Abstract

How many passwords do we have to memorize these days? Or more likely, how many passwords must we regularly reset and later be reminded of, only to be again forgotten, lost, or discarded, seemingly ad infinitum? Martin Paul Eve’s book takes up the lively history and thingliness of passwords, showing them to be pressing down on us and far more than just neutral gateways or drab data points. Touching on identity theft, the ‘strength’ of passwords, and behavior conditioning, Eve’s book gets into the inner workings of this quasi-object, showing how passwords are at once integral and abject parts of modern life.