• Home
  • About 404TS
  • Contact

404 Tech Support

Where IT Help is Found

  • Articles
    • Code
    • Entertainment
    • Going Green
    • Hardware, Gadgets, and Products
    • Management
    • Network
    • News
    • Operating Systems
    • Security and Privacy
    • Software
    • System Administration
    • Talking Points
    • Tech Solutions
    • Web
    • Webmaster
  • Reviews
  • Media
    • Infographics
    • Videos
  • Tech Events
  • Tools
    • How do I find my IP address?
    • Browser and plugin tests
  • Get a Technical Consultation
You are here: Home / Articles / Reviews / Book review: The Innovators: How a group of hackers, geniuses, and geeks created the digital revolution

Book review: The Innovators: How a group of hackers, geniuses, and geeks created the digital revolution

2016-07-19 by Jason

The Innovators was released late last year and has been on my ‘want to read’ list since seeing it prominently placed on shelves in bookstores. It was written by Walter Isaacson, who interrupted his work on this book to write the Steve Jobs biography.

This nonfiction book covers the invention of the digital world and the innovators that played a prominent role along the way. Starting with Ada Lovelace and weaving through the centuries, the book covers topics that are taken for granted today. Defining the computer, programming methods, the transistor, the microchip, video games, the Internet, the PC, software, online, and the web each headline their own chapter.

The historical narrative is told in a way that adds excitement to the story and each stage builds upon the last. For example, microchips improving upon transistors, or operating systems building upon the previous user-unfriendly personal computers. While this book is about the technology, where it has come from, it is very much about the people involved as well. Famous people that included Vannevar Bush, Alan Turing, Grace Hopper, Noyce and Moore, Paul Allen and Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, and many more people along the way.

innovators

Concepts and personalities were captured and conveyed so that the narrative managed to avoid being dry and long. It reminded me of other similar books I read as part of my History of Science and Technology concentration or just for entertainment purposes such as Where Wizards Stay up Late, The Network: The Battle for the Airwaves and the Birth of the Communication Age, and The Last Lone Inventor. From punch cards to Google and Twitter, The Innovators captures unique and up-close looks at the people who shaped the modern world and avoids the flattering ‘heroic’ refinement that is often added with a historical perspective.

If you enjoy non-fiction and appreciate understanding where technology has come, you will enjoy The Innovators. It is available in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook formats from Amazon.com.

Filed Under: Featured, Reviews Tagged With: Bill Gates, books, Steve Jobs

Trending

  • The Xbox One Controller
    In Infographics
  • Crypto 101, a free intro to encryption for developers
    In Security and Privacy
  • Undeleting files on Windows – Recovering after accidental deletion
    In Software, Tech Solutions

Latest Media Posts

Find Out Where To Download SNES ROMs

Find Out Where To Download SNES ROMs

Multifunctional Video Conversion Tools – Wondershare Video Converter

Multifunctional Video Conversion Tools – Wondershare Video Converter

  • Popular
  • Latest
  • Today Week Month All
  • How to ‘Unblock’ multiple files at a time with PowerShell How to 'Unblock' multiple files at a time with PowerShell
  • Increase IIS Private Memory Limit to improve WSUS availability Increase IIS Private Memory Limit to improve WSUS availability
  • Configure Outlook to recurring appointments for the last weekday of the month Configure Outlook to recurring appointments for the last weekday of the month
  • Read the Event Logs on Windows Server Core Read the Event Logs on Windows Server Core
  • SOLVED: “This modification is not allowed because the selection is locked.” SOLVED: "This modification is not allowed because the selection is locked."
  • 3d rendering circuit cloud for cloud computing technology Build and Deploy a Modern Web 3.0 Blockchain App in 2022
  • Telecom Application Development: When to Outsource Telecom Application Development: When to Outsource
  • Printer printing document wirelessly from mobile phone or smartphone wifi connection vector flat cartoon illustration, file air print on fax or ink jet via cellphone bluetooth modern design Why Your Business Needs Online Fax Services In 2022
  • 6 Best Ways to Protect Your Business Account 6 Best Ways to Protect Your Business Account
  • How to download videos from Instagram How to download videos from Instagram
Ajax spinner

Elevator Pitch

404 Tech Support documents solutions to IT problems, shares worthwhile software and websites, and reviews hardware, consumer electronics, and technology-related books.

Subscribe to 404TS articles by email.

Recent Posts

  • Build and Deploy a Modern Web 3.0 Blockchain App in 2022
  • Telecom Application Development: When to Outsource
  • Why Your Business Needs Online Fax Services In 2022

Search

FTC Disclaimer

404TechSupport is an Amazon.com affiliate; when you click on an Amazon link from 404TS, the site gets a cut of the proceeds from whatever you buy. This site also uses Skimlinks for smart monetization of other affiliate links.
Use of this site requires displaying and viewing ads as they are presented.

Copyright © 2022 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in