Book Description

In this very different book, Arnold Pacey takes a global view, placing the development of technology squarely in a "world civilization." ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Hello! What about the S. American potato plant!?
The book's a great resource if you're a Marco Polo fan BUT..

Doesn't he know that the Industrial Revolution was caused by the POTATO PLANT which was cultivated by the Aymara Indians in present-day Peru?
The potato plant allowed European wheat-grinding mills to be converted to textile mills and a mere 300 years later, Europe had nuclear reactors.

The Ancient Greeks had the steam engine! Heron of Alexandria called his invention an "aeolopile". But Pacey didn't explain why Ancient Greece had no Industrial Revolution.

Pacey is a physicist. Maybe he knows if the Ancient Greeks had an Industrial Revolution in some Parallel Universe.

A Good Overall Review
Arnold Pacey has written a fine examination of the development of technology throughout the world. He does not limit himself to one area of the world ( a common failing of many Eurocentrists), nor does he go overboard in praising the accomplishments of one area at the expense of others ( something many Asiaphiles tend to do).

Pacey concentrates on the last thousand years or so. He covers the numerous accomplishments of Asia and highlights the important role played by the Mongols in linking the world. He also spends some fascinating time in the Americas, which tend to get short shrift from many historians, and draws some interesting parallels between the various "gunpowder empires" and industrial movements. The writing is clear and always interesting, with many nice drawings and diagrams.

Technology in World Civilization
Pacey's thesis is that technology spreads through dialogue between cultures. There are three different types of technological diffusion: when one culture simply gives another culture a technology, when one culture gives another the basic idea and the latter improves upon it, and when technology is imposed upon another culture. A good example of the first type of diffusion is when the Chinese empire came into contact with the Europeans they exchanged goods as well as information that lead to the use of gunpowder and looms in Europe. The second; when the Turks taught the Europeans how to make guns and the Europeans developed an even more powerful cannon that made it back to the Turks. And finally, the plantation farming techniques were imposed on the Africans during the colonial era, even when they thoroughly depleted the soil and required fertilizer and pesticides. The AP World History theme best reflected in Technology in World Civilization is the impact of technology and demography on people and the environment. There are hundreds of examples of this theme in Technology in World Civilization so I will list the three best ones. When the gun was invented after the Chinese spread the word about gunpowder, 'gunpowder empires' began to form. The Ottoman Empire is the best example as it was built around the gun. The Ottoman Army was one of the first to fully embrace the firearm into its tactics and even trained special units called Janissaries that were trained from an early age in the ways of firearms. Another critical invention was the printing press in China. The Chinese had an incredible hunger for books and loved to read and learn. The printing press allowed the book to be accessed by many more people than ever before. The final invention that changed life more than anything else was the steam engine. At first only used to pump water out of coalmines because of its incredible inefficiency, it evolved into the force that powered factories, trains, and blast furnaces. Not only did the steam engine make it possible to produce textiles hundreds of times faster than before it united the world. Within 100 years since the popularization of the steam locomotive, tens of thousands of miles of track had been laid and nearly the entire world was accessible by rail. Pacey's thesis seems very sound based on everything he's written in Technology in World Civilization, which makes sense since he wrote the book to defend his thesis. Not having read any other books about the subject matter, I'm not the best person to attack or defend his thesis, but I will choose to defend it because I see no other logical way technology could be transferred. It could be possible that technology was brought over by middlemen who bought and sold information, however it seems that that is a relatively new concept and it didn't occur the pre-modern peoples that information is worth money. The cause and effect examples that support Pacey's thesis are very clear. If one civilization never imposed technology upon another than there wouldn't have been plantations in Africa and the indigenous peoples would still be 'multistory farming'. If technology never spread through dialogue, than the Turks would be ruling the world with their superior weaponry that no nation could come close to. Pacey also has a wide variety of examples from all different cultures and eras that support his thesis. In order to prove technology is spread through dialogue, he starts by using the spread of the loom and gunpowder as examples and then moves through history all the way through the train and how it quickly spread through the entire world. Pacey's sources are very varied and never contradict each other. All the books listed in the bibliography are for specific sources and he consulted a separate book for every area of specific interest as well as several more general sources including two of his previous books. He documented every source perfectly and had a wide cross section of author nationalities as well and publishers guaranteeing that his information couldn't be biased. He also had many illustrations and a few sources that were originally from the time period or based on originals. There are few periods in time were it is excruciatingly difficult to find works of the period and many historians write books to fill in the gaps, which are referenced in Technology in World Civilization. In conclusion, Technology in World Civilization is a good read a well as a very informative book on the spread of technology. The only thing it lacked was the pre-historical spread of technology, which I hoped to learn more about. Pacey's thesis is very sound and he provide plenty of evidence to back it up as well as many maps, tables, and drawings. Every fact is documented and he has an impressive list of sources on his bibliography, from the most obscure Studies in Primitive Looms to the very broad Printing and Paper Pacey covered every subject in his book with the utmost detail. Technology in World Civilization delivers not only a lesson in World History, but also an entertaining read. ... Read more

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Reviews (1)

A Fountain of Information in a Pot-Boiler of a Story
This book covers more than twenty-five years of the quest for a viable bacteria fighter recounting the lives of the major players and further depicting the slow progress of medical invention combating infection through all history. The most critical era of this story, however, is coincidently the most important and harrowing years of the 20th century. The all too real threat of a Nazis invasion of Great Britain served as the backdrop for this story's most vital moments.
Few would argue against the notion that the discovery and creation of Penicillin as a viable life saving medication is the most important medical event of the 20th century. Mr. Lax in a detailed, can't put it down, page-turner manages to incorporate the nuances of all of the disparate personalities of the main characters whose devotion to their science and unrelenting commitment to the saving of untold millions of lives refuse to be deterred by the often overwhelming obstacles that faced them each day. In this new century when bringing a drug to market is reputed to take upwards of 10 to 15 million dollars, we watch as Dr. Florey goes before his money sources for research at Oxford and other entities of the time in hopes of raising $100.00 for supplies and comes away with $25.00. (That's right, the decimal points were not misplaced) What we see to our amazement is that they made due.
Dr. Norman Heatley was a genius at coming up with a substitute for just about every necessary hospital research tool imaginable. We share his glee when he shows the rest of the team his latest Rube Goldberg contraption for making some vital process work.
There are countless anecdotes in the day-to-day stories of the mission's successes and failures, all notes and attributions are scrupulously noted by Mr. Lax.
Surreptitious night flights to America via Lisbon with blacked out plane windows, reminiscent of many wonderful movies of the forties portraying life risking events surrounded by war had me shaking my head not simply because of the inherent palpable drama but because it all really happened.
The Americans did lend support in terms of money and ingenuity but it was this team of Oxford scientists who would not be denied. Because of them millions of lives were saved before the end of World War Two and countless millions continue to be saved as a result of the second, third and fourth generations of anti-biotic drugs spawned by their initial discovery.
Mr. Lax has, to the great satisfaction of the reader, set the record straight. He gave credit where it was due without disparaging the reputations of any of many important contributors. It was pleasing and insightful to learn the true story of the greatest medical discovery of the century. Further, that these scientists did their work for the betterment of mankind rather than for the unabated lust for money and power that now confront us daily in news reports cannot be ignored.
My words and recollections only touch the tip of the iceberg that is this story, I urge everyone to pick up a copy of The Mold In Dr. Florey's Coat and then pass it on to a friend. Who knows maybe the notion of doing things for all of the right reasons might just start to spread. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Quantum mechanics, which describes the behavior of subatomic particles, seems to challenge common sense. Waves behave like particles; particles behave like waves. You can tell where a particle is, but not how fast it is moving--or vice versa. An electron faced with two tiny holes will travel through both at the same time, rather than one or the other. And then there is the enigma of creation ex nihilo, in which small particles appear with their so-called antiparticles, only to disappear the next instant in a tiny puff of energy. Since its inception, physicists and philosophers have struggled to work out the meaning of quantum mechanics. Some, like Niels Bohr, have responded to quantum mechanics' mysteries by replacing notions of position and velocity with probabilities. Others, like Einstein and Penrose, have disagreed and think that the entire puzzle reflects not a fundamental principle of nature but our own ignorance of basic scientific processes.

