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Little Blue Dot: How GPS Shaped the Modern World
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.
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.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2026
About the author
Katherine Dunn
1 book4 followersKatherine Dunn is a journalist based in London who specialises in covering the intersection between climate change, the energy transition, and business.
From 2022 through 2025, I was the content editor for the Oxford Climate Journalism Network at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University, where I helped run an international project that aimed to increase the quality of climate reporting in newsrooms. Over four years, we worked with 800+ journalists across 130 countries.
This June, I have a book coming out called Little Blue Dot: How The Global Positioning System Shaped the Modern World. It’s available to order now in the UK, US, Canada and Australia wherever books are sold.
I’ve worked as a reporter and editor for more than a decade, across breaking news and features for newspapers, newswires and magazines, covering business and political news. I am also available for long term research projects, and I occasionally give presentations on climate reporting.
From 2022 through 2025, I was the content editor for the Oxford Climate Journalism Network at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University, where I helped run an international project that aimed to increase the quality of climate reporting in newsrooms. Over four years, we worked with 800+ journalists across 130 countries.
This June, I have a book coming out called Little Blue Dot: How The Global Positioning System Shaped the Modern World. It’s available to order now in the UK, US, Canada and Australia wherever books are sold.
I’ve worked as a reporter and editor for more than a decade, across breaking news and features for newspapers, newswires and magazines, covering business and political news. I am also available for long term research projects, and I occasionally give presentations on climate reporting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 3, 2026
I don’t actually remember when GPS became an everyday feature, or when I first heard about it. I do remember articles in respectable media voicing concerns about GPS being used to track certain people — criminals, political opponents, anyone considered “interesting” to the authorities. Privacy is something that needs to be protected, but no regulation will save us if we willingly hand over our data to tech companies. Just think of apps that monitor our jogging routes as the simplest example.
Last year, for the first time, I heard about widespread problems with GPS signals. It happened in Poland: people had trouble ordering taxis, ships struggled with navigation, influencers lost their expensive drones… and NATO exercises irritated Russia. This year, people in the Gulf region were joking when their phones showed them not in Dubai, but somewhere in the middle of Iraq or Iran. Some families were genuinely frightened. Two months later, the war broke out.
So something that many people find amusing — and others find scary — is still new to most of the public. But it isn’t new at all. This book shows not only how the GPS system was created (as a military project), but also how its disruption has been causing problems around the world without ordinary people even realizing it. Do you know the difference between jamming and spoofing? Exactly. It’s all fascinating.
However… there’s a lot of history in the book that, while interesting, feels too long and doesn’t add much to the main narrative. It could have been better edited and condensed. The part about aviation troubles in Cyprus is also interesting, but it contains factual errors: planes don’t rely on GPS for navigation — they rely on radar, and on top of that they have multiple other navigation tools available in case something fails. The book also completely omits the ways GPS can be misused, as happens in Russia, China, or the Middle East.
And finally… 240 BC. Before Christ, not BCE, “Before Current Era.” Don’t change terminology that has been in use for more than two thousand years just because you don’t like it. Keep your traditions, your culture, your science free of ideology and keep them alive. Don’t let them be erased just so your new neighbours won’t complain.
Last year, for the first time, I heard about widespread problems with GPS signals. It happened in Poland: people had trouble ordering taxis, ships struggled with navigation, influencers lost their expensive drones… and NATO exercises irritated Russia. This year, people in the Gulf region were joking when their phones showed them not in Dubai, but somewhere in the middle of Iraq or Iran. Some families were genuinely frightened. Two months later, the war broke out.
So something that many people find amusing — and others find scary — is still new to most of the public. But it isn’t new at all. This book shows not only how the GPS system was created (as a military project), but also how its disruption has been causing problems around the world without ordinary people even realizing it. Do you know the difference between jamming and spoofing? Exactly. It’s all fascinating.
However… there’s a lot of history in the book that, while interesting, feels too long and doesn’t add much to the main narrative. It could have been better edited and condensed. The part about aviation troubles in Cyprus is also interesting, but it contains factual errors: planes don’t rely on GPS for navigation — they rely on radar, and on top of that they have multiple other navigation tools available in case something fails. The book also completely omits the ways GPS can be misused, as happens in Russia, China, or the Middle East.
