From the Inside Flap
We are in the midst of a technological upheaval for which there are very few precedents in human history. At such times, as with the First Industrial Revolution, change does not happen gradually but exponentially, with technological acceleration occurring across most or all domains of human endeavor. And, as Mark Hatch explains in this inspiring new book, "It is difficult to fathom exponential change. There is little in our day-to-day experience that prepares us for this pace of change." And it's anybody's guess where we'll find ourselves a generation from now.
But exponential change itself is only half the story. As Mark explains, the extraordinary growth in the sophistication and usability of hardware and software, as well as the exponentially expanding knowledge base freely available, matched by an equally rapid drop in costs, have made it possible for virtually anyone with a good idea to jump into the fray and make their own contribution to the revolution. Suddenly new industries are springing up like wild flowers in the shadows of the corporate oaks that have dominated the field, and opportunities and industries that could not have been imagined a generation ago are appearing overnight, often in the seemingly most unlikely of places. And the ones driving this revolution are The Makers.
Who are The Makers? They are the artisans, crafters, DIYers, and inventors who are changing the way we change the world. They're people like Bre Pettis, who, in just a few years, went from being a language arts teacher and part-time puppeteer living in Seattle, to a high-tech entrepreneur and founder of MakerBot, the half-billion-dollar company that introduced inexpensive, open-source 3D printing to the world. In The Maker Revolution you'll meet Bre and many other maker revolutionaries.
Like a dispatch from the front lines, The Maker Revolution fills you in on the technologies, tools, communities, and knowledge base fueling the revolution. You'll learn about exponential growth taking place in everything from AI and manufacturing to gene splicing and medical diagnostics, electric cars and aerial drones to mobile game apps and Snapchat filters. You'll discover the economic trends and rapidly evolving capital opportunities open to just about anybody with a good idea. You'll learn the stories of many of today's most accomplished maker-revolutionaries, and, perhaps most importantly, you'll be inspired to unleash your own inner revolutionary and become part of The Maker Revolution.
MARK R. HATCH (markrhatch.com) is the former CEO and a co-founder of TechShop, a focal point in the emerging Maker Movement and sits on the board of Maker Media. He is currently the CEO of Maker Partners, a speaking, consulting and advocacy firm. He is an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Jacob Institute for Design Innovation at UC Berkeley, an Affiliate of The Institute for the Future, and Adjunct Faculty at Singularity University. He is also a General Partner of Network Society Ventures and runs a private investment syndicate on AngelList.
