What is the Whole Earth Catalog?

The Whole Earth Catalog was an influential publication created by Stewart Brand in 1969. It served as a comprehensive guide to knowledge and resources before the Internet existed, often likened to a prehistoric version of the web. The catalog was reader-generated and included information on a vast array of topics, such as how to build houses, repair cars, homeschool, and keep bees. Readers would send in recommendations, which would be printed without advertising, making it a community-supported resource 1.

Tim Ferriss noted its broad impact and multifaceted nature, describing it as a blend of a how-to manual, encyclopedia, and opinionated life guide, covering subjects from computational physics to goat husbandry 2. Many people still hold onto their copies of the Whole Earth Catalog, associating it with significant moments in their lives and personal development 2.