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Little Blue Dot: How GPS Shaped the Modern World

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Book details

  1. Print length
    384 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bloomsbury Publishing
  4. Publication date
    June 16, 2026
  5. Dimensions
    6.55 x 1.2 x 9.6 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1639734317
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1639734313
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The unexplored history of GPS, a military technology turned daily necessity that impacts all aspects of our lives.

Gone are the days when we pulled off to the side of the road, twisted a map this way and that, and squinted in exasperation before saying, “We're lost.” Now, a network of satellites that circles the earth points us in the right direction. The Global Positioning System is embedded not only in our phones but in our cultural history and our future. GPS, intangible but ubiquitous, has instigated a radical shift in our relationship to our own intuition and place in the world, making us critically dependent on technology we forget is even there.

Little Blue Dot uncovers GPS's origins as a product of the Cold War, from the Space Race to the bombing campaigns in Vietnam, following along as its military and civilian uses expanded and shifted to become part of the fabric of modern life. With pulsating detail and witty expertise, investigative reporter Katherine Dunn takes us on a fascinating journey from the origins of the technology to its modern-day iteration, considering its role in international politics and conflict-and its rising vulnerabilities to manipulation. Initially a cog in the wheel of globalization, GPS has now taken on a new life and may even serve as a parable for the proliferation of AI and newer technologies on the horizon. Sharp and evocative, Little Blue Dot considers the future of GPS, its impact on our understanding of space and time, and the role of technology in our lives.

Review

“Riveting . . . a fascinating account of a singular technology that changed humanity's relationship to the world.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Compelling . . . climate journalist Dunn traces the improbable evolution of GPS from secret wartime radio experiments to the invisible infrastructure that guides modern life . . . Engaging, reflective, and accessible, this is a lively, appealing history of the ubiquitous locating system and the fragility behind its reassuring bluedot.” ―Library Journal

“Dunn's clear explanations of advanced concepts make this book accessible to nonscientific readers. Her deft integration of the stories of the many fascinating people who contributed to the development of GPS adds an engaging and important human element to the narrative. Final chapters about efforts to counter surprising security issues make this a timely book about current events in addition to a history.” ―Booklist

“Little Blue Dot offers a concise, popular history of the development of a technology that has become deeply integrated into nearly all aspects of our lives . . . Dunn provides a warning about how vulnerable GPS is and, by extension, how vulnerable we are. . . Dunn makes clear that GPS was developed, improved, promoted, and implemented by scores of people. She takes particular interest in lesser-sung heroes.” ―The American Scholar

“It's the invisible network that runs our world. The story of the Global Positioning System is the story of modern life itself. In Little Blue Dot, Katherine Dunn tells the explosive, untold history of the twentieth century's most important technology. A gripping narrative of spies, scientists, and the secret history of how we came to map the world. You'll never look at that little blue dot the same way again.” ―Bradley Hope, co-author of BILLION DOLLAR WHALE and BLOOD AND OIL

“The story of how you came to have, in your pocket, a way of knowing where you are, wherever you are, is an epic of human ingenuity. With pace, verve, and an eye for an illuminating anecdote, Katherine Dunn is the perfect guide to the greatest revolution in navigation since the age of sail.” ―Tom Whipple, Science Writer and Special Correspondent at The Times

About the Author

Katherine Dunn is a business reporter and editor based in London. She has worked at Fortune magazine, S&P Global, The Wall Street Journal/ Dow Jones and the Reuters Institute at Oxford University, where she contributed to the Oxford Climate Journalism Network, an international network to help improve climate journalism worldwide. This is her first book.

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Katherine Dunn
Katherine Dunn
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From the Publisher

The thrilling unexplored history of GPS
"A gripping narrative." -Bradley Hope
"Dunn is the perfect guide." -Tom Whipple

Product information

Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date June 16, 2026
Language ‎English
Print length 384 pages
ISBN-10 1639734317
ISBN-13 978-1639734313
Item Weight ‎1 pounds
Dimensions 6.55 x 1.2 x 9.6 inches
Best Sellers Rank
Customer Reviews 4.2 out of 5 stars 15Reviews

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