What is the story of your life? Has it being published? Will it be published? Make it interesting. Make us proud.

August 29, 2024

What is the story of your life? 

Once upon a time, you were conceived. A spermatozoid of your biological father fertilized an egg of your biological mother. Voila! You were conceived and your life journey in spacetime began. One day you will die. Whatever happens between your conception day and your death day will become part of the story of your life. What do you want your life story to be mostly about? What fancies your dopamine the most? 

What do you want to accomplish in your brief life? Why? By the way, will books or posts be published  about you? You have better chances of being written about or publicly discussed than billions of other humans in the past. There are countless of books and posts published every day of almost every shit imaginable on Earth.

Humans have been writing shit down for millennia. 

Before the invention of the printing press, written texts were created by hand, using a variety of materials and writing systems across different civilizations. Ten quick examples below.

1. Ancient Mesopotamia

• Material: Clay tablets.
• Writing System: Cuneiform.
• Method: Scribes used a stylus to make wedge-shaped impressions in wet clay, which was then dried or baked to harden. These tablets were used for record-keeping, legal documents, literature, and religious texts.

2. Ancient Egypt

• Material: Papyrus scrolls.
• Writing System: Hieroglyphics, Hieratic, and Demotic scripts.
• Method: Scribes wrote on papyrus, a paper-like material made from the papyrus plant, using reeds or brushes dipped in ink. The text was often written in columns on long scrolls, which were rolled up for storage.

3. Ancient China

• Material: Oracle bones, bamboo slips, silk, and later paper.
• Writing System: Chinese characters.
• Method: Early texts were inscribed on oracle bones and bronze vessels, then on bamboo slips and silk. The development of paper around 105 CE led to a shift to this more convenient material. Texts were hand-copied by scholars and scribes.

4. Ancient India

• Material: Palm leaves, birch bark.
• Writing System: Brahmi, Devanagari, and other scripts.
• Method: Texts were inscribed on dried palm leaves or birch bark using a metal stylus or ink. The leaves were then strung together with a thread to form a book, called a "pustaka" or "grantha."

5. Ancient Greece and Rome

• Material: Papyrus scrolls, parchment (vellum).
• Writing System: Greek and Latin alphabets.
• Method: Scribes wrote on papyrus scrolls or parchment made from animal skins. Parchment was more durable and eventually replaced papyrus. Books were often written in scroll form but later bound into codices (early books).

6. Medieval Europe

• Material: Parchment, vellum.
• Writing System: Latin and vernacular scripts (Gothic, Carolingian minuscule).
• Method: Monks and scribes in scriptoria (writing rooms) meticulously copied texts by hand, often with elaborate illustrations and illuminations. Manuscripts were bound in leather covers and could take months or years to produce.

7. Pre-Columbian Americas

• Material: Bark paper, deerskin, cloth.
• Writing System: Maya script, Aztec pictograms, and other indigenous systems.
• Method: The Maya used bark paper (amate) for their codices, writing with brushes or quills. The Aztecs also used pictograms on cloth or deerskin. These texts recorded history, astronomy, and religious practices.

8. Islamic Civilization

• Material: Parchment, vellum, paper.
• Writing System: Arabic script.
• Method: Islamic scholars copied texts by hand on parchment or paper, which was introduced to the Islamic world by the 8th century. Calligraphy was highly valued, and texts were often beautifully illuminated with geometric patterns and floral designs.

9. Ancient Japan

• Material: Wood, silk, paper.
• Writing System: Chinese characters (kanji), kana.
• Method: Early Japanese texts were written on wood or silk, later on paper made from mulberry bark. Calligraphy was an important art form, and texts included poetry, religious scriptures, and government records.

10. Sub-Saharan Africa

• Material: Stone, wood, leather, and later paper.
• Writing System: Ge'ez (Ethiopia), Arabic, and indigenous scripts.
• Method: In Ethiopia, texts were written in Ge'ez on parchment made from animal skins. In other parts of Africa, oral traditions were more common, but when writing was used, materials like leather or wood were inscribed with texts.

Before the printing press, texts were laboriously created by hand, using a variety of materials and methods specific to each civilization's resources and writing systems. Scribes and scholars played a crucial role in preserving and transmitting knowledge across generations, but the process was time-consuming and costly, making books rare.

The Printing Press

The invention of the printing press around 585 years ago in or around the year 1440 marked a pivotal moment in human history. The printing press began the democratization of information that has continued to this date with the internet. 

The printing press reduced the cost of producing books, making them more accessible to a wider audience. Previously, books were copied by hand, which was a slow, labor-intensive, and expensive process. With books becoming more affordable and accessible, literacy rates began to rise. People from various social classes could access books, leading to the spread of knowledge beyond the elite and clergy. 

Johannes Gutenberg, a German blacksmith, goldsmith, printer, and publisher, is credited with inventing the first movable type printing press. His press utilized movable metal type, which could be rearranged and reused, making the process of printing multiple copies of a text much faster and more efficient than hand-copying. 

Guttenberg was a medieval man. Medieval people were obsessed with religion after having been intellectually colonized by Christianity and its Judaic background. In 1455, Gutenberg printed what is now known as the Gutenberg Bible (or 42-line Bible), one of the first major books printed using movable type. The Gutenberg Bible marked the beginning of the mass production of books.

