Sex, Bombs and Burger

BOOK: Sex, Bombs and Burgers: How War, Pornography, Fast Food Have Shaped Modern Technology.

AUTHOR: Peter Nowak

GRADE: B-

Mcdonald’s has the potential to prevent war!

JPEG formatting was developed by a porn star!

In 2001, the Slinky was named the official state toy of Philly.

And you can thank the WWII for the advent of porn.

Don’t believe me? Understandable – neither would I. I’ve got zero credentials in this arena. Peter Nowak, however, has done his research into every nook and cranny of the origins of modern technology. And he’s here to tell you that our base needs for sex, food and war are to thank for the wi-fi we love and the porn we spend $89 dollars on every second!

Nowak covers each of the three sub-topics thoroughly and his discussion of chemically engineered crops is immensely thought provoking. He tackles the hot button issues of waste and recycling with aplomb and humor. I, for one, never knew exactly how directly the entire population benefits from war. Even staunch pacifists will have to concede to some of his arguments. Nor will you ever look at a McNugget the same way again.

With Sex, Bombs and Burgers, Nowak has managed to turn a highly technical discussion into an easy read for everyone. His research is immaculate, his interview subjects are fascinating and the anecdotes he offers up crazy enough to keep even the most avid techno-phobe turning the pages. My only complaint is that the end of the book does tend to repeat previously discussed topics. Beyond that, I would recommend this to anyone interested in where our modern techy-ness comes from.