Sneaking a Look at God's Cards offers the general reader a deep and real understanding of the problems inherent to the interpretation of quantum mechanics, from its inception to the present. The book presents a balanced overview of current debates and explores how the theory of quantum mechanics plays itself out in the real world. Written from the perspective of a leading European physicist, it looks extensively at ideas from both sides of the Atlantic and also considers what philosophers have contributed to the scientific discussion of this field. Sneaking a Look at God's Cards sets out what we know about the endlessly fascinating quantum world, how we came to this understanding, where we disagree, and where we are heading in our quest to comprehend the seemingly incomprehensible.

Reviews (1)

Best book on qm for general audience
This is the best book I've seen on quantum mechanics. It's probably too hard to follow without some scientific experience on the part of the reader. But it is the only book I know of (and I'm aware of most) that really covers the conceptual issues of the entire subject in an open-minded non-romantic, non-mystical and realistic way. Very refreshing. A gem. ... Read more

Book Description

The Best Tool of the Millennium

The seeds of Rybczynski's elegant and illuminating new book were sown by The New York Times, whose editors asked him to write an essay identifying "the best tool of the millennium." An award-winning author who once built a house using only hand tools, Rybczynski has intimate knowledge of the toolbox -- both its contents and its history -- which serves him beautifully on his quest.

One Good Turn is a story starring Archimedes, who invented the water screw and introduced the helix, and Leonardo, who sketched a machine for carving wood screws. It is a story of mechanical discovery and genius that takes readers from ancient Greece to car design in the age of American industry. Rybczynski writes an ode to the screw, without which there would be no telescope, no microscope -- in short, no enlightenment science. One of our finest cultural and architectural historians, Rybczynski renders a graceful, original, and engaging portrait of the tool that changed the course of civilization. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Screw Up Your Courage and Dive into Screwdrivers!
Although I had no interest in screwdrivers and screws when I started this book, the text provided a pleasant reading experience and I learned more than I thought I would. All in all, it was well worth the time spent. I think you will feel that way too, unless you have no interest at all in mechanical devices and the process of innovation. My favorite parts related to the innovations.

This book is composed of equal parts (1) why the author chose the screwdriver as the tool of the millennium for his article in the Sunday New York Times Magazine (2) where you have to go to find out about screwdrivers from the past (3) how he developed the information for this history of the screwdriver and screws and (4) the geniuses who developed the key advances in the technology of these useful devices. The style is a bit rambling, much like what would happen if you were chatting about the subject over a barbecue in the back yard with plenty of time on your hands. I can assure you this must be the most complete and authoritative book about screwdrivers and screws ever, especially since the author points out the virtual absence of any prior material turning up in his research.

Let me summarize the key areas. He picked the screwdriver as the tool of the millennium not because he thought of it, but because his wife told him that it was the one tool that she always kept around. After having gone through his own tool kit, he had not even thought of the screwdriver.

The first place where much shows up on the screwdriver in older texts is Diderot's Encyclopedia. In those days screwdrivers were called turnscrews.

To get a flavor of the screwdriver in the middle ages, when it seems to have appeared, you have to look into armor and early guns.

The screw goes back much further, showing up in useful form for Archimedes in Greek times as a way to raise water.

Screws later played many other important roles, especially in presses (including, of course, printing presses).

Lathes turned out (pun intended) to be an important related technology for making screws precise and consistent.

I learned about some interesting related technologies, including Greek mechanical devices with gears for calculating the orbits of heavenly bodies.

Then, we finally get down to gears and the development of improved lathes and the Robertson and Phillips screw heads. He prefers the Robertson (which I had never heard of before) which uses a socket top to screw in and remove screws.

At the end is a nice set of illustrations along with a glossary of tools.

This book is probably going to be a classic Father's Day gift for decades, along with a Robertson screwdriver, socket set, and screws.

Overcome your misconception that you know all you need to know about screwdrivers. You'll be pleasantly surprised by this gentle and unassuming book.

When you are done, pick something else you think you probably know enough about and search around to find a good book on that topic as well to expand your own knowledge further. Keep doing that, and some wonderful learning awaits you!

Donald Mitchell (donmitch@irresistibleforces.com)

An Interesting Magazine Article
This little book illustrates one way to turn a magazine article into a book: write about the writing as much as about the subject. And so the author tells us how he came to the idea of an article about screws and screwdrivers; he tells us about the libraries he went to to research it, the books he read, and their authors lives; he describes the museums he visited and the displays he saw there; and he describes the stream of consciousness that led him along the way. The result is a non-chronological treatment that can be a bit confusing; and although structured as a detective story, using hints from obscure books and museums to trace a path steadily farther back into history, the materials in the last chapter -- on the use of screw devices in the ancient world -- are actually the most commonly known and available. But the story is pleasantly told and along the way we do learn what there apparently is to know about the history of the screw and screwdriver.

Pleasant Little Book
Just read the professional reviews; this is an absolutely pleasant little book. It is small, and only 145 pages of main text; the rest is illustrations, notes & sources, and is not an in-depth treatise on any specific person, place or instrument. However, I believe it is well researched and if you seek further information there are plenty of sources to follow up on. The writing is excellent, conversational and engaging, scholarly, clear, direct and not intimidating or off-putting. The author starts out with a conversation on why and how he started looking into the history of the screwdriver. Through the chapters he branches into the screw, the auger, and predecessors through history. The talks quickly about who invented what, what we know from original publications, the scientific or engineering implications of the inventors and their inventions. All very quick, but with lots of sources of you desire further reading.

I'm turning into a crotchety old man before your eyes ...
This is a fun little book, although the author has written better.

My review is on the price though. I buy everything that Witold Rybczynski writes although this one gave me pause. Twenty dollars for a 130 paperback--with small pages at that?

I am a fan of the handsomely published essays like Hitchen's Kissinger, Klein's Fences and Windows, and Amis' Koba. They need to have a market, but I'm not sure that this new pricing approach is good for long-term readership.

