ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Stewart Brand

Stewart Brand is a man who likes to think about big ideas and how they can change the world. He is like a grown-up who still loves to play with Legos and build things.

One of his really big ideas was something called the Whole Earth Catalog. It was a big book full of information about all kinds of things -- like how to grow your own vegetables, how to fix a car, and even how to make your own clothes. The Whole Earth Catalog was really popular, and it helped people think about how they could be more self-sufficient and live in harmony with nature.

Stewart Brand also liked to think about technology and how it could help solve problems. He started a group called the Merry Pranksters, who would travel around in a psychedelic bus and have wild parties. But they also had a serious purpose – they wanted to use technology to create a better world.

Later on, Stewart Brand became interested in something called the Long Now Foundation. It's a group that thinks about the future and how we can create a better world for people who will be alive hundreds or even thousands of years from now. They think about how to preserve things like art and music, and how to make sure we don't ruin the planet for future generations.

Overall, Stewart Brand is a really smart guy who likes to think about big ideas and how we can make the world a better place for everyone.