The Magic of Code

In the tradition of classics such as The Lives of a Cell, a bold reframing of our relationship with technology that argues code is a universal forceswirling through disciplines, absorbing ideas, and connecting worlds (Linda Liukas). In the digital world, code is the essential primary building block, the equivalent of the cell or DNA in the biological sphereand almost as mysterious.Code can create entire worlds, real and virtual; it allows us to connect instantly to people and places around the globe; and it performs tasks that were once only possible in science fiction. It is a superpower, and not just in a technical sense. It is also a gateway to ideas. As vividly illustrated by Samuel Arbesman, it is the ultimate connector, providing new insight and meaning into how everything from language and mythology to biblical texts, biology, and even our patterns of thought connect with the history and nature of...