And finally… 240 BC. Before Christ, not BCE, “Before Current Era.” Don’t change terminology that has been in use for more than two thousand years just because you don’t like it. Keep your traditions, your culture, your science free of ideology and keep them alive. Don’t let them be erased just so your new neighbours won’t complain.
June 30, 2026
Disclaimer: I don’t typically read much non-fiction.
That said, I think my high school history book was more interesting than this book. This was just a bunch of random names and facts strung together. I got about 25% of the way through before adding it to my DNF shelf. It was like watching paint dry.
That said, I think my high school history book was more interesting than this book. This was just a bunch of random names and facts strung together. I got about 25% of the way through before adding it to my DNF shelf. It was like watching paint dry.
September 24, 2026
Solid And Comprehensive (Ish) History Of GPS And Current Issues As Of Mid-2020s. This was the next book I read on my morning walks after Killed By A Traffic Engineer by Wes Marshall and which I'm following with The Grid by Gretchen Bakke... so clearly, I still (inadvertantly?) have a theme going with these books.
And what a tale this is. While the ending gets a touch more into the partisan realm re: so-called "climate change" and your mileage will absolutely vary there, it isn't so heavy as to warrant *serious* considerations of defenestration, more just an annoyance that such a great book to that point felt it *had* to bring that up for... reasons?
But before that point, Dunn does truly a remarkable job of showing how the titular "little blue dot" came to be from some of the earliest hurdles in navigation to the development in WWII of radar-assisted navigation (and the "Beam Wars" between England and Germany in particular that played key roles in the Blitz and the Battle of Britain, per Dunn) to the development of rocketry generally and from there the complications of using satellites as navigational beacon... and the realization that unlocked it all.
Divided into distinct sections of essentially "early development", "development", and "global domination", this is a more "introduction to these topics" level discussion than a true deep dive on any aspect of them, whether that be the science, the history, or any other. Yet Dunn covers every aspect in enough detail to keep the reader informed while also moving the narrative along nicely, including reserving an appendix for a bit of a deeper dive into the fight between the US Air Force and the US Navy as to which is the true origin of GPS.
Perhaps most striking of all is the extended discussion of more recent attempts of the last 20 ish years to disrupt, hack, or block global navigation signals (no matter their actual constellation), and here Dunn takes great pains to show exactly where and when these first began to be noticed and exactly why and what is being done both on offense and defense in this space... and where. Anyone who tries to claim that these issues are not discussed clearly has not finished this book, if they ever actually started reading it, as this discussion is *the* dominant discussion of the latter parts of the book before the epilogue ties a nice little bow on the entire narrative... while bringing up the aforementioned "climate change". Hell, Dunn even mentions the looming threat of AI enabled attacks... and the promise of equally AI enabled defense... even as this particular marriage of technologies is clearly the bleeding edge of this issue.
Overall truly a fascinating and informative book that is also readily approachable and readable, and one more people should read and understand the issues at hand.
Then, perhaps, go out and find a good magnetic compass within your price range and learn how to use it and paper maps once again... ;)
Very much recommended.
And what a tale this is. While the ending gets a touch more into the partisan realm re: so-called "climate change" and your mileage will absolutely vary there, it isn't so heavy as to warrant *serious* considerations of defenestration, more just an annoyance that such a great book to that point felt it *had* to bring that up for... reasons?
But before that point, Dunn does truly a remarkable job of showing how the titular "little blue dot" came to be from some of the earliest hurdles in navigation to the development in WWII of radar-assisted navigation (and the "Beam Wars" between England and Germany in particular that played key roles in the Blitz and the Battle of Britain, per Dunn) to the development of rocketry generally and from there the complications of using satellites as navigational beacon... and the realization that unlocked it all.
Divided into distinct sections of essentially "early development", "development", and "global domination", this is a more "introduction to these topics" level discussion than a true deep dive on any aspect of them, whether that be the science, the history, or any other. Yet Dunn covers every aspect in enough detail to keep the reader informed while also moving the narrative along nicely, including reserving an appendix for a bit of a deeper dive into the fight between the US Air Force and the US Navy as to which is the true origin of GPS.