Interesting stuff, but a bit dry and disorganized.
Seems more like a rambling diary of the author's quest to research a piece he did for the NY Times Millenium Issue. The history and connections are quite interesting, but it seems his notes needed a lot more editing.

For example, the division of material into chapters seems very arbitrary and not particularly helpful. The narrative is choppy in many parts. One is not sure where he is going with his assorted findings of references to screws through the ages. He jumps around, back and forth, delving in the 1700's, then the middle ages, then the 1800's, then Roman times, then to the 1500's...it's quite confusing to follow the thread, if there is one. I don't think the author took the time to reflect on all he had found and tell a clear story of it. Rather he revels (understandbly) in the fun and frustrations of researching the material.

Also, his assertion that the inventor of the screw was clearly a mathematical genuis is not very convincing. Yes, the helix is elegant. But the screw itself is an ancient invention that was clearly an interative development. Just because some mathematicians like Hero describe in those terms doesn't mean he invented it.

Another aspect is that the illustrations are a bit stingy and could have been better placed throughout the book. It would have made the material easier to follow. And how about a timeline chart? That would surely have helped!

The bottom line is that there are parts of the book that I found interesting, and other I found frustrating. A mixed review is the best I can offer. Your level of curiosity will determine how desirable a read it is. ... Read more

Book Description

Donald MacKenzie follows one line of technology - strategic ballistic missile guidance through a succession of weapons systems to reveal the workings of a world that is neither awesome nor unstoppable. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Change Your Way of Thinking
This is a hallmark book, and not solely to those interested in the history of ballistic missile guidance systems (though it would be difficult for others to discover). Mr. MacKenzie's real contribution is to examine how theories compete, contend and clash, and how the "intellectual community" finds and/or accepts them. A careful reading of the book, with only a modicum of knowledge of the subject, could change the way one thinks about every aspect of life.

I found it brilliant and revelatory, and I have recommended it to many people who sought to have their conceptual conciousness raised, as was mine.

One of the few scholarly journals this "academaholic" would ever recommend to a general (though well-read) audience.

Keep a copy around for some deserving late teen ager whose mind is in full bloom - you will find yourself rewarded.

Historical Sociology
This book is regarded as groundbraking in nonproliferation circles. It describes invention and the institutions supporting invention.

This book describes the ideologies and nuclear strategies during the Cold War in an excellent way. And it has to. Because it tries to find an alternative to the prevailing perception of technological determism and realism. Historical Sosiology.

I found this book very difficult to read. The language is "scientific" and loaded with information. I will not recommend this book to the casual reader, but for history buffs in nuclear strategy, it is a must.

Recommended for Targeteers by nervegas.com
This is one of those very odd specialty books that always has you wondering who is the real audience.

The author has done an excellent job of researching the topic, and appears to be from the missile guidance community (or at least aerospace). His style is dry, but frank.

The book traces the US experience in missile guidance technology, then analyzes the sequence of RFP to field test to reveal the sociological dynamics of a technology.

For the information revolution, and a society that is becoming increasingly more technological, this book is an early example of what will likely be reproduced elsewhere for other technologies.

Throughout the book, the author debates what is accuracy. Traditionally, the Circular Error Probability (CEP) has been used, but some believe that a bias displaces the actual aiming point, and thus reduces the meaning of the CEP. Not addressed in this book is the debate concerning intelligence assets to support deep and strategic strikes, which accounts for many peoples belief in an accuracy bias. The author's bias arguement is along different lines than that used today, and is not well developed (the author argues against it).

The arguement being addressed is how credible is a nuclear deterent if systems are perfected to hit a test target on a Pacific island where all the navigational variables are known. This arguement is revisited by more recent books dealing with smart weapons; weapons which contractually meet their requirements to hit targets in arid Nevada, but appear incapable of doing likewise in a misty European battlefields.

The author does present an interesting sociological model that has a wide application: the certainty trough. This model implies that those with the greatest confidence in a technology are well informed on it, and between those that develop the technology, and those that know little about it.

While dealing only with strategic ballistic missiles, the author's approach to technological sociology is well worth reading and applying to current day arguements with other weapon systems. ... Read more

Book Description

This dazzling companion volume to one the most important series in PBS history tells the compelling story of the theory of evolution -- from Darwin to twenty-first-century science.

Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species was breathtaking, beautifully written, staunchly defended, defiantly radical. Yet it emerged long before paleontologists and geologists worked out the chronology of life on Earth, long before biologists uncovered the molecules that underlie heredity and natural selection. Not until the late twentieth century was the true scope of its power revealed.

This remarkable new book, featuring more than 150 color illustrations, presents a rich and up-to-date view of evolution that explores the far-reaching implications of Darwin's theory and emphasizes the power, significance, and relevance of evolution to our lives today. After all, we ourselves are the product of evolution, and we can tackle many of our gravest challenges -- from the lethal resurgence of antibiotic-resistant diseases to the wave of extinctions that looms before us -- with a sound understanding of the science. It can help us see our lives in connection to everything that has come before and to every form of life on Earth today.

Filled with rich narrative, award-winning science writing, and the most up-to-date information on topics ranging from Darwinian medicine and sexual selection to the origins of language, evolutionary psychology, and the controversies surrounding creationism, Evolution tells in riveting detail the story of a remarkable scientific journey, from the emergence to the triumph of an idea.

Reviews (43)

Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea
Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea written by Carl Zimmer is one of the best books that presents a rich and up-to-date view of evolution that explores the far-reaching implications of Darwin's theory and emphasizes the power, significance and relavance of evolution to our lives today.

Reading this book leaves no doubt that Darwin was right... evolution is fact, whether the creationists want to believe it or not. "Evolution" tells in riveting detail the story of a remarkable scientific journey, from the emergence to the triumph of an idea. This book is an easy read filled with a rich narrative, award-winning science writting, illustrated with more than 150 color illustrations making this book a dazzling companion to the PBS series of the same name.

"Evolution" is divided into four parts covering a wide scope, but bringing a clear focus to the reader as to the truth about evolution. Starting out in part one: Slow Victory: Darwin and the Rise of Darwinism. From Dawin's trip on the Beagle, to the writing of "The Origin of Species," to putting date to our History of Life, and a very clear "Witnessing Change: Genes, Natural Selection and Evolution in Action. Each of the sub-sections is well written and cogent, bring a foundation to the book bringing to reader upto speed.

Part Two: Creation and Destruction, where we read about "Rooting the Tree of Life;" From Life's Dawn to the Age of Microbes; next "The Accidental Tool Kit:" Chance and Constraints in Animal Evolution; to "Extinction:" How Life Ends and Begins Again. Here the reader sees life's will to survive. It is at work on all species everywhere on the planet, and it has been at work ever since life first emerged.

Part Three: "Evolution's Dance, featuring "Coevolution;" Weaving the Web of Life; "Doctor Darwin;" Disease in the Age of Evolutionary Medicine; to "Passion's Logic:" The evolution of Sex. This section brngs to light reasoning to save endangered species from extinction because we can find among them lessons about how evolution works. As man evolves, so does his enviornment, making all life part of the whole picture of survival.

