How We Got to Now

Hosted by Steven Johnson, How We Got to Now remains a landmark achievement in public broadcasting. It dismantled the myth of the lone genius, instead highlighting the interconnected web of innovation that defines modern life. By focusing on six fundamental pillars: Clean, Time, Glass, Light, Cold, and Sound. The series revealed how accidental breakthroughs transformed human society. Its cultural footprint persists in the way educators and historians discuss the 'long zoom' effect, where a single improvement in glassmaking eventually birthed the internet. The program's sleek visual style and intellectual rigor set a high bar for the documentary genre. Its lessons on the adjacent possible remain vital today for understanding our future. Set a reminder on your calendar for any potential successors, spin-offs, or anniversary specials.