I've just started reading James Gleick's _The Information_ [1] (see here [2] for an appreciation by Cory) and I just thought of one additional semantic perspective to view the book, which I thought I'd throw out for the list to tear to bits (heh).
It strikes me that it might be a good idea to read this book as one part of a triptych of works; the other two being _The Stuff Of Thought_ by Steven Pinker [3] [4] & _The Ascent of Money_ by Niall Ferguson [5] [6] A rough summary or framework follows: Bits: the atomic form of information Words: the molecular form of information Money: the only truly fungible form of information Thoughts? Udhay [1] http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375423729 [2] http://www.boingboing.net/2011/03/24/james-gleicks-tour-d.html [3] http://www.amazon.com/dp/0670063274 [4] https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/books/review/Saletan-t.html [5] http://www.amazon.com/dp/1594201927 [6] http://www.economist.com/node/12376642 -- ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
