almost certainly will. --Rob Lightner

From the Back Cover

A follow up to the first edition, Information Anxiety 2 teaches critical lessons for functioning in today's Information Age. In this new book, Wurman examines how the Internet, desktop computing, and advances in digital technology have not simply enhanced access to information, but in fact have changed the way we live and work. In examining the sources of information anxiety, Wurman takes an in-depth look at how technological advances can hinder understanding and influence how business is conducted.

Customer Reviews

Almost classic
There are stacks of thought provoking, life affirming creative insights here. The author does tend to bang his own drum to an annoying extent, but the good bits are so good you're prepared to forgive him. Who should read this book? Anyone interested in the whole information architecture/information design issue - in other words, anyone concerned with the construction of highly understandable messages, particually in the web/design world. It's partly practical, partly inspirational. Let down by dodgy proofreading, too much focus on how great the web is, some repetition and far too much me, me me, but basically well worth the money (and more) if IA/ID is your bag.