Perhaps most striking of all is the extended discussion of more recent attempts of the last 20 ish years to disrupt, hack, or block global navigation signals (no matter their actual constellation), and here Dunn takes great pains to show exactly where and when these first began to be noticed and exactly why and what is being done both on offense and defense in this space... and where. Anyone who tries to claim that these issues are not discussed clearly has not finished this book, if they ever actually started reading it, as this discussion is *the* dominant discussion of the latter parts of the book before the epilogue ties a nice little bow on the entire narrative... while bringing up the aforementioned "climate change". Hell, Dunn even mentions the looming threat of AI enabled attacks... and the promise of equally AI enabled defense... even as this particular marriage of technologies is clearly the bleeding edge of this issue.
Overall truly a fascinating and informative book that is also readily approachable and readable, and one more people should read and understand the issues at hand.
Then, perhaps, go out and find a good magnetic compass within your price range and learn how to use it and paper maps once again... ;)
Very much recommended.
August 18, 2026
Borrowed from library based on a review in The New Yorker. Very good background on the development of what we in the US call GPS. Lots of nerdy math and science, yes a lot went over my head. Oodles of fascinating historical background. My one takeaway - as the development and continued support are tax-payer funded, I fear were the R & D to start today, we would not find the political will and public support to spend the vast amount of money this now widely used utility required.
September 22, 2026
Loved this book! Despite the author not including the full story of e911 and cell phone nav/tracking apps pre-iPhone (I see you Nextel and TeleNav!), it was excellent, and easy to read, The book isn't overly technical, yet it provides a descriptive view of the technology and how we rely on it every day.
July 11, 2026
First section was hard to get through, but the second and third sections redeemed the book for me, especially with the parallels towards the end. Learned a few things but wasn’t blown away
August 16, 2026
Very accessible popular overview of the history of the Global Positioning System (GPS), the effects it has had on the world, and current challenges related to it. Though at times it was technical, mostly it talked about wider social, economic, and geopolitical ramifications (the author referred to the book as a “sideways” history of the Cold War and the new cold wars that we now have). Often the different segments were tied to particular people and at times had a narrative history stye.
Part one (1940-1969) covered the use of beam technology used by the Luftwaffe in navigating over England during World War II, British attempts to jam or spoof this technology, the development of blind navigation systems in aircraft, quite a bit on the history of the first satellites, and the true ancestor of GPS, Transit or NAVSAT, the first operational satellite navigation system.
Part two (1969-2010) covered how frustrations over bombing accuracy in the Vietnam War led to the invention of GPS, the rather debated story of who and where GPS was invented (the author says it has no single inventor or point of origin), the role the tragic shoot down of Korean Airlines Flight 007 on September 1, 1983 in the government allowing civilian access to GPS, the story of selective availability of GPS for civilians (deliberate inaccuracies included in GPS signals for civilian use), how GPS use spread internationally, competitors like Europe’s Galileo, the story of portable sat nav units for cars like Garmin, and how GPS got integrated in smart phones (with discussions of the history of Google Maps and the iPhone). Also, discussion of how GPS isn’t only about navigation but its many commercial and scientific uses for accurate time keeping.
Part three (2010-2025) talked about the technology behind and use of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems; also includes Russia’ s GLONASS and others) jamming and spoofing, how both being cheap and easy and even among civilians is leading to an (expensive) trend away from GNSS, particularly near conflict areas (discussed the electromagnetic iron curtain around Russia and the electromagnetic iron dome over Israel), how widespread GPS interference affects other systems like phone and power grid systems (reliant on it for accurate time keeping), how jamming/spoofing in Ukraine has led to evolutions in drone technology, and dangers to civil aviation (timely, given the May 14, 2026 medevac plane crash in New Mexico, USA that may be related to GPS jamming by the US military).
Part one (1940-1969) covered the use of beam technology used by the Luftwaffe in navigating over England during World War II, British attempts to jam or spoof this technology, the development of blind navigation systems in aircraft, quite a bit on the history of the first satellites, and the true ancestor of GPS, Transit or NAVSAT, the first operational satellite navigation system.
