Examining such disciplines as education, journalism, encyclopedia creation, museum curation, photography and broadcasting, an award-winning writer explores how humans have attained, stored, and disseminated knowledge. "From the creation of the first encyclopedia to Wikipedia, from ancient museums to modern kindergarten classes--this is award winning writer Simon Winchester’s brilliant and all-encompassing look at how humans acquire, retain, and pass on information and data, and how technology continues to change our lives and our minds"--Dust jacket flap.

Prologue: To know this only, that he nothing knew -- Teach your children well -- Gathering the harvest -- This just in -- Annals of manipulation -- Just leave the thinking to us -- The first and wisest of them all.