Adjacent Possible

Magic Cards and Knowledge Bottles

Can AI give us an enhanced version of the "digital librarians" first envisioned almost a half century ago?

Jul 24 • 

Steven Johnson

52

4

June 2025

Machine Readable

Language models are opening new avenues for inquiry in historical research and writing. But will they undermine the reading of primary sources?

Jun 25 • 

Steven Johnson

65

8

May 2025

City Of Bombs

My first true NYC book—now out in paperback—wins an Edgar Award.

May 9 • 

Steven Johnson

48

4

February 2025

Condensing The Iceberg

Attention, addiction, and the crucial art of withholding information in an era of data abundance.

Feb 19 • 

Steven Johnson

72

6

December 2024

How To Read A Novel

Why fiction gives us an antidote to narrowband thinking.

Dec 31, 2024 • 

Steven Johnson

176

22

November 2024

In The Context Of Long Context

What happens when you can instantly transform an entire book into a playable simulation? That—and much more—is now possible thanks to the long context…

Nov 21, 2024 • 

Steven Johnson

98

14

October 2024

Ways Of Flourishing

Thoughts on progress and the "compressed 21st century" from my speech accepting the Pioneer Award from the University of Pennsylvania.

Oct 25, 2024 • 

Steven Johnson

74

5

September 2024

Listening To The Algorithm

Thoughts on a new feature at NotebookLM that turns your sources into an extended audio conversation.

Sep 13, 2024 • 

Steven Johnson

65

10

August 2024

In Search Of Deep Time

Midsummer thoughts on gold, geology, and the temporal sublime of redwood groves.

Aug 13, 2024 • 

Steven Johnson

51

15

June 2024

Dancing On The Surface Of A Volcano

The complete text of the preface to my new book, The Infernal Machine.

Jun 14, 2024 • 

Steven Johnson

11

4

Revenge Of The Humanities

Like any technological revolution, AI is putting a premium on a new set of skills. Only this time, the skills might be best acquired in a writing…

Jun 7, 2024 • 

Steven Johnson

151

6

May 2024

Inventing The Infernal Machine

It's publication day for my fourteenth book.

May 14, 2024 • 

Steven Johnson

15

2