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amurray914's review against another edition
3.0
As a lover of history and with a background in the semiconductor industry, I found the first half of this book extremely interesting and engaging. The book follows the chronological progression of invention from the earliest calculating machines through to IBM mainframes, PCs and finally onto the Internet and World Wide Web of today. The insights an observations of the early pioneers such as Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage were truly inspired and prescient. Isaacson’s primary thesis is that true progress is achieved through collaboration, not the sole genius inventor in the basement. He proves his theory by describing some of the greatest technological collaborations in history, Bardeen and Brattain (transistor), Noyce and Moore (Intel), Jobs and Wozniak (Apple) to name a few. The right mix of individuals on a team is also essential, the aforementioned pairings for example having a brilliant inventor or “idea man” and a highly driven and motivated technical manager. Spectacular failures are also borne out by individuals unwilling or unable to share information and cooperate (Atanasoff and Shockley spring to mind).
The book really held my attention until the invention of the PC and I enjoyed the Gates and Jobs stories. However, I found the story of the Internet and World Wide Web not as engaging, and I found myself getting a little bored towards the end of the book. Nevertheless, Isaacson does a good job and there are plenty of qualifying notes and references for follow up or more detailed reading. Definitely worth a read if the subject is of interest.
The book really held my attention until the invention of the PC and I enjoyed the Gates and Jobs stories. However, I found the story of the Internet and World Wide Web not as engaging, and I found myself getting a little bored towards the end of the book. Nevertheless, Isaacson does a good job and there are plenty of qualifying notes and references for follow up or more detailed reading. Definitely worth a read if the subject is of interest.
castle_samj's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
kanejim57's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful and entertaining book about the men and women who, over the course of nearly 200 years, built what we now call the Internet. From Lord Byron's daughter to Gates, Jobs, Page and Brin, Isaacson tells the story of the computer, its hardware and software, and the creation of the World Wide Web.
This book allowed me a trip down memory lane as my wife and I discussed our personal history and experience with computers and all off the processes that are part of them.
Isaacson does a wonderful job of describing the technology in ways that readers can understand so that they are able to enjoy the journey as it unfolds.
This book allowed me a trip down memory lane as my wife and I discussed our personal history and experience with computers and all off the processes that are part of them.
Isaacson does a wonderful job of describing the technology in ways that readers can understand so that they are able to enjoy the journey as it unfolds.
spitzig's review against another edition
4.0
Decent book. Mostly about how the big inventions today are done between people. Groups or partnerships.
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I haven't read anything by Isaacson before, and found his style to be relaxed and informative. I enjoyed the information and the general tone of the book. The chapter breakdowns were really well thought out too.
I did find that for the most part, I found the more recent elements relatable. I can understand Bill Gates story and the internet aspirations, better than I can connect with Lady Lovelace. That said her insights and connections were interesting to read and were written in a connectable way.
I did find that for the most part, I found the more recent elements relatable. I can understand Bill Gates story and the internet aspirations, better than I can connect with Lady Lovelace. That said her insights and connections were interesting to read and were written in a connectable way.
vaibhav_tripathi's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed it more than his last book Steve Jobs, even latter is more popular. It's a very good book. Waiting for Bill Gates biography to be written by Walter Issacson.
kimball_hansen's review against another edition
4.0
I'm becoming a fan of [a:Walter Isaacson|7111|Walter Isaacson|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1192222433p2/7111.jpg] as I've read a few of his works and will read at least another one. He does a very thorough job and in this case almost too thorough. After reading this I feel like the equivalent of a Thanskgiving feast. Just stuffed. I don't know much about programming and computer lingo so I couldn't appreciate it to its fullest extent. I liked getting more of a complete picture of the Digital revolution instead of just bias snippets from Apple/Microsoft Lovers (Although I think Isaacson was bias to a point, but it was manageable). It's true that you can't just have one system and expect to be the greatest but a combination of systems and how they're composed such as Microsoft, Apple, and Linux. "It depends is almost always the correct answer." This book should be read with [b:Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us|6452796|Drive The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us|Daniel H. Pink|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348931599s/6452796.jpg|6643001]. Then you can learn a little more about why, for example, Wikipedia is so successful as well as many of these innovators.
tomrrandall's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it - essential history of computing from Ada Lovelace to Google.