DK to publish Haughton's first non-fiction book

DK will publish Chris Haughton’s first non-fiction book, The History of Information, on 5th September 2024.  

Fay Evans acquired world rights from Debbie Bibo at Debbie Bibo Agency. The book is now being handled by James Mitchem, senior acquisitions editor for children’s. More than 17 years in the making, the book is billed as “a love letter to knowledge, ideas and the power of information”. 

The synopsis says: “Technology is improving all the time, but what is it that makes technology evolve rather than stay static or even fall into decline? The answer is information. If we are able to record knowledge we can collect and share it. We can continue adding to it and it grows and grows. The ability to record information in the form of writing and collecting data has caused an explosion of technological progress. 

“Telling the story of how we came to collect information, and what it means for us, The History of Information is a one-of-a-kind book for children that explores the advancement of information throughout human history. Beautifully designed and presented in a way that makes this complex subject accessible, this book explores everything we know and how we know it.” 

Haughton said: “I originally had the idea for this book 17 years ago. I stumbled upon a curious title when browsing University of California, Berkeley online courses: The History of Information. I clicked the first lecture and the speaker began by asking the class a question: Why is technology improving? It seemed an almost foolish question to ask. But when they probed the class and questioned their responses it became clear that none of the students could give a satisfactory answer. Why is technology improving? I was hooked. It turns out that telling world history through the ‘history of information’ somehow explains everything. I promised myself I would make it into a book and am delighted to be working with DK to see it published this year.” 

Mitchem added: “I can’t overstate how much of a privilege it is to play a role in creating this once-in-a-lifetime book. DK has always pioneered a visual approach to explaining complex subjects. And now, on our 50-year anniversary, we’re collaborating with one of the world’s best illustrators to explain the story of everything we know. I really can’t think of a better partnership.”