A Small World

“A Small World is an invigorating, elegant, and sardonic look at futurist fantasies of the spectacularization of everyday life. It makes a real contribution to the history of the American technological imagination.” - Scott Bukatman, author of Matters of Gravity: Special Effects and Supermen in the 20th Century

“This engaging, fast-paced book synthesizes a broad range of critical viewpoints—phenomenology, poststructuralism, media studies, and American studies—in order to illuminate the long trajectory of the ‘smart house,’ from the factory-based models of the industrial era to the wired dream-boxes of today. Providing a clear, concise path through a vast body of literature, Davin Heckman’s book will be useful for designers, architects, historians, and new media critics seeking to understand where technology is taking us.” - Ellen Lupton, Curator of Contemporary Design, Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

“A Small World is an amazing accomplishment. Heckman has, aside from completing what will surely be hailed as a landmark study in the history of smart houses, manages to integrate a wide range of theories into a coherent and substantial narrative of the struggle of technology to integrate itself into the lives of consumers. This book has direct relevance beyond those studying automation and home technology, and is a vital read for anyone concerned with the incorporation of new media into contemporary culture.” - Mike DuBose, Reconstruction

“[An] engaging and well-meaning book. . . .” - Will Straw, Reviews in Cultural Theory

“By focusing on both the history of technology and the representation of technology in literature, film, and television, Heckman’s book effectively analyzes the cultural discourse surrounding the very concept of ‘smartness,’ and it offers a vehement critique of the incorporation of technology into everyday life. . . . Heckman’s book is extremely thoughtful and well-researched. . . .” - Anthony Enns, Leonardo Reviews

“Davin Heckman’s intriguing title A Small World: Smart Houses and the Dream of the Perfect Day immediately drew me in. His book gathers intensely detailed research into aspects of mid to late 20th-century American culture and overlaps that with references to futuristic visions of the home and lifestyles. Heckman illustrates the details of Smart Houses of last century, including the introduction of computers in the home, and then explores contemporary American society on many levels. This is a very satisfying read that gets better as it unfolds.” - Ann McLean, M/C Reviews