Stewart Brand (b.1938) is an American writer, environmentalist, and futurist known for his advocacy of sustainability and technological innovation. He is best recognized as the creator of The Whole Earth Catalog, a publication that influenced the counterculture movement and modern environmentalism.
Born in Rockford, Illinois, Brand studied biology at Stanford University, graduating in 1960, and later served as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army. His diverse experiences fueled his interest in ecology, systems thinking, and the intersection of technology and culture.
In 1968, he launched The Whole Earth Catalog, a resource promoting self-sufficiency and environmental consciousness. The publication, which won the National Book Award in 1972, became a key influence on innovators and thinkers. Brand was also an early advocate for personal computing and digital networks, famously coining the phrase, “Information wants to be free.”
In 1985, he co-founded The WELL, one of the first online communities, and later the Long Now Foundation, promoting long-term thinking and sustainability. His notable works include The Media Lab: Inventing the Future at MIT (1987,) exploring innovation, and Whole Earth Discipline: An Ecopragmatist Manifesto (2009,) advocating unconventional environmental solutions like nuclear energy and urbanization.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Stewart Brand
Stay hungry. Stay foolish.
—Stewart Brand
Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road.
—Stewart Brand
Topics: Progress, Technology
When a fantasy turns you on, you’re obligated to God and nature to start doing it right away.
—Stewart Brand
Topics: Fantasy
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Leave a Reply