Part Four: "Humanity's Place in Evolution and Evolution's Place in Humanity" where "The Gossiping Ape:" The Social Roots of Human Evolution; next, "Modern Life, 50,000B.C.: The Dawn of Us; to "What about God?" This whole section should ruffle the skirts of the creationists, as I found this section to be the most interesting. This section places man in the mix of evolution, just as everything else in nature, is a obvious survivor of evolution to this point in time.

Ever since the publication of "Origin of Species," people have been pondering the significance of evolution for the meaning of their lives, and of life in general. Are we just a biological accident or a cosmic imperative? Well, if this question is left to the facts alone, then man is part and parcel of Earth's evolutionary process. But, there are those who contemplate, where is God's place if everything does have a natural cause? Might I suggest that, maybe "God" is an evolution in our mind's thought as a succor to portray evolving to loftier heights.

A Definitive Guide to Evolution for lay men
Carl Zimmer wrote a solid account of evolution in the book "Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea". The text is accessible to practically all ages. Serious lay men and people with no knowledge of evolution may find the book rewarding and entertaining. Zimmer begins with an elegant life story of Darwin - his family, his voyage on HMS Beagle, his friendship and discussions with other naturalists, publication of Origin of Species and other details. I was particularly interested in how Darwin's theory and ideas were debated at the time. As the book explains, Darwin earned many loyal friends (Thomas Huxley) and bitter enemies (Sir Richard Owen) after publishing his work. Also, Zimmer provides some information on carbon dating and emphasizes its importance as a method and introduces Lord Kelvin and Marie Curie to his readers as well. When Zimmer moves on to discuss genetics and heredity he rightly introduces Gregor Medel. Readers should pay special attention to the evolutionary tree of whales that show a divergence of species that are actual intermediate forms.

Due to the compactness of the text I understand that Zimmer was writing under deep constraint, however, I was surprised by the fact that Zimmer only briefly mentions trilobites that surpassed 300 million years of existence during Paleozoic Era and the dinosaurs (150 million years during Mesozoic Era). At times Zimmer presents only one theory when it is known that several theories exist that confirm to the available evidence suggesting there is some favoritism going on. Graphs and illustrations seem to be up to date and are well picked but I wish he included more of these. Visual information is just as valuable as verbal.

Zimmer describes several theories that try to account for mass extinctions (90% of species 250 million years ago, the demise of dinosaurs 65 million years ago, and other 4 mass extinctions): volcanism and cataclysmic asteroid collisions with earth. Zimmer attributes the mammalian rise to dominance to the mass extinction that happened 65 million years ago. He explains that mammals were no bigger than present day shrews at the time dinosaurs ruled. Only after the extinction could the mammals grow in size unconstrained. Zimmer predicts that future extinctions may be possible but this time it is Homo sapiens that are causing it. He explains that humanity has already left a deep mark on environment through carbon dioxide emissions and deforestation. According to him, we are frustrating the evolution of other plants and animals. If this is thrown out of whack the consequences may be catastrophic.

Later on, Carl writes about sexual selection and sexual/asexual reproduction. He explains evolutionary advantage sexually-reproducing animals have over those that reproduce asexually. For describing sexual selection and female choice Zimmer uses old established example of peacock's tail.

As we approach Part 4 we are headed into evolution of hominids. I was rewarded by the reconstructions of hominids: Australopithecus afarensis and Homo ergaster. Here Zimmer dwells into the theory of mind, human migrations, hominid interaction, and emergence of modern human behavior, symbolic thinking, and other areas. He gives some clues as to why Neanderthals went extinct about 27,000 years ago. Homo neanderthalensis did not seem to interbreed with Homo sapiens. They left no progeny. Zimmer is clearly a proponent of a theory of sudden emergence of human behavior that arose, according to some anthropologist, as early as 50,000 years ago and led to the use of jewelry, cave paintings and other forms of symbolic expression. I personally sway toward the theory that suggests that modern human behavior arose gradually in Africa without taking any sudden leaps. Recent archeological findings of shell beads dated to about 75,000 years ago and other digs may be suggesting that modern human behavior has existed way before Africans began expanding into Europe in several migration waves.

The last chapter deals with the idea of God. Zimmer walks his readers through history of American education and its battle with Darwinism. He explains that Darwinism has historically been abused and used to justify xenophobia, violence, and eugenic polices in Europe. This type of Darwinism was dubbed "Social Darwinism" and left a deep gash on the reputation of Darwinism as a healthy science. Additionally, if you are interested about Intelligent Design movement and Earth Creationists then you will definitely like this chapter.

Zimmer finishes off his book splendidly. He portrays Darwin's own battle with his religiosity. Darwin's transformation from a devoted Christian to an agnostic was gradual. Deaths of his loved ones left deep marks on his mentality. At the end Darwin himself succumbed to his illness and passed away in solitude and peace.

WOW!!!!!!!
what an experience... This book has open my mind up to a new world. I feel that I have a much greater knowledge and appreciation of the origins of life and the world around me.
This book is designed for beginners who are new to evolution and the origins of life on earth.

the book walks you through fascinating subjects that you could not think of in your wildest dreams: example, did you know that whales and dolphins were once land mammals. Even Today whales still have remants such as a hip bone and tiny hind legs only a few inches long.
This book is long and very time consuming but if you have a alot of time and a GREAT thrust for knowledge this book is for you.

As interesting as evolution itself
Wow, I have to say this is the first book I read of Carl Zimmer, he really impress me. The book is graphically wonderful, it has lots of pictures and some sketches that support the text. You can almost read it as a textbook, but this one is much more interesting. The way Zimmer states the plot (which of course is history, not fiction) and how he explains the current states of affairs (considering herbicides, plaguicides, genetic modified food, etc.) and its impact in ecology is that of a first class novelist. He covers almost every aspect of evolution you can imagine, so he cleverly responds (almost telepathically) to the interior questions nurtured while reading the text. Superb, I love this book.

