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.
Information might want to be free; but, why should we free it? We've got enough trouble keeping track of all the petabits that already run around untethered, and 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 that foresaw the problems of data clutter and proposed a radical new means of organizing and presenting knowledge humanistically; for the new century, he has revised it substantially as Information Anxiety 2. This book is sparklingly clear and readable--it'd better be, after all--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 Age-y pop psychology, his analysis is never muddy, and the more hardheaded reader will forgive him soon enough. The discussion alternates between describing the deeply stressful task of absorbing poorly organized data and exploring solutions that require a bit of rethinking, but that reward such an investment with improved understanding and, maybe, a state change from information to wisdom. We could do worse--if we don't pay attention to Wurman and his colleagues, we almost certainly will. --Rob Lightner
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
A sure way to have an anxiety attack:
I don't know if I'm being overly sensitive to the poor layout and design but how can Saul Wurman expound on the subject of Information Anxiety when the material is obstructed by the horsey typography (just look at the table of contents is laid out), unclear delineation of passages (everything's bunched up), inexplicable, visually jarring use of black bars over numerous pull quotes, competing, heavily caked fonts in bolds. Excess visual noise is a major cause of Information Anxiety. Its a trait so endemic in... more info
IA1 & IA2: Both books have not lost their relevancy even up to today...stimulating to read!:
1) Information Anxiety
2) Information Anxiety 2 By Richard Saul Wurman Ever since the futurist thought leader Alvin Toffler coined the term `information overload' in his ground-breaking book, `Future Shock', in the early seventies, not only I know what it is, but also know how it feels like: overwhelming! I have since then become more fascinated by the subject & have read widely on it. A few good books come to mind. `Information Anxiety' is just one of them. I have read... more info
Good for business use.:
A good writer and always give me new ideas and inspirations. Compare to the first one, this second one is more focus on business aspects.
Of all things, a postmodern manifesto:
Although this book is officially about design, communication, and business information--for which it probably is only a mediocre, quasi-random collection of personal musings--I unexpectedly found this text to be a fabulous introduction to the postmodern mindset. It is a post-modern manifesto, of sorts, calling us to plunge into the new information age with courage, creativity, and hope. It is "real-world" philosophy set in a business context.
Wurman demonstrates that not only have times in fact... more info
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