BOOK · [2269]
Medieval Technology and Social Change
History
White's 1962 argument that the stirrup, the heavy plow, and the three-field rotation remade medieval society from the ground up — technology as the hidden driver of feudalism and military organization. Graham listed it as an obscure favorite; it is the canonical example of technological determinism applied to history with actual evidence.
Endorsed By
3 People-
Paul Graham
From PG's April 2019 tweet listing obscure favorites; appears on his RAQ history list as well.
-
Sam Altman
“It really is great.”
The page cites a Sam Altman tweet about the book.
-
Patrick Collison
Flagged blue on Collison's bookshelf — substantially above average.