Stewart Brand's Enduring Legacy: Bridging Counterculture and Silicon Valley
Stewart Brand, a towering figure in technology and counterculture, continues to shape global discourse at 87. From his iconic Whole Earth Catalog to the Long Now Foundation, Brand's philosophy emphasizes thinking on a planetary scale and across millennia. His latest project, a book series titled Maintenance: Of Everything, Part One, delves into the mundane yet critical concept of upkeep, arguing that maintenance is fundamental to sustaining life and civilization.
A Life of Big Ideas and Long-Term Vision
Brand's extraordinary journey spans roles as a writer, editor, soldier, photojournalist, and government adviser. He famously connected the San Francisco counterculture of the 1960s with today's Silicon Valley, inspiring figures like Steve Jobs, who echoed Brand's mantra, "Stay hungry. Stay foolish." Speaking from his library in Petaluma, California, Brand reflects on his lifelong quest to "find things and found things," always searching for innovative ideas and people.
His new book explores maintenance through diverse lenses, from industrial history to military strategy. Brand notes that wars, such as Vietnam and the Ukraine conflict, have been influenced by maintenance cultures, highlighting how equipment reliability can determine outcomes. He expresses admiration for Elon Musk, praising Tesla's manufacturing innovations that reduce parts and maintenance needs, driving environmental progress through electric vehicles.
The Long Now Foundation and Global Institutions
Brand co-founded the Long Now Foundation 30 years ago to promote thinking about the next 10,000 years. A key project is the Clock of the Long Now, a mechanical timepiece buried in a Nevada mountaintop, funded by Jeff Bezos. Brand describes it as a "statue of responsibility" designed to inspire long-term perspective. The foundation also hosts seminars, preserves languages, and curates a library for restarting civilization.
Discussing global institutions, Brand remains optimistic despite recent ruptures in the international order. He points to forums like Davos as spaces for rethinking governance, emphasizing that progress often emerges incrementally through individual and institutional efforts.
From Whole Earth Catalog to Modern Technology
Brand's Whole Earth Catalog, launched in 1968, provided "access to tools" for alternative lifestyles, blending practical advice with philosophical ideas. It became a bestseller, empowering a generation to explore self-sufficiency. Brand later embraced computing, participating in early demos and co-founding the Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, a precursor to social media. He coined the phrase "information wants to be free" and has consistently balanced technological optimism with environmental stewardship.
Despite criticism for influencing Silicon Valley's libertarian mindset, Brand maintains a nuanced view, acknowledging both benefits and challenges of technology. He highlights how personal computers and the internet have exceeded initial expectations, driving exponential progress.
Personal Resilience and Future Outlook
Brand, an avid outdoorsman and CrossFit enthusiast, now manages a respiratory illness but remains active with supplemental oxygen. He expresses gratitude for his long life, stating, "Imagine the luck, to get to be 87 – it's just fantastic!" As an optimist, he believes in actively shaping the future rather than passively accepting fate. Brand encourages leaning toward preferred scenarios through incremental actions, fostering a better world through maintenance and innovation.
Maintenance of Everything, Part One by Stewart Brand is published by Stripe Press, offering a profound exploration of how upkeep sustains our world for generations to come.
