Thinking by machine - a study of cybernetics

SHANNON, CLAUDE; DE LATIL, PIERRE; FULLER, BUCKMINSTER and ANWAR DIL

Published by London: Sidgwick and Jackson, 1956

About this Item

[SHANNON, CLAUDE (1916-2001)]. DE LATIL, PIERRE (b. 1905). Thinking by machine - a study of cybernetics. London: Sidgwick and Jackson, (1956). Offered with: FULLER, BUCKMINSTER (1895-1983) and ANWAR DIL (b. 1928). Humans in universe. New York: Mouton, (1983). FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH & FIRST EDITION. 8 vo. and large 8 vo. Orig. cloth, each with orig. dustjacket. De Latil: xiii, (1), 353 pp. + 8 photographic plates + a folding table. Fuller: 235 pp. + text photos and figs. PRESENTATION COPIES to the father of information theory and major figure in the advance of 20th century science and technology, Claude Shannon. The De Latil: pasted to the dustjacket and tipped to the title page is Houghton Mifflin's label with "In June" handwritten referring to the forthcoming American edition (June 1957). Laid in is a typed letter from Houghton Mifflin dated January 25, 1957 to Claude Shannon. It notes his recent Research Corporation Award and suggests he might be interested in reading De Latil's book which they have found "provocative". The letter informs Shannon that the original British edition was sent under separate cover (the present copy) and descriptive material (laid in) was being sent along with the letter. Fuller and Dil: Laid in is a typed letter to Shannon dated December 10, 1983 signed by Dil (Fuller had died July 1, 1983). The letter notes that their joint book, Fuller's last, had just come off the press and a copy is enclosed. In a paragraph in which Dil comments on Fuller he mentions that "Dr. Fuller regarded this as his important summing up statement." Dil writes of his planned Fuller biography, and solicits Shannon's thoughts on Fuller and on the enclosed book. Attached to the letter is a printed publisher's ad. Slight wear to the dustjackets; very good copies. When De Latil's book appeared in 1953, it was one of the first introductory books on cybernetics. Norbert Wiener described De Latil's book as "one of the really good popularizations of cybernetics". Buckminster Fuller, the famous American architect, systems theorist, designer, inventor, and visionary is especially well known for his designs of geodesic domes.

Seller Inventory # 913

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Thinking by machine - a study of cybernetics
• Publisher: London: Sidgwick and Jackson
• Publication Date: 1956
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)