The essays in this collection of John Gibbons's non-technical writings show both the limiting and liberating influence of government on technological research and development. Gibbons addresses the issues involved in the government's directing as well as supporting technological and scientific advance; he discusses the ways in which government and science join in serving society; and provides a look behind the scenes of the making of science policy. Active in Washington since 1972, when he was appointed to the Office of Energy Conservation by President Nixon, he was the head of the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment from 1979 until 1992, when President Clinton named him Science Advisor.

The essays in this collection of John Gibbons's non-technical writings show both the limiting and liberating influence of government on technological research and development. Gibbons addresses the issues involved in the government's directing as well as supporting technological and scientific advance; he discusses the ways in which government and science join in serving society; and provides a look behind the scenes of the making of science policy. Active in Washington since 1972, when he was appointed to the Office of Energy Conservation by President Nixon, he was the head of the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment from 1979 until 1992, when President Clinton named him Science Advisor.