Whole Earth Review

"Whole Earth Review" was a magazine which was founded in January 1985 after the merger of "The Whole Earth Software Review" (a supplement to the "The Whole Earth Software Catalog") and the "CoEvolution Quarterly". All of these periodicals are descendants of Stewart Brand's "Whole Earth Catalog".

The last issue of the magazine is Spring 2003. [ [http://www.wholeearth.com/book-reviews-by-issue.php Official Website] ]

Overview

Fred Turner discusses the creation of the "Whole Earth Review" in "From Counterculture to Cyberculture: Stewart Brand, the Whole Earth Network, and the Rise of Digital Utopianism." Turner notes that in 1983, "The Whole Earth Software Catalog" was proposed by John Brockman as a magazine which "would do for computing what the original ["Whole Earth Catalog"] had done for the counterculture: identify and recommend the best "tools" as they emerged." [Fred Turner." From Counterculture to Cyberculture", (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2006): 129.] The first issue was released in the Fall of 1984. "The Whole Earth Software Catalog" was a business failure, however, and was only published twice, with only three of "The Whole Earth Software Review" supplements published . [Fred Turner. "From Counterculture to Cyberculture", (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2006): 130.] At the same time, another Brand publication, "CoEvolution Quarterly" evolved out of the original "Whole Earth Supplement" in 1974. [Fred Turner. "From Counterculture to Cyberculture", (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2006): 120.] In 1985, Brand merged "CoEvolution Quarterly" with "The Whole Earth Software Review" to create the "Whole Earth Review." [Fred Turner. "From Counterculture to Cyberculture", (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2006): 130.]

This is also indicated in the issues themselves. Fall 1984, Issue No. 43 is titled "The Last CoEvolution Quarterly."The cover also states, "Next issue is 'Whole Earth Review': livelier snake, new skin." In January 1985, Issue No. 44 was titled "Whole Earth Review: Tools and Ideas for the Computer Age." The cover also reads "The continuation of "CoEvolution Quarterly" and "Whole Earth Software Review"." In an article titled "Whole Earth Software Catalog Version 1.1," Stewart Brand states that there are three intended audiences for the new "Whole Earth Review": a) The audience of "The Whole Earth Software Catalog", b) The audience of "The Whole Earth Software Review" and c) The audience of "CoEvolution Quarterly". [Stewart Brand. "Whole Earth Software Catalog Version 1.1", "Whole Earth Review, No. 44 (Sausalito, CA January 1985): 74.] The office of "Whole Earth Review" was next door to "The WELL", another project that Stewart Brand and associates co-founded. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE7DB143EF936A2575BC0A96F948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print Sausalito Journal; Whole Earth State-of-Art Rapping] ]

"Whole Earth" had a special role in promoting alternative technology or appropriate technology. In deciding to publish full-length articles on specific topics in natural sciences, invention, arts, etc., "Whole Earth" (like its predecessor, "CoEvolution Quarterly") was a journal aimed primarily at the educated layperson. The industrial designer and educator J. Baldwin served as the technology editor. Tool and book reviews were in abundance, and ecological and technology topics were interspersed with articles treating social and community subjects. One of the journal's recurring themes was “the commons” (a thing, institution or geographic space of, or having to do with, the community as a whole), and the related “tragedy of the commons”. ["Whole Earth Review" (1985-2003) issues #44-110. Sausalito, Ca: POINT Foundation]

Notably, the journal espoused some sensible and sage avenues of thought, such as architect Christopher Alexander's approach to building and planning. Yet the magazine could remain a lively multi-disciplinary meetingplace that didn't smack at all of academia. In everything, Stewart Brand seemed to dispay a trust in citizens' ability to make good choices, humane and inclined toward sustainability, if provided with good information. ["Whole Earth Review" (1985-2003) issues #44-110. Sausalito, Ca: POINT Foundation]

Stewart Brand and the later editors invited reviews of books and tools from experts in specific fields, to be approached as though they were writing a letter to a friend. ["Whole Earth Review" (1985-2003) issues #44-110. Sausalito, Ca: POINT Foundation] In this, he adopted a technique which editor Byron Dobell had suggested to Tom Wolfe, early in the latter’s career, a method which had started a whole literary genre called “the new journalism” known for its intimacy and impact.

"Whole Earth" editors Kevin Kelly and Howard Rheingold both went on to become influential figures in technology. Besides having a social focus and interest in the computer revolution, "Whole Earth" always made efforts to be at the forefront of technological innovation, being the first to publish articles about speculations on space colonization, molecular nanotechnology and the technological singularity. ["Whole Earth Review" (1985-2003) issues #44-110. Sausalito, Ca: POINT Foundation]

Notes

References

* Turner, Fred cite book
year = 2006
title = From Counterculture to Cyberculture: Stewart Brand, the Whole Earth Network, and the Rise of Digital Utopianism
publisher = University of Chicago Press
id = ISBN 0-226-81741-5

External links

* [http://www.wholeearth.com/index.php Official website]
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1510 Whole Earth Review Issues 1985-1996]
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0GER Whole Earth Review Issues 1997-2002]
*" [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3DE1430F93AA2575BC0A960958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print Breaking the mold again, Whole Earth Review is asking subscribers for charity] " - "New York Times"