From the Renaissance to the Scientific Revolution via the Protestant Reformation, the printing press changed everything in Europe. Scholars could now disseminate their work more widely, leading to an intellectual revival in Europe known as the Renaissance. The press helped standardize texts, which proved crucial for the development of science, law, and other fields. The printing press was instrumental in the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, which criticized the Catholic Church, were rapidly printed and distributed across Europe. These theses challenged the Catholic Church’s authority and monopoly, leading to religious freedom that eventually translated into an increase in political freedom. The printing press enabled the rapid dissemination of scientific discoveries and ideas. Scientists across different regions could collaborate by sharing their findings through printed journals and books, fostering a more interconnected scientific community. The printing press allowed for the widespread dissemination of political ideas, contributing to greater political awareness and engagement among the populace. This was a key factor in the emergence of modern nation-states and the separation of church and state.

Needless to say, the availability of printed books led to the expansion of education, as more people had access to learning materials. Universities and schools grew in number and influence, helping to educate a broader segment of society. With printed textbooks, educational curricula became more standardized, leading to more uniform education systems. The printing press also sparked a literary revolution, with an explosion of new literature, including novels, plays, and poetry. Authors could now reach a broader audience, and literature became a key part of popular culture. The press allowed for the preservation of ancient texts and new knowledge, ensuring that information could be transmitted to future generations with greater accuracy.

The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg fundamentally transformed society, leading to an unprecedented spread of knowledge, the democratization of information, and significant cultural, religious, scientific, and political changes. It laid the groundwork for the modern age, influencing everything from the Renaissance and Reformation to the Enlightenment and beyond. 

The internet 

The internet, like the printing press before it, represented a monumental leap in the dissemination and use of information. The internet's impact may be considered even more transcendental for several reasons. Below a brief comparison of ten related points:

1. Speed and Reach of Information Dissemination

Printing Press: The printing press revolutionized the spread of information by making books and other printed materials widely available, but it was still limited by the physical production and distribution of paper.

Internet: The internet allows for instantaneous global communication. Information can be published, accessed, and shared in real-time by millions or even billions of people around the world, transcending geographical and temporal limitations.

2. Volume of Information

Printing Press: The printing press facilitated the mass production of books, newspapers, and pamphlets, greatly increasing the volume of information available to the public.

Internet: The internet exponentially increases the volume of accessible information. It hosts an almost infinite amount of data, including text, images, videos, and interactive content. Users have access to vast libraries, databases, and multimedia resources at their fingertips.

3. Interactivity and Collaboration

Printing Press: While the printing press enabled the spread of ideas, communication was largely one-way—from author to reader.

Internet: The internet enables two-way or even multi-way communication, fostering collaboration and interaction. Social media platforms, forums, and collaborative tools allow users to engage, create content, share ideas, and work together across the globe in real-time.

4. Personalization and Access to Niche Information

Printing Press: Printed materials were typically produced in large volumes to appeal to broad audiences, limiting access to niche or specialized information.

Internet: The internet offers personalized content tailored to individual interests. Users can access specialized knowledge, join niche communities, and find resources that cater specifically to their needs, no matter how obscure.

5. Democratization of Content Creation

Printing Press: The printing press democratized access to information but producing and distributing content still required significant resources and access to printing technology.

Internet: The internet has democratized content creation. Anyone with access to the internet can create and share content (blogs, videos, podcasts, etc.) without needing significant resources. This has empowered individuals and small groups to have a voice and influence previously reserved for those with access to printing or broadcasting capabilities.

6. Impact on Commerce and Industry

Printing Press: The printing press transformed industries such as publishing, education, and the spread of propaganda, leading to economic and social changes.

Internet: The internet has revolutionized almost every industry, from commerce (e-commerce) to entertainment (streaming, gaming) to education (online learning). It has created entirely new industries (like social media) and disrupted traditional business models on a global scale.

7. Societal and Cultural Impact

Printing Press: The printing press played a crucial role in the spread of the Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment, shaping the modern world.

Internet: The internet has a similar, if not more profound, impact on culture and society. It has changed how people interact, form communities, and access information. Movements like the Arab Spring, driven by social media, highlight how the internet can mobilize populations and impact political and social structures on a global scale.

8. Accessibility and Inclusion

Printing Press: The printing press made information more accessible but was still limited by literacy rates and the availability of printed materials.

Internet: The internet enhances accessibility in unprecedented ways. It offers tools for people with disabilities (e.g., screen readers, speech-to-text) and provides educational resources to populations with limited access to traditional schooling. It also bridges language barriers with translation tools.

9. Storage and Retrieval of Information

Printing Press: Information stored in books and papers was subject to physical decay, loss, or destruction, and retrieving information required physical access to the material.

Internet: The internet allows for the digital storage of vast amounts of data, which can be easily searched, retrieved, and preserved indefinitely. Cloud storage and online databases ensure that information is backed up and accessible from anywhere.

10. Global Connectivity

Printing Press: The printing press helped spread ideas across nations, but the process was slow, and access was often restricted by national or regional boundaries.

Internet: The internet connects the world in real-time, breaking down barriers between nations and cultures. It enables global communication, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas, contributing to a more interconnected and interdependent world.

While the printing press was a transformative invention that laid the foundation for the modern age, the internet takes the revolution to the next level by further democratizing access to information, accelerating the spread of knowledge, and connecting people globally in ways that were previously unimaginable. 

The internet's influence permeates nearly every aspect of modern life, from education and commerce to culture and social interaction, making it one of the most powerful and transcendental technologies in human history. 

The next transformative technology, the next big thing, is already here. It is, of course, artificial intelligence (AI). What is your role in all of this? Why are you here on Earth, alive right now? In what stories, fake or real, will you base your own story? Billions before you anchored their life stories in imaginary gods and deities offering an imaginary afterlife in which humans escape mortal life. Will that fantasy be part of your story as well? It's as simple as it is effective. Believing in the fantasy of God may help you live a fantastic life that may not be possible without it. Think about it. Fantasize away. Make us proud. 

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