Book
Movement-Space: The Changing Domain of Thinking Resulting from New Technologies
by Nigel Thrift
📖 Overview
Movement-Space examines how technological changes have transformed human spatial awareness and cognitive patterns. Thrift analyzes the emergence of new forms of space enabled by developments in positioning, tracking, and mapping technologies.
The book details specific technological systems and their impacts on human perception and behavior. Through case studies and theoretical frameworks, it explores how GPS, mobile devices, and other spatial technologies create novel ways of understanding and navigating environments.
Geographic information systems and location-based services serve as key examples throughout the text. Thrift documents the rise of what he terms "movement-space" - a technologically-mediated way of experiencing and conceptualizing space and motion.
The work contributes to ongoing discussions about technology's role in reshaping human consciousness and spatial relationships. It raises questions about how digital systems alter fundamental aspects of human cognition and environmental interaction.
👀 Reviews
There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Nigel Thrift's overall work:
Readers often describe Thrift's writing as dense and theoretically complex. His works draw academic readers seeking deep theoretical frameworks in geography and social theory.
What readers value:
- Comprehensive theoretical frameworks that bridge multiple disciplines
- Original insights on spatial theory and capitalism
- Detailed analysis of how technology shapes social experiences
Common criticisms:
- Writing style is difficult to penetrate
- Heavy use of academic jargon limits accessibility
- Arguments can be abstract and hard to apply practically
From Goodreads (averaging 3.8/5 stars across his books):
"Takes effort to understand but rewards careful reading" - Geography PhD student
"Important ideas buried in unnecessarily complex prose" - Academic reviewer
"Changed how I think about space and social theory, though not an easy read" - Graduate student
Amazon reviews (3.5/5 stars average):
Readers consistently note the theoretical depth while criticizing the writing style's opacity. Multiple reviewers suggest his works are best approached with prior knowledge of geographic theory.
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Code/Space: Software and Everyday Life by Rob Kitchin, Nigel Thrift The text explores how software and spatial environments interweave to produce new forms of human geography and technological experience.
The Production of Space by Henri Lefebvre This theoretical work dissects how social space is produced through the intersection of physical, mental, and social dimensions of human existence.
A Thousand Plateaus by Gilles Deleuze The book presents concepts of space, movement, and multiplicity that illuminate the relationships between technology, thought, and territorial organization.
Spatiality by Robert T. Tally Jr. The text maps the spatial turn in literary and cultural theory, connecting geographical concepts to contemporary critical thinking about space and place.
Code/Space: Software and Everyday Life by Rob Kitchin, Nigel Thrift The text explores how software and spatial environments interweave to produce new forms of human geography and technological experience.
The Production of Space by Henri Lefebvre This theoretical work dissects how social space is produced through the intersection of physical, mental, and social dimensions of human existence.
A Thousand Plateaus by Gilles Deleuze The book presents concepts of space, movement, and multiplicity that illuminate the relationships between technology, thought, and territorial organization.
Spatiality by Robert T. Tally Jr. The text maps the spatial turn in literary and cultural theory, connecting geographical concepts to contemporary critical thinking about space and place.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔹 Nigel Thrift served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick from 2006 to 2016 and is considered one of the leading figures in human geography and social theory.
🔹 The book explores how digital technologies are fundamentally changing the way humans think about and experience space, drawing parallels with historical shifts like the invention of writing and printing.
🔹 Movement-Space examines how modern positioning technologies like GPS and real-time tracking systems have created a new "technological unconscious" in society.
🔹 Thrift coined the term "qualculation" to describe the blend of qualitative and calculative thinking that characterizes how people navigate modern technologically-mediated spaces.
🔹 The book builds on ideas from philosophers like Henri Bergson and Alfred North Whitehead to understand how technology is creating new forms of spatial awareness and cognitive processes.