THE PROBLEM OF CONTROLLING TECHNOLOGY HAS PREOCCUPIED US SINCE THE TIME OF THE FIRST FOREST FIRE CAUSED BY MAN, BUT TODAY, IN THE AGE OF TECHNOLOGY, THE INTRODUCTION AND EVOLUTION OF MACHINES ARE OF INCREASING CONCERN. UNINTENDED SIDE EFFECTS HAVE ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION, AND AS ADVANCES THAT MAY HAVE FAR REACHING CONSEQUENCES OCCUR IN PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING, WE FEEL AGAIN THE NEED TO DEFINE OUR UNEASY RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR INVENTIONS. WITOLD RYBCZYNSKI PROVOCATIVE BOOK HELPS US TO DO SO BY EXAMINING THE ATTEMPTS OF OUR PREDECESSORS TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE SHOCK OF THE MACHINE.