Blood in the Machine cover art
← 99% Invisible

Blood in the Machine

Sep 12, 2023 · 29 min

Brian Merchant is a tech reporter, and he'd been covering the industry for years when he started to notice a term that kept coming up. When he wrote a story that was critical of tech, he'd be accused of being a "Luddite."

Like most people, Brian knew at least vaguely what the term "Luddite" meant. But as time went on, and as Brian watched tech grow into the disruptive behemoth it is today, he started to get more curious about the actual Luddites. Who were they? And what did they really believe? 

Brian has a new book out about the Luddites called Blood in the Machine. And it explores how English textile workers in the 19th century rose up against the growing trend of automation and the machines that were threatening their livelihoods.

Blood in the Machine

Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of 99% Invisible ad-free and a whole week early. 

Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. 


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Recall Sets —enrichment items —recommended —
Sign in to favorite

Listen — make it stick

0:00 / 29:04
Speed 1×⤢ Companion mode
React at the exact second

Moments

Sign in to comment on this exact moment.

Sign in to join

Loading the timeline…

Recall — what you keep

Recall Sets

+ Author a Recall Set

Loading your Recall Sets…

Enrich — the context around it

Enrichment

    Discuss — members in the know

    Episode discussion

    Members in the know

    Opening the room…