The Fuzzy and the Techie: Why the Liberal Arts Will Rule the Digital World

Scott Hartley

Physical

Available

“Scott Hartley artfully explains why it is time for us to get over the false division between the human and the technical.” —Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO and author of Change by Design

Scott Hartley first heard the terms fuzzy and techie while studying political science at Stanford University. If you majored in humanities or social sciences, you were a fuzzy. If you majored in computer or hard sciences, you were a techie.

While Silicon Valley is generally considered a techie stronghold, the founders of companies like Airbnb, Pinterest, Slack, LinkedIn, PayPal, Stitch Fix, Reddit, and others are all fuzzies—in other words, people with backgrounds in the liberal arts.

 In this brilliantly counterintuitive book, Hartley shatters assumptions about business and education today: learning to code is not enough. The soft skills—curiosity, communication, and collaboration, along with an understanding of psychology and society’s gravest problems—are central to why technology has value. Fuzzies are the instrumental stewards of robots, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. They offer a human touch that is of equal—if not greater—importance in our technology-led world than what most techies can provide.

 For anyone doubting whether a well-rounded liberal arts education is practical in today’s world, Hartley’s work will come as an inspiring revelation.
 
Finalist for the 2016 Financial Times/McKinsey Bracken Bower Prize
A Financial Times Business Book of the Month

What will you learn from this book

  1. Interdisciplinary Skills: Emphasizes the value of combining technical skills (the 'Techie') with critical thinking, creativity, and human-centric skills from liberal arts (the 'Fuzzy').

  2. Human-Centered Design: Advocates for incorporating human perspectives, empathy, and social understanding into technological innovations for better user experiences.

  3. Innovation through Diversity: Discusses the importance of diverse perspectives, interdisciplinary teams, and collaboration in fostering innovation and problem-solving.

  4. Creativity and Problem-Solving: Highlights how the liberal arts' emphasis on creativity and critical thinking complements technical expertise to solve complex problems.

  5. Ethical Considerations: Discusses the ethical implications of technology and the need for ethical frameworks informed by ethical, moral, and philosophical reasoning.

  6. Communication Skills: Emphasizes the significance of effective communication skills derived from the liberal arts in conveying complex technical ideas to a broader audience.

  7. Adaptability and Agility: Encourages adaptability and the ability to navigate uncertainties, drawing from the liberal arts' emphasis on adaptability.

  8. Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Explores how liberal arts education nurtures the entrepreneurial mindset, fostering innovation and new business ideas.

  9. Critical Thinking and Decision-Making: Discusses how liberal arts education enhances critical thinking and decision-making abilities necessary in today's complex world.

  10. Life-Long Learning: Encourages a commitment to continuous learning and the value of a well-rounded education throughout one's career.

Language English
ISBN-10 1328915409
ISBN-13 9781328915405
No of pages 304
Font Size Medium
Book Publisher Mariner Books
Published Date 25 Apr 2007

About Author

Author : Scott Hartley

1 Books

Related Books