A Splendid Companion to the PBS series
Carl Zimmer, one of our finest science writers, has written an elegant companion to the PBS NOVA miniseries which stands on its own as an excellent introduction to evolution, covering topics which should be of interest to all, ranging from the evolution of sex to fighting disease, and of course, the search for humanity's origins as the only extant member of a once-flourishing tribe of hominid species related to the great apes. Each of Zimmer's chapters corresponds with the NOVA episode related to it. He gives us a mesmerizing, compelling portait of Charles Darwin and his intellectual struggles with his understanding of biology, geology and faith, as he recognized that his detailed observations of biotic diversity could only be accounted for by a theory of evolution via natural selection. Zimmer gives a riveting account on the history of life, highligting such notable episodes as the evolution of multicellular organisms, the Cambrian explosion, the invasion of the land by plants, insects and tetrapods, the Permo-Triasic and Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary mass extinctions, to name but a few. He also notes the significance of chance and constraint in the evolution of animal life, pointing out the significance of tiny changes in certain genes in creating vast differences in the structures of animal skeletons and organs. He emphasizes the importance of co-evolution as a constant struggle between predators and prey. And he clearly shows the importance of natural selection in understanding the spread and control of such virulent diseases as tuberculosis. Zimmer's account of the role of God - if any - with respect to evolution and the widespread appeal of so-called creation science, most notably, "Intelligent Design", is replete with excellent arguments and examples demonstrating why Intelligent Design and other forms of creation science are not scientific. This well written, highly engrossing, popular account of evolution deserves to be read by all. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bernhard Riemann was an underdog of sorts, a malnourished son of aparson who grew up to be the author of one of mathematics' greatestproblems. In Prime Obsession, John Derbyshire deals brilliantlywith both Riemann's life and that problem:proof of the conjecture,"All non-trivial zeros of the zeta function have real part one-half."Though the statement itself passes as nonsense to anyone but amathematician, Derbyshire walks readers through the decades of reasoningthat led to the Riemann Hypothesis in such a way as to clear it upperfectly. Riemann himself never proved the statement, and it remainsunsolved to this day. Prime Obsession offers alternating chaptersof step-by-step math and a history of 19th-century European intellectuallife, letting readers take a breather between chunks of well-writteninformation. Derbyshire's style is accessible but not dumbed-down,thorough but not heavy-handed. This is among the best popular treatmentsof an obscure mathematical idea, inviting readers to explore the theorywithout insisting on page after page of formulae.

Reviews (38)

An Excellent Read, Highly Recommended
Prime Obsession is an excellent popularization of the Riemann Hypothesis. I found John Derbyshire's presentation of the math to be very approachable by non-mathematicians like myself. It's taken slow, one basic step at a time, and spread across a well written and fascinating history of Bernhard Riemann and other key players. Simply put, you do not need an advance degree in mathematics to enjoy this book.

My math bakground is limited to 2 semesters of calculus 20 years ago and I haven't used it since. For me, John Derbyshire's approach was both refreshing and entertaining. If you've got even the faintest interest in math, you will find this book rewarding.

Read this one for the pure entertainment value of it all.
I found this to be a rather delightful book with its arrangement of chapters alternating between historical point of view back to mathematical progress and then back to historical.

I found it very entertaining to read about the lives of the great mathematicians involved in developing the prime number theory and furthering the study of the Riemann Hypothesis. Mathematics is littered with such interesting characters that even a liberal arts major can enjoy these expository stories of their lives.

The only downside to this whole book is that he takes too much time for the non-math inclined readers to get 'caught up' with their basic skills before he jumps to anything interesting. If you have a background that is strong through calculus, then you could probably avoid reading all the math-based chapters up through the end of the prime number theory section of the book, and you most likely woud not have missed a thing.

Complex Math Made Very Understandable and Interesting
Although this book deals with a subject that no-one would sensibly place in a category below "Very Advanced," John Derbyshire treats his subject as well as any math author I've ever read, and I've read a lot of math books over the past 40-some years.

My formal math education ended after a standard introductory calculus course as an undergrad. However, I have always been, and remain, extremely interested in math -- a math aficianado if you will. As such, I've self-taught myself a lot of math -- including a lot of very advanced math -- over the past 40 years; ergo, my reading of a great many math books. And without doubt, Derbyshire's book is the finest math book I've yet to read.

I suspect Derbyshire started with the hypothesis that his readers are not familiar (or only familiar in a passing sense) with high-level, advanced math, and perhaps might even suffer from math anxiety. Any such readers, however, should have absolutely no fears. Derbyshire's exposition is superb. He clearly defines everything the reader needs to know to grasp AND understand fully the more advanced parts of the book. The book is clearly well designed to convey the information he wants or needs of convey and masterfully explains what would otherwise be quite difficult to understand.

Without any doubt this is by far the best book on any advanced and complicated subject -- the best book on ANY math subject (including a book on something as simple as how to add one and one) -- I have ever read.

Without sacrificing the complexity of the subject, Derbyshire has written his book in a very readable and interesting manner. And he does all this while making the subject so interesting you can hardly wait for someone to finally prove Riemann's Hypothesis and Riemann's zeta function so we can read Derbyshire's account of that landmark event in the history of mathematics.

splendid (though heavy math)
This book should be the first one to appear in Amazon's listings for the Riemann Hypothesis, yet doesn't even appear in the top ten. It gives fascinating historical background to a very real Riemann and his friends, traces developments to the present day in a conversational tone, and somehow manages to take the reader through the details of what the RH says so that you actually understand it. Recommended with one reservation; to understand the chapters (every other one) which bring one to understand the RH, you will need to make a considerable investment in reading and rereading to make it. That is not for the faint of heart. However, the other half of the book can be enjoyed by anyone who likes general science history books.

What a piece of work a man is!
"Prime Obsession" is a fascinating book for several reasons: the author explains a difficult topic with such clarity that it's simply amazing. For those who are more skilled in math, this book would also be very enjoyable to read, except that they might find some of his explanations redundant because he really assumes that the we don't know anything (and I mean anything!).
Mr. Derbyshire obviously understands the topic quite well himself. He has written an amazing book for everyone to enjoy.
200 years since Riemann first presented the problem, we are still desperately trying to solve it, and one day, you never know... what a piece of work a man is! ... Read more

Book Description

What is the best way to photograph a speeding bullet? Why does light move through glass in the least amount of time possible? How can lost hikers find their way out of a forest?What will rainbows look like in the future? Why do soap bubbles have a shape that gives them the least area?

By combining the mathematical history of extrema with contemporary examples, Paul J. Nahin answers these intriguing questions and more in this engaging and witty volume. He shows how life often works at the extremes--with values becoming as small (or as large) as possible--and how mathematicians over the centuries have struggled to calculate these problems of minima and maxima. From medieval writings to the development of modern calculus to the current field of optimization, Nahin tells the story of Dido's problem, Fermat and Descartes, Torricelli, Bishop Berkeley, Goldschmidt, and more. Along the way, he explores how to build the shortest bridge possible between two towns, how to shop for garbage bags, how to vary speed during a race, and how to make the perfect basketball shot.

Written in a conversational tone and requiring only an early undergraduate level of mathematical knowledge, When Least Is Best is full of fascinating examples and ready-to-try-at-home experiments. This is the first book on optimization written for a wide audience, and math enthusiasts of all backgrounds will delight in its lively topics. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

excellent - I want all his books
Finally, a solid book that challenges the lay reader just like the best math teachers do - by showing the elegance and power of mathematical reasoning.

This is top shelf material. Nahin is one heck of writer and must be one hell of a teacher! Bravo!

Already ordered his book on the history of imaginary numbers.

6 stars: ******

Off the Charts
Nahin's book is a tour de force about the deep intellectual threads that surround the notion of optimality. In physics, engineering, and mathematics, while touching on a wide range of applications, he asks over and over again: What is the optimal solution and why does it matter? Since I've spent most of my professional career thinking about optimality in one form or another, I was skeptical about how much new I would find in this book. But I was astounded to find something new and interesting on virtually every page. Some examples:

--Preface: Torricelli's funnel, which has finite volume and can be filled, but has infinite surface area and cannot be painted; and a slick proof that an irrational number raised to an irrational power can be rational.

