The acclaimed, bestselling author of Einstein's Dreams presents another startling meditation on science and life–the harrowing tale of one man's struggle to cope in a wired world as his own biological wiring short-circuits.

As Bill Chalmers shuttles to work, an extraordinary thing happens. Suddenly, he can't remember who he is or where he works. All he can recall is the corporate motto: the maximum information in the minimum time. Bill’s memory returns, but a pronounced numbness encroaches his body. He grows increasingly isolated at work, his doctors are unable to diagnose his condition, and his wife and son are more interested in technology than they are in him. The result is a startling arraignment of a world driven by speed, information, and the bottom line.