Explores the nature and consequences of technological transformation, seeking to understand its causes and its implications for individuals and societies in the modern world. The emphasis is inevitably Western, where the changes have been most effective and have made available vast increases in productive capacity, rapid transport facilities and instantaneous communication. But the book also attempts to range widely over different societies, some of which have not fared so well with population growth and the over-cultivation of land bringing famine conditions to many parts of the world.