Part two (1969-2010) covered how frustrations over bombing accuracy in the Vietnam War led to the invention of GPS, the rather debated story of who and where GPS was invented (the author says it has no single inventor or point of origin), the role the tragic shoot down of Korean Airlines Flight 007 on September 1, 1983 in the government allowing civilian access to GPS, the story of selective availability of GPS for civilians (deliberate inaccuracies included in GPS signals for civilian use), how GPS use spread internationally, competitors like Europe’s Galileo, the story of portable sat nav units for cars like Garmin, and how GPS got integrated in smart phones (with discussions of the history of Google Maps and the iPhone). Also, discussion of how GPS isn’t only about navigation but its many commercial and scientific uses for accurate time keeping.
Part three (2010-2025) talked about the technology behind and use of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems; also includes Russia’ s GLONASS and others) jamming and spoofing, how both being cheap and easy and even among civilians is leading to an (expensive) trend away from GNSS, particularly near conflict areas (discussed the electromagnetic iron curtain around Russia and the electromagnetic iron dome over Israel), how widespread GPS interference affects other systems like phone and power grid systems (reliant on it for accurate time keeping), how jamming/spoofing in Ukraine has led to evolutions in drone technology, and dangers to civil aviation (timely, given the May 14, 2026 medevac plane crash in New Mexico, USA that may be related to GPS jamming by the US military).
October 13, 2026
A romanticized history of a bunch of dudes. I found it hard to care about them getting coffee and commuting to work after how butthurt they all are over getting the most credit. With a weak overall narrative, the author provides details for many events in the history of GPS but rarely goes into much depth; for example, a surface level retelling of the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine is given alongside glazing of some involved individuals but stops there, a cursory mention of US Drone companies becoming involved "for the innovation" close this chapter.
The Epilogue seemed forced and brought up many common questions/concerns about the world people have today but added nothing to the conversation, tbh the vibe in the main text is very pro status quo: globalization and war and corporate interests, so it was a little jarring to see her just list off peoples concerns so matter of factly like "the ice caps are melting, don't you know,"
I feel bad for the author since the marketing team clearly forced a mention of AI and referenced it on the jacket, when she clearly seems disinterest, saying only that she didn't really think about gps when it was becoming widespread (and i guess hasn't thought about AI either)
The Epilogue seemed forced and brought up many common questions/concerns about the world people have today but added nothing to the conversation, tbh the vibe in the main text is very pro status quo: globalization and war and corporate interests, so it was a little jarring to see her just list off peoples concerns so matter of factly like "the ice caps are melting, don't you know,"
I feel bad for the author since the marketing team clearly forced a mention of AI and referenced it on the jacket, when she clearly seems disinterest, saying only that she didn't really think about gps when it was becoming widespread (and i guess hasn't thought about AI either)
September 20, 2026
Global navigation satellite system technology has a pervasive presence in our world today, but it also has negative aspects about it. GNSS is the acronym for this technology, and it can used in every facet of life to help people get to their destination on time, and GNSS ensures that the goods and services we need are delivered in a timely manner. There are two nefarious aspects of GNSS technology that people should be cognizant of, and Katherine Dunn writes about these problems in detail. A GNSS signal can reaconed or intercepted. When this situation occurs, a person can be thrown off course. Goods and services are redirected to another location too. Another peril situation is if a GNSS signal is jammed or completely stopped. When jamming occurs, every mode of transportation can be in disarray. I am hopeful that I will continue to learn how to use global navigation satellite system technology to help me arrive at the correct destination on time. I get lost and stuck in strange places easily, so the GNSS tech on my electronic devices can prevent that from happening to me. Little Blue Dot is an insightful book about GPS technology.
July 24, 2026
Interesting topic, similar in many ways to the story of the Internet, which evolved organically through many innovations. The first part of the book tells the familiar story of the first satellites and early rockets. This was very familiar to me, but the whole story of GPS's slow evolution was very interesting to read about, and the early innovators (mostly) had no idea where it was ultimately heading. Google Maps, iPhones and GPS all happened around the same time, and to most people the "blue dot" appeared overnight and was just part of the magic. It's a non-technical book, so only a high-level overview is given of how it all works.