--Chapter 1: An optimization problem that is not amenable to calculus, but whose solution can be discerned by some clever insight; an optimization problem that is amenable to calculus, but whose solution can be arrived at by algebra; and the use of the arithmetic mean-geometric mean inequality in optimization.

--Chapter 2: The ancient isoperimetric problem of Dido on maximal area, how it remained unsolved until modern times; the fact that there exists a figure in the plane whose area is equal to the area of the period at the end of this sentence and which contains a line segment one million light years in length that can be rotated 360 degrees within the figure (the shape of the figure is a little hard to picture); and the fact that there are two consecutive prime numbers the gap between which is greater than a googolplex (don't ask what they are).

--Chapter 3: Optimization problems involving the viewing of a painting, the rings of Saturn, folding envelopes, carrying a pipe around a corner in a hallway, the maximum height of mud ejected from a wheel, and other daily concerns.

--Chapter 4: Snell's law, the path of light, and the feud between Descartes and Fermat.

--Chapter 5: The power of the calculus, the aiming of basketballs and cannon, Kepler's wine barrel, United Parcel Service package size constraints, L'Hospital's pulley problem, and the geometry of rainbows.

Chapter 6: Galileo's work on the descent of a particle sliding along the arc of a circle; the discovery of the minimum-time brachistochrone curve by Jacob Bernoulli arrived at by an argument based on the path of light in a variable-density medium, his feud with Newton, and Newton's anonymously published solution to the problem; the isochronous property of both the circle and brachistochrone, which states that the descent time is independent of the starting location along the cure (a point mentioned in chapter 96 of Moby Dick and which left me wondering which paths are isochronous since a straight line is clearly not); the fact that the brachistochrone is about 1.5% faster than the circular arc and that a brachistochrone tunnel dug from New York to Los Angeles would entail a travel time of a mere 28 minutes assuming frictionless sliding and no propulsion; the fact that 45 degrees maximizes range of a golf ball but 56.466 degrees maximizes arc length; the Euler-Lagrange equation of the calculus of variations and its proof formulated by Lagrange at age 19; the hyperbolic cosine shape of the catenary loaded by its own weight as compared to the parabolic shape of a string under uniform loading; the rigorous solution of the isoperimetric problem by Weierstrass; and the theory of soap bubble shapes by Plateau who was blinded by an optics experiments he performed during his Ph.D. research; and a brief illustration of optimal control theory

Chapter 7: Hofmann's solution of Steiner's problem on minimum distance inside a triangle and its use by Delta Airlines to save money on its phone bill; the traveling salesman problem, linear programming, a tutorial on dynamic programming along with a brief bio of IEEE Medal of Honor awardee Richard Bellman with emphasis on the fact the IEEE is an engineering society.

For a control audience, the connections between control and optimization are addressed by the lengthy discussion on the calculus of variations and the tutorial on dynamic programming. My only (minor) disappointment was the lack of more discussion about the nature of optimality in mechanics, that is, the least action principle, the specialization of Hamilton's principle to conservative systems. This underlying principle of mechanics is not, in fact, a statement of optimality but rather one of stationarity.

This book is clearly the result of immense effort. The author's notes suggest that most of the book was written in a single year, which is amazing. Not only are many topics covered, but mathematical details abound. The author, who is known for popular treatments of technical subjects (An Imaginary Tale: The Story of i, Dueling Idiots and Other Probability Puzzlers, The Science of Radio, Oliver Heaviside: Sage in Solitude, Time Travel), just seems to get better and better.

The book was produced with painstaking care. While there are surely errors somewhere, I spotted exactly zero. I would guess that the book has roughly half as many figures as pages, all drawn with great accuracy. To say the price of the book is reasonable would be an understatement.

Who might find this book of interest? The book is really a popular book of mathematics that touches on a broad range of mathematical problems associated with optimization. Some mathematical sophistication, and certainly calculus, is needed to follow the details. But much in this book could be digested by students in high school, even before calculus. The flavor and richness of the subject matter cannot help but whet the curiosity of neophytes. Undergraduate and graduate engineering students of all disciplines will find something that relates to their coursework. ... Read more

Book Description

This epoch-making and monumental work on Vedic Mathematics unfolds a new method of approach. It relates to the truth of numbers and magnitudes equally to all sciences and arts. The book brings to light how great and true knowledge is born of intuition, quite different from modern Western method. The ancient Indian method and its secret techniques are examined and shown to be capable of solving various problems of mathematics. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Inspiring and Fascinating
This book was given to me by a friend from India. I just have to say that this book is inspiring in such a way that it provides a new way of thinking in Mathematics. What I found most fascinating is that this way of thinking has been around for over 100 years and very little people know about it! It's a pity this is not taught in American schools because it gives a different perspective on how to solve problems - actually a much easier way to solve problems. If you have kids or you yourself want to solve problems easier (and faster), I strongly recommend this book.

The majority of the American public is blind about the rest of the world's great achievements, not just mathematics, but also the arts and sciences. Truly unfortunate.

Vince

Fascinating and Extremely useful
Hello everybody! I would like to share my thoughts about this great book with you. I had heard of the sanskrit sutras in the Vedas (ancient Indian text) that could simplify all mathematical problems. And when I got this book, it was just great and just what I was looking for. I would strongly urge that you read the book and pass on the wealth left to us by the ancients.

SImply the best way to do calculations
This is absolutely the best way to do any kind of calculations. It helped me out through my Graduate Studies (MBA) where I amazed my Finance and Accounting Proffessors with my ability to magically solve problems in my head and surprisingly come up with right answers faster than someone using a calculator

Mind blowing stuff to solve math problems in a jiffy
I recently purchased this book on Vedic Mathematics and found its contents mindblowing. The very fear of math disappears when one goes through the methods described in the book. It demonstrates very simple methods of multiplication and division which looked to be terrifying when dealing with big numbers.It also provides simple methods for finding squares,cubes,square roots,cube roots, solution of linear,quadratic,cubic and biquadratic equations by simple Vedic methods. This is THE book to understand math and face it fearlessly in everyday life. I would recommend this book to anybody finding difficulty in understanding and solving any kind of math problem.

A great Vedic work in Mathematics and one should read this.
Dear Friends,

I would consider being one of the luckiest persons to read this classical book of Vedic Mathematics. Believe me, I could not leave the book till I have finished few chapters at once. The principles behind the concept are really good and easy to understood by everyone. As a matter of fact, I have taught rather explained these techniques / sutras to my sons who are really enjoying this great work and applying in their daily schoolwork. Believe me the results are great.

Sincerely

Rao Venkata Raghunadha Nemani Melbourne, Australia ... Read more

Book Description

Tracy Kidder's Pulitzer Prize winning phenomenon! From the bestselling author of House and Among Schoolchildren comes the astonishing true story of the "Hardy Boys" and "Microkids" of Data General Corporation--dedicated technological wizards who envisioned the impossible...then battled time, corporate intrigue and the odds to bring their dream to breathtaking lilfe. A momentous achievement, The Soul Of A New Machine is the epic an unforgettable human adventure--an enthralling celebration of the eternal spirit of American invention.

