Riveting . . . a fascinating account of a singular technology that changed humanity's relationship to the world.

Publishers Weekly, starred review

Compelling . . . climate journalist Dunn traces the improbable evolution of GPS from secret wartime radio experiments to the invisible infrastructure that guides modern life . . . Engaging, reflective, and accessible, this is a lively, appealing history of the ubiquitous locating system and the fragility behind its reassuring bluedot.

Library Journal

Dunn's clear explanations of advanced concepts make this book accessible to nonscientific readers. Her deft integration of the stories of the many fascinating people who contributed to the development of GPS adds an engaging and important human element to the narrative. Final chapters about efforts to counter surprising security issues make this a timely book about current events in addition to a history.

Booklist

Little Blue Dot is both an invigorating history and a glimpse into the future of GPS usage, including its roles in climate tracking, military conflicts, artificial intelligence, and the commercialization of space. Dunn is an excellent guide through this shifting landscape. Her book's complex scientific material is accessible and packed with fascinating details for any reader curious about the technology's past and future.

Shelf Awareness

Dunn raises questions about the unintended consequences of knowing where we are.

The New Yorker

Little Blue Dot offers a concise, popular history of the development of a technology that has become deeply integrated into nearly all aspects of our lives . . . Dunn provides a warning about how vulnerable GPS is and, by extension, how vulnerable we are. . . Dunn makes clear that GPS was developed, improved, promoted, and implemented by scores of people. She takes particular interest in lesser-sung heroes.

The American Scholar