The last part of the book is about the battle, due to the rather open nature of the technology, to keep GPS reliable. Issues like spoofing are a problem in areas of the world where geopolitics or war is a big part of daily life.
The last part of the book is about the battle, due to the rather open nature of the technology, to keep GPS reliable. Issues like spoofing are a problem in areas of the world where geopolitics or war is a big part of daily life.
Read
August 1, 2026This tells the story of the evolution the Global Positioning System (GPS) from the radio-guided German bombing runs in WWII to our now-ubiquitous wayfinding gadgets with detours into drones and related weapons of war.
A issue that gets in the way of my enjoyment of and trust in a piece of writing is a small mistake. In this book, I noted two: misattributing Moore's Law to the former CEO of IBM (rather than Intel) and the conflation of the Strait of Hormuz with the battles between the Saudis and Houthis.
These are things that a careful editor should have caught. The errors don't affect the overall usefulness of the book; they do, however, make me wonder and worry about other statements in the book.
That said, I plan to buy copies for members of my family who are involved in this kind of work.
A issue that gets in the way of my enjoyment of and trust in a piece of writing is a small mistake. In this book, I noted two: misattributing Moore's Law to the former CEO of IBM (rather than Intel) and the conflation of the Strait of Hormuz with the battles between the Saudis and Houthis.
These are things that a careful editor should have caught. The errors don't affect the overall usefulness of the book; they do, however, make me wonder and worry about other statements in the book.
That said, I plan to buy copies for members of my family who are involved in this kind of work.
September 30, 2026
Overall lot’s of interesting history on the GPS system and I liked how it was written in a “story telling” way, rather than facts and figures. However, it did start to drag mid-way and I got very bored by the time spoofing and Ukraine/Russia war came in.
The Epilogue was good as she raised many of our dilemmas to consider for the future of GPS - drone war clearly now makes GPS ineffective, spoofing means we cant rely so much on day-to-day things for it, and the fractured political arena now means we probably cant trust the USA to maintain the system, so can we rely on the Chinese or EU systems?
The Epilogue was good as she raised many of our dilemmas to consider for the future of GPS - drone war clearly now makes GPS ineffective, spoofing means we cant rely so much on day-to-day things for it, and the fractured political arena now means we probably cant trust the USA to maintain the system, so can we rely on the Chinese or EU systems?
April 20, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this “history” book. I loved the way it tied WW2 with the development of satellite technology. Having survey experience did tweak my interest in the book initially, but the book went far beyond my expectations in explaining the how, and why, of the system coming together. Then went on to make me aware of the dark side of the system. I highly recommend anyone with any ties to gps (which pretty well means everyone) to pick up this book.
Full disclosure, this was a pre-publication give away I won in exchange for a honest review.
Full disclosure, this was a pre-publication give away I won in exchange for a honest review.
August 23, 2026
Fascinating history of a technology that has become so commonplace and ingrained in our daily lives that we take it completely for granted. But there’s so much more to it. Besides an interesting backstory of how and it evolved, the author does a fantastic job of placing it in the context of major world events. Equally as interesting, if not more, is the race to control it, and jam and spoof, as the cost of these tech technologies has really plummeted and can be used in hybrid warfare. A serious book but full of surprises. The author writes in an easy to understand manner.
September 15, 2026
I really enjoyed this. Combination of history, technology, current events, and scary possibilities. The history of how navigation was improved, and spoofed, in WWII was interesting, as well as how GPS came about. Tech stuff I found very interesting. The stuff on the Ukraine war was good. I didn't realize how much of our entire society relies on the precise timing GPS/GNSS provides, and how spoofing it can cause huge problems. Telecommunications (including phones), banking, electrical grids all rely on the timing signals. I may have to build and stock a bunker...
Review of advance copy received from Shelf Awareness Pro
Fascinating. It made me aware of how rapidly the world has changed. I distinctly remember on my 'babymoon' with my husband in 2009, going to the hotel lobby to use a computer to print out Google directions to somewhere we wanted to go in Seattle.
And the baby from that babymoon is only 16 now, and I can't even remember the last time I used a map NOT on my phone.
