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108 reviews for:
The Victorian Internet: The Remarkable Story of the Telegraph and the Nineteenth Century's On-Line Pioneers
Tom Standage
3.85 AVERAGE
108 reviews for:
The Victorian Internet: The Remarkable Story of the Telegraph and the Nineteenth Century's On-Line Pioneers
Tom Standage
3.85 AVERAGE
informative
fast-paced
I'd probably have to give this 3.5 stars, but I'm feeing generous with four. This was a great little history, and even if you're not a technology geek, Standage presents the information in a way that virtually anybody can understand (without sounding too elementary). 1998, when it was written, may seem like eons ago when it comes to the Internet, but the 2007 afterword draws some more recent parallels and makes predictions about the emergence of smartphones that have, so far, turned out to be true. If you want something a little different from what you normally read, this would be a quick, fun option.
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
informative
slow-paced
read for class. boring, but not as boring as a book about the history of the telegraph had the potential to be
I actually name dropped this book in one of my law school admission essays, it intrigued me so much. Ok. So the telegraph, boring, right? I thought so too, until I realized what a milestone it was for the people in the 1800's. Most people didn't really know what it was or how it even worked. Some folks actually thought messages weren't sent electronically, but through high powered pistons that pumped air and shot folded-up pieces of paper through a telegraph wire over hundreds of miles. And of course there was a new class of criminals who took advantage of the new technology---all of the parallels sounds exactly like the problems experienced in today's world with the advent of the Internet(i can still hear my grandma echoing "But how does the letter get INSIDE the computer?") It was an interesting read, and I think another step of getting inside the head of ordinary people in the 19th century, which is one of my passions in life. I think most of the world look at the everyday denizens of the past as boring, stark black-and-white characters. The kinda people who didn't make love or play with dogs or laugh at the tripping of clumsy people. I love it.
Really enjoyed reading about this portion of history! The author presented the stories/information in an organized, straightforward manner.
Nicely written little book on history of telegraphy and effects of telegraph to the humanity. Rather fun to read.