... Read more

Reviews (38)

Marriage of Equity and Technology
This book, this first best-known book to emerge from Kidder's credible and entertaining non-fiction oeuvre, chronicles the efforts of a group of computer enthusiasts to develop and then gain stake in the then-young (1980) industry. But this book is more than a mere study of technology and its seemingly pervasive sphere of influence. The books speaks to the inherent nature of equity and the just rewards when coupled with good intentions of individuals from where all ideas (great and otherwise) emerge. This book is a judicious and lasting gift to those who know and realize the more positive efforts arising from work in technological field. Highly recommend

Kidder adds warmth to any topic
I had just finished reading Kidder's "Hometown" about Northampton, MA (a former home of mine), when I decided to read "The Soul of a New Machine". While "Hometown" clearly shows Kidder's maturity as a writer, "The Soul of a New Machine", written roughly 15 years before, demonstrates Kidder's characteristic warmth and eye for detail. "The Soul of a New Machine" is a wonderful book and an archaeological gem for computer history enthusiasts.

I found this book to be riveting (I finished it in a day and a half), and though I am not qualified to comment on the accuracy of Kidder's use of ECE terminology, it most certainly passed my limited geek muster. Kidder presents complex technical information adroitly, creating analogies understandable to the lay person. At the end of the book, I emerged feeling as if I personally knew the characters, and I found myself rooting for the success of the Eclipse Group. Overall, I loved this book. A hacker classic.

We Don't do it for the Money
Soul of a New Machine is an excellent portrayal of a heroic team of young engineers. What defined the book for me was the sort of mad, beautiful work ethic that the team in the story had. This is the best way I can describe it:

When you're young and you get interested in something, you get _passionate_ about it. Maybe it's because you don't know the importance of money and responsibility yet, but you really get into a sport, or hobby, or any other interest, and you do that hobby or play that sport, you write stories or fix cars, making whatever sacrifices you need to just so you can do this thing you love, not because you want to make money at it, or gain respect or admiration, but because it gives you priceless rewards and satisfaction. And it's a purest love you can have. When you grow up, you get disillusioned, from paying bills and other responsibilities. You lose the spark. You start doubting your interest in what you used to love, be it the mechanic who used to love cars but has grown jaded, or the teacher on a low income who has to deal with unruly students and demanding parents.

The Soul of a New Machine is a throwback to that youthful perhaps almost a bit naive passion. It's about the antithesis of the 9-5, where if the pay is horrible, you couldn't care less, you still work overtime. This pure struggle, the essence of a profession, is what makes the book so great. It's the most archetypal element of a career or profession, the sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that only something you put your soul and your sweat and blood into, can give you. In that basement in Data General, this beautiful dream became real in the form of the Eagle minicomputer. If you've felt the kind of spark that drove those young men before, this book will remind you. And if you haven't, maybe this book will kindle a new passion in what you do.

Machines make us human
Tracy Kidder is one of those people who can write comfortably about a variety of subjects. Whether it is school children or nursing home residents or, in this case, modern engineers and creators, he manages to give us a glimpse of their essence. He manages to delve and reveal their very soul.

I read this book some time ago and marvelled at how it remained in my thoughts for some time afterward. The hopes, the dreams, the interaction, the sheer act of pure thought - these are all captured in brilliant prose right before our eyes. And in spite of all the problems, barriers, egos and behind-the-door dealings, we see a corporate project progress and understand (finally) that all such endeavors are, in the end, human ones.

Men and women stretching the bounds of technology is what has always defined our race. We are the technological animal, the creature that uses other materials to enhance our life. Great story - great book.

The Humanity of Engineers - Exposed!
Tracy Kidder takes a subject that would be incalculably boring to most readers, and creates a story with all the characteristics of fictional masterpiece. However, the most striking part of Kidder's story is the fact that it's true. In The Soul of a New Machine the reader is plunged into the chaotic world of Data General, a leading minicomputer company just before the turn of the 80's. As in the film Dances With Wolves, Kidder watches from a distance, and is soon assimilated into their circle, becoming able to live and speak among them; the engineers. His firsthand experience allows him to offer a well crafted look into the high pressure world of the computer industry and the men and women who make it tick.

From the first words of the epilogue the reader is drawn into a story that he or she cannot completely grasp. Piece by piece the reader is allowed to realize that this is a story about a computer. As the mists begin to clear the reader finds the setting to be a basement lab at building 14A/B in the Data General compound in Westborough, Massachusetts. Here the tale unfolds as a company finds itself behind in the race with its arch rivals and in need of savior product line. To spice up the plot, internal competition has allowed two separate teams with different means for reaching the same end to enter into a fierce combat of engineering and technical mastery. Suddenly the reader is off on a race to build the better machine, faster.
The birth of the 32 Bit Eclipse compatible unwinds throughout the pages of the book. From logic design to the product rollout as the Eclipse MV/8000, the reader is whisked through the rapid-fire world of computer engineering - through the eyes of those who experienced it. The lives of managers, engineers, programmers, and more of the same are brought to life. Instead of the typically nerdy or aloof stereotypes of engineers, the Eclipse team is presented as a cadre of human beings working on a common goal. Their struggles, fears, triumphs, embarrassments, and the entire gamut of human emotion is displayed as this core group of thirty odd men and women race to build the next great thing.
Surprisingly, the story of something as technical as birthing a computer is made understandable and enjoyable. Instead of drowning in a sea of "engineering-ese," the reader is rafted down the rushing waters of human struggle. In an industry that has routinely been vilified as the thief of all that makes us human, Kidder has restored hope in the "little guys" who are fighting to stay afloat. The passion with which he presents this story is equaled only by the passion of those whom the story is about. As one finishes the final pages of the book, he will find himself unusually compelled to read the epilogue, and then disappointed at the thought of putting the book down. The Soul of a New Machine is truly a masterpiece in its own right.

Ultimately, The Soul of a New Machine will find a captive audience in more than just computer enthusiasts. This book will appeal to a wider audience interested in studying the human side of industry. Accordingly, it does not bog down in the technical details, but instead presents them through the eyes of a journalist, whose specialty is writing and not engineering. Some more conservative readers might find themselves offended at the uncensored vulgarity of some of the protagonists, but will most likely still be drawn in by their humanity. Tracy Kidder has opened up the world of the engineer to the outside world, and the outside world will be fascinated. ... Read more

Book Description

"A fascinating walk through a pivotal period in human history."--USA Today

For many people, the Internet is the epitome of cutting-edge technology. But in the nineteenth century, the first online communications network was already in place--the telegraph. And at the time, it was just as perplexing, controversial, and revolutionary as the Internet is today.

The Victorian Internet tells the story of the telegraph's creation and remarkable impact, and of the visionaries, oddballs, and eccentrics who pioneered it. With the invention of the telegraph, the world of communications was forever changed. The telegraph gave rise to creative business practices and new forms of crime. Romances blossomed over its wires. And attitudes toward everything from news gathering to war had to be completely rethought. The saga of the telegraph offers many parallels to that of the Internet in our own time, and is a remarkable episode in the history of technology.