Full review coming for Shelf Awareness.
And the baby from that babymoon is only 16 now, and I can't even remember the last time I used a map NOT on my phone.
Full review coming for Shelf Awareness.
July 16, 2026
Pretty good. It tells an interesting story, but at times seems to lack a central thesis or coherence.
Was not a fan of the epilogue, book would have been better without it. It’s not even that I disagree with it, but it becomes an opinion piece that has little to no relation to the rest of the book. If some of those points were peppered in during the other chapters or could atleast be referenced to it would not have felt so out of place.
Was not a fan of the epilogue, book would have been better without it. It’s not even that I disagree with it, but it becomes an opinion piece that has little to no relation to the rest of the book. If some of those points were peppered in during the other chapters or could atleast be referenced to it would not have felt so out of place.
August 1, 2026
I heard of this book either on Radio 4 or Times Radio and thought it may provide an insight into one of the most interesting technologies of recent years.
The book provides some history of GNSS development and some information on its military and civilian uses as well as its weaknesses. However for me it’s rather ‘chatty’ style and limited information on civilian and commercial uses left many questions unanswered. The implications of spoofing and interruptions on military, civilian and commercial operations will have very significant implications for modern life. The military implications were covered the others rather less so.
The book provides some history of GNSS development and some information on its military and civilian uses as well as its weaknesses. However for me it’s rather ‘chatty’ style and limited information on civilian and commercial uses left many questions unanswered. The implications of spoofing and interruptions on military, civilian and commercial operations will have very significant implications for modern life. The military implications were covered the others rather less so.
October 17, 2026
A map where the dots on the map aren't locations or points in time, but individual men and women, along with shifts in modern culture, that shaped the development of essential infrastructure, which turns out to be something far more ephemeral than I had ever appreciated. I really loved how this isn't a book about techbros - it's about science teachers and amateurs and enthusiasts, "citizen scientists" really, who play a vital role in technological innovation.
November 3, 2026
Look, Little Blue Dot is a ridiculous, joyful mess, and I loved most of it. Katherine Dunn throws a rogue wedding planner, a bear in a minivan, and a very patient groom into one chaotic weekend, and the scene where the whole party tries to coax the bear out with cocktail weenies is the funniest thing I've read in months. The jokes start to repeat near the end. For readers who like their comedy big and weird. Pass if you need things to make sense.
July 8, 2026
A clear eyed examination of high tech and our children's future.
Katherine draws from twentieth century evolutions of war to illustrate present and future battlefield developments. In describing the benign nature of GPS public use and contrasting that with all the ham fisted and also subtle deviations crashing down on it now we get a window into the possible future of AI.
Katherine draws from twentieth century evolutions of war to illustrate present and future battlefield developments. In describing the benign nature of GPS public use and contrasting that with all the ham fisted and also subtle deviations crashing down on it now we get a window into the possible future of AI.
October 13, 2026
Great combination of the history of the development of the technology, an understandable explanation of the science, and a survey of the crazy recent and current events surrounding the jamming, spoofing and weaponization of GPS. And only a minor mention of climate change in the last chapter! (That GPS helps scientists measure a changing Earth seems like an awkward insertion TBH).
August 11, 2026
Utterly fascinating and well written for general interest audiences. Super fun to be reading this while watching the fictionalized version of this same history (cold war, space race) in For All Mankind.
August 17, 2026
Fascinating story of the development of GPS and other navigational systems. Adds to some of the aviation and rocketry books I've read. Dunn makes a fairly complex subject understandable, though if you're a bit of a techno-nerd you'll definitely enjoy this book.
September 6, 2026
Seemed a bit short and scattered, more a compilation of events that have shaped GPS rather than a clear narrative. Still, a good introduction into the impacts of GPS and what happens when it is disrupted
July 14, 2026
Tbh I zone out through half of it but the half I listened to was interesting enough.
July 22, 2026
This book makes complex technology easy to understand while showing just how important GPS is to our daily lives
July 28, 2026
An excellent history of the Global Positioning System!
August 20, 2026
Thought provoking, engaging.
August 23, 2026
Surprisingly easy to follow considering the technological details.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews