Book Reviews : The Second Self: Computers and the Human Spirit Publisher: Simon and Schuster,1230 Avenue of the Americas,New York,NY 10020 Year of Publication: 1984 Materials: 362 pages Price: $17.95 Machine Specificity: General Intended Audience: Professionals and laypersons who are interested in the effects of computers on individuals and society Usefulness: High Clarity: Excellent Difficulty: Intermediate

Abstract

The Second Self is a provocative study of the computer encounters of children and adults in schools, video arcades, and within computer subcultures. The book traces the movement of computational ideas from computer subcultures to everyday life and points out their implications for growth and development. It is a study of the new psychological machines and how they cause us to reconsider ancient questions about the nature of our existence.