* Illustrated throughout
* A masterful, lively blend of science and history, in the bestselling tradition of Longitude

"Fascinating...If you've ever hankered for a perspective on media Net hype, this book is for you."--Wired

"Sparkling."--Forbes

"Essential reading for those caught up in our own information revolution."--Christian Science Monitor ... Read more

Reviews (34)

There's nothing new about the new economy
Very easy book to read (did it in a long night). Book makes premise that in the whirlwind of Internet hype and how it's revolutionizing our world, this all first happened a hundred years ago when the Telegraph was invented.

Ironically, Morse had a hard time convincing the initial trials. It was also first seen as a play toy, an oddity. However soon applications came to be and governments, news, business, and personal lives were changed by this first major advance in communications in hundreds of years (likely since the printing press).

When reading about the chapter on how commerce was changed because cross-atlantic orders could be transmitted in a day rather than weeks. Business people became obsessed with keeping up with the new demands for fear of competition(They lived in "Internet Time"). How the first major application in business was transmitting stock quotes (this sound familiar?).

The book makes the premise that in this 'new internet age', we've seen it all before. To that it does a good job in a quick entertaining read.

The Rise & Fall of the Telegraph
From the late 1840s to the advent of the telephone in the early 1880s, the telegraph provided the first modern means of instant communication to a suddenly shrunken world. Standage's book is easy to read with several interesting anecdotes, including appearances by more than a few eccentric characters. Take for example Dr. Edward Orange Wildman Whitehouse, something of a crackpot who, despite a pathetic lack of scientific knowledge, talked his way into becoming the official electrician of the Atlantic Telegraph Company. This organization pioneered the first transatlantic telegraph cable in 1858. Within a month Whitehouse had fried the wire by mandating the use of excessive voltage to transmit messages. Successful and reliable transatlantic cabling thus had to wait until the conclusion of the American Civil War in 1865.

Although we enjoyed the easy to read style in which the book is written, a dearth of footnotes providing source citation is a minor annoyance (thus, we docked Standage a star in Amazon's ranking system). Sometimes quotes appear to be completely unattributable, and it would have been nice to see from where Standage drew them. Regardless, it is an easy and fun read and the book will no doubt open the eyes of the current generation to the fact that "Everything old is new again" holds true today more than ever.

From the Applied Science Sketchbook, but ...
... Can You be Sure it's True?

Standage does for the telegraph what the "How and Why Wonder Books" used to do: outline the history and science of a topic in a basic yet interesting format (though their illustrations were superior). The pitfalls are the same too: my How and Why Wonder Book of Space Travel told me that an aerospace engineer was called a "celestial mechanic", and I believed it. It took me years to discover that it sounded more like a job description for the Supreme Being ... Standage says the telegraph first saw the light of day as an optical device constructed by French inventors in 1791, later adopted by the Admiralty in England and by the French state. I wonder what English forces, who used the various Beacons from the fourteenth century on to signal to troops details of the threat of invaders, and the Romans, and probably Iron Age people before them, would make of this claim ... nothing new under the sun, perhaps. See entries in Geoffrey Grigson's "The Shell Country Alphabet" (1966) for more about beacons and signal stations. "The Timetables of Science" complied by Hellemans and Bunch, published in the US by Simon & Schuster (1988) has an "optical telegraph using torches to signal from hilltop to hilltop" operating in Greece before 421 BC.

... Is It Missing the Point?

More seriously, Standage ignores the most important, economic factor in his comparison between the telegraph and the internet. He quite rightly points out that the use of the telegraph raised concerns about privacy (Chapter 7), since even the automated versions involved some transcription by humans. The fact that unlike the telegraph, there is no human intervention necessary to communicate privately via the Internet, neither via email nor via web site and in chat room, has been a major factor in the growth of the single most important economic driver of the internet, pornography. This is a business now estimated to be of the same economic order of magnitude worldwide as the automobile industry. The difference between internet and telegraph in arrangements for privacy is crucial to differences in their growth and influence; the development of other technology such as webcams and streaming video amplifies it. Yet Standage has a clue in his own narrative; he quotes Edison in Chapter 8 to the effect that the private on-line chat between telegraph operators (rather than the paid-for messages) was frequently "smutty or anatomically explicit".

Nevertheless, it's an informative and fascinating sketch of how technology and communication combine in ways new yet strangely familiar. The differences as well as the similarities need to be understood.

Parallels Galore
The idea of this book is that the telegraph had much the same effect for the Victorians, as the internet has on our own times. The world got smaller: markets became more efficient and larger and diplomats had to respond to crises in real time. Journalists had to adapt and organize syndicates for gathering and sharing information. Codes and ciphers increased in importance and commercial value while governments futilely tried to control and restrict their use. All of these things are as familiar to us, as it was to the Victorians.

Sandage has done a credible job in researching the parallels and tells the story with plenty of amusing asides and anecdotes, making for an easy read. The stories about how the telegraph was used in affairs of the heart, and the ingenuity of criminals to find innovative methods of practicing their craft shows one more time that there is little really new under the sun.

History Repeats Itself
Tom Standage is onto something. It seems that everything we know about the Internet today, we've already done before. The turn of this century was a lot like the turn of the last century.

"The Victorian Internet" is all about our world and the invention of the Telegraph. As cyberpunk author Neal Stephenson once pointed out, the telegraph was the world's first global digital network. It's when we started trying to push voice down the copper lines that we mucked things up.

In this book, you'll find technological wizardry, geek pioneers, global aspirations, long-distance romances, and online scams. You'll discover what 19th-Century chat was like. There are growing pains. We see fear for the future and fear of moral decline. The Telegraph represented a sudden, massive interconnection of people thousands of miles apart, and the effects of this overnight deluge of information is clear in reading. You have to remember that these were people used to feeling safe in their own homes, blissfully unaware of each other, and only vaguely informed of events going on in other countries.

Standage does a nice job of hitting on the hottest topics of our time, without hitting the reader over the head to make a point. Cybergeeks will love his stops at Cryptography, code, and the other programming-like solutions people came up with to solve their problems. Fans of history will be amused by the parallels between life then and now as "old media" learns to stop worrying and embrace "new media".

In a narrative style that resembles the British TV series "Connections", Standage shows us what each side of the Atlantic was up to, the race to connect the world, and the sheer determination and boundless optimism that made it all happen. There are also interesting tidbits along the way: we get facts about Samuel Morse and Thomas Edison that most history books ignore. There are anecdotes from 19th-century daily life that we can easily identify with today. All of it combines in a way that is easy to read, decently-paced, and fun to think about and discuss with others.

I give this book 5 stars for being clever with presentation and for keeping the various threads together without seeming fragmented. Tom Standage moves us through history without jumping around, and references earlier sections to remind us of where things are going. If you like history, technology, or even the geekier topics of machine logic, programming, and cryptography, this book makes an excellent read. ... Read more