“Just as producers often give consumers things they want but didn't think to ask for, consumers sometimes come up with surprising uses for new inventions. When a new product appears, it can uncover dissatisfactions and desires no one knew were there.”

American journalist and author

Virginia Postrel is an American journalist and author who writes about commerce, culture, and technology. She is known for essays and commentary on how these areas shape modern life. She is a contributing editor at Works in Progress and co-hosts the podcast Everyday Abundance. Her work often focuses on the meeting point of markets, ideas, and everyday life, with a clear interest in how people make sense of change.