Technological Man: The Myth and the Reality

Ferkiss, Victor C. Technological Man: The Myth and the Reality. New York: Mentor, 1969. New York: Brazier, 1969. London: William Heinemann, 1969 (Penguin/Random House).

Non-fiction, cited by Samuelson "On Extrapolation: A Supplementary Bibliography".

From the Kirkus Review, 1 March 1969: T. M. doesn't exist -- yet -- Ferkiss says. [...] What does exist is a combination of population pressure, exploitation of nature, and general mindlessness about control which could bring on the ultimate horror. Man is willy-nilly heading into an "existential, revolution," a profound alteration of his way of life brought on by his own industry, science[,] and invention. [... Ferkiss gives] an extraordinarily vivid account of American life today from Bonnie and Clyde to [...] Walden Two. How will it change? Ferkiss paints the full picture of genetic control, sub-ocean colonies, man-machine symbioses, as constructed by the most optimistic (or pessimistic) futurists. [... Ferkiss proposes] a technological man who espouses a new philosophy of naturalness, thoroughly integrated with the environment; a new holism -- aware of the interconnectedness of things -- and a new "immanentism" -- a sense of the creative well-springs of living things. [...]

Reviewed in Science by Donald N. Michael, vol. 165, issue 3889 (11 Jul 1969): 165-166.

RDE, completing, 25May19