Nevett with Nature

When it comes to people who’ve helped shape our thinking around technology, the environment, and alternative lifestyles, Stewart Brand stands apart. In the late 1960s, he launched the Whole Earth Catalog—a publication that did more than just inform. It sparked a cultural shift by blending ideas from ecology, engineering, and social change.

Brand’s influence stretches from the back-to-the-land movement to the rise of Silicon Valley. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Markoff explores this journey in his biography, Whole Earth: The Many Lives of Stewart Brand. The book traces how Brand moved through the worlds of counterculture, computing, and conservation. He was never fully pinned down to one identity but consistently pushed boundaries and embraced new ideas.

So, Who Exactly Is Stewart Brand?

Born in 1938 in Rockford, Illinois, Brand studied biology at Stanford and served in the Army before landing in San Francisco during the cultural revolution of the 1960s. There, he immersed himself in the psychedelic scene and started thinking about systems, space, and the global picture.

In 1968, he published the first Whole Earth Catalog, which served as a DIY guide for sustainable and independent living. It included reviews of books, tools, gear, and even some of the earliest personal computers. The goal was simple: give people access to the resources they need to take control of their own lives.

The Whole Earth Catalog Was More Than a Magazine

Empowerment was at the core of the Catalog’s mission. Its tagline, “Access to Tools,” captured the spirit of the era. Whether readers were looking for instructions on installing a solar panel or searching for philosophical texts, the Catalog provided practical knowledge that encouraged self-reliance.

The publication resonated with idealists, homesteaders, and budding technologists alike. Steve Jobs once described it as “Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along,” citing it as a key influence in his life.

If you’re curious, the full archive is now available at WholeEarth.info.

Inside the Biography: Whole Earth: The Many Lives of Stewart Brand

John Markoff’s book outlines the different lives Brand has led, from his days experimenting with psychedelics to his work with pioneers in computing and conservation. Some of the highlights include:

Not everyone has agreed with Brand’s views. His support for nuclear energy and genetically modified organisms has caused friction within environmental circles. Still, Markoff shows a man who changes his mind when the data leads him somewhere new, rather than someone who clings to ideology.

Stewart Brand’s Take on Environmentalism

In his 2010 book Whole Earth Discipline, Brand made some bold and controversial claims. He argued that certain technologies—often rejected by traditional environmentalists—could actually help solve the climate crisis.

Here are a few of his key points:

  • Nuclear power offers a low-carbon energy source and a realistic alternative to fossil fuels
  • Genetically modified crops could be essential to feeding the world’s growing population
  • Geoengineering might be a necessary backup plan if climate change becomes truly catastrophic

Brand’s philosophy favors practical solutions informed by science. While passion for the planet matters, he believes it should be balanced by facts and long-term viability.

The Long Now Foundation and Deep-Time Thinking

In the late 1990s, Brand helped launch the Long Now Foundation. Its purpose is to shift our cultural mindset from short-term fixes to long-term planning. One of its core projects is the 10,000 year clock—a massive mechanical timepiece being built inside a mountain to operate for millennia.

The foundation also runs several other initiatives:

  • The Rosetta Project, which archives human languages for future generations
  • The Interval, a café and cultural hub in San Francisco that doubles as a think tank
  • A speaker series that features leading thinkers in science, philosophy, and culture

You can explore all of their work in more detail at LongNow.org.

Why Stewart Brand Still Matters Today

Brand’s ideas remain highly relevant in today’s tech-driven world. His vision has influenced countless innovators, from the earliest web architects to the pioneers of clean energy and sustainable design. His belief in open information, community networks, and responsible technology paved the way for how we now approach everything from the internet to climate policy.

His legacy invites us to ask better questions:

  • How can technology and nature work together rather than at odds?
  • What kinds of systems are sustainable for both humans and the planet?
  • What future are we creating—and who is included in that vision?

Where to Learn More