ABSTRACT
A devastating storm came through my city during the writing of this book, knocking down trees and wires and leaving tens of thousands of people without power. It isn’t until such a blackout that we come to appreciate how dependent most of us have become on electrical power, and how much our home- and work-lives revolve around connectedness and efficiency. I had become so accustomed to sending and receiving emails from all over North America and beyond, getting information electronically from my university 36library or the internet, and doing this any time of the day or night, that being without power felt a bit like withdrawal from an addiction. It was ultimately a good thing. Neighbours were out sharing stories about the storm, and I met some people in my area for the first time, but it made me realize how much we have all given up in order to become more connected and more efficient.
