CAMD professor Jeff Howe, Journalism

The College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD) is pleased to announce that a book written by faculty member Jeff Howe, School of Journalism, has been nominated for a Goodreads Award, Science and Technology category. With over 65 million members, Goodreads is the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations, so to be nominated for one of its awards is an impressive accomplishment. Howe’s book, Whiplash, co-written with Joichi “Joi” Ito, Director of the MIT Media Lab, explores how to succeed in today’s modern world, which grows increasingly complex and volatile while the tools of our existence simultaneously grow faster, cheaper, and smaller. As billions of humans from around the world are more interconnected than ever before, Whiplash offers tips for re-training our brains and societies to thrive in this type of “faster future.”

“I’ve been a huge fan of GoodReads since it launched years ago,” explained Howe, who is an Assistant Professor in CAMD. “They really pioneered the ‘social reading’ movement, which involves a lot of the dynamics I explore in both my books. So Joi and I were doubly honored to hear we had been nominated for the prestigious prize.”

Jeff Howe and Joi Ito speak with Northeastern President Aoun.

In the book, Howe and Ito put received wisdom of the past into nine organizing principles for navigating and surviving an ever-changing modern existence. From prioritizing disobedience over compliance, seeing the world as groups of systems rather than objects, and navigating life with a compass (rather than a map that falsely projects certainty) to get you through moments of uncertainty, Whiplash helps readers rethink their approach to surviving and thriving in this tumultuous period.

Since being released in December 2016, the book has attracted rave reviews. From one reader calling it “one of the most important books in the past year” to another describing it as “a proactive, positive, holistic look at our future – while providing sound advice for getting there amidst the challenges we currently (and will) face,” it is clear that the book is meeting the needs and concerns of those who pick it up. It has been featured in The New York Times, WBUR, and more. Filled with case studies and leading-edge research and philosophies from the MIT Media Lab and beyond, it serves as a great resource for helping humans adapt and succeed in today’s unpredictable world.