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A History of Modern Computing (History of Computing) second edition Edition

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Paul E. Ceruzzi (Author)
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Paul E. Ceruzzi (Author)
3.9 out of 5 stars 26 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0262532037
ISBN-10: 0262532034
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Product Details

  • Series: History of Computing
  • Paperback: 459 pages
  • Publisher: The MIT Press; second edition edition (April 8, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0262532034
  • ISBN-13: 978-0262532037
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #559,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsOUTSTANDING! Wonderful book
By A Customer on November 29, 1999
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Well, as I did with the ENIAC book, I disagree completely with the reader from Switzerland. I wonder if they even read the book, considering it mentions the Z3 as well as many other early computers and calculating devices.
This book is a fast-paced can't-put-it-down read -- assuming of course that you're interested in the history of computing from about the 40's through the early 90's.
Very well organized. Very well written. Very well researched. Doesn't get too caught up in who made millions and when, nor does it get caught up in the various academic and business computer debates that have come and gone over the years. A perfect balance of noting the history without taking sides.
Overall an excellent read. I'd give it six stars out of five if I could.
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5.0 out of 5 starsTechnical details
By Amazon Customer TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on February 26, 2001
Format: Hardcover
This book is a history of computing technology since 1945. Ceruzzi focuses mostly on hardware, giving very detailed descriptions of how the great mainframes were built and by whom. He also discusses how transistors and microchips were developed and came into use in computers, although his descriptions of the development of computer languages, operating systems, or other software are much briefer than those he provides for hardware. The book has a number of illustrations of people and the machines they made famous. The author seems very careful to give an accurate account of events and the book is very well footnoted. It also includes an excellent index and bibliography. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the technical aspects of the history of computers.
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4.0 out of 5 starsGood history, but buy Rheingold's book
By A Customer on June 5, 2001
Format: Paperback
This book makes a nice thorough reference of the history of computing post 1945, and is great for use on a course. However it is a little dry and unanalytical. Buy Howard Rheingold's "Tools for thought" if you want a generally more human, enjoyable read which provides almost as good a technical account.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA History of Modern Computing
By Sam Adams on September 19, 2008
Format: Paperback
This review is of the 1st edition, published in 1998.

Ceruzzi's A History of Modern Computing is an academic book, not a popularization of the history of computers. It is not a chatty book. There are no personalities in it. There is no journalistic reporting of conversations, nor of the progression of various difficulties and triumphs during the design and development of the computer systems discussed.

This is not a comprehensive history of computers. ENIAC is mentioned, but this book begins its history, post-WWII, with UNIVAC. The focus is upon US developments. It was not written to inform computer scientists and engineers of detailed design elements of past computer systems, although design elements of both hardware and software are discussed. It is the story of the rise and fall of the mainframe and the rise of the personal desktop computer; but it does not provide a history of Apple or Microsoft or of the development of the Internet.

It is more satisfying as a history than the the 1st edition of the book Computer: A History Of The Information Machine by Martin Campbell-Kelly and William Aspray (which I read after reading this book), because there is more detail. It complements their book very well and would be a good choice to read if you read that and wish for more. But this is still within the realm of what I consider first looks.

Contents -

Introduction: Defining "Computer"
1. The Advent of Commercial Computing, 1945-1956
2. Computing Comes of Age, 1956-1964
3. The Early History of Software, 1952-1968
4. From Mainframe to Minicomputer, 1959-1969
5.Read more ›
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3.0 out of 5 starsNothing but Second- and Third-Hand Accounts...
By Redmond Geek on September 4, 2007
Format: Paperback
This book is essentially a compilation and review of the current literature on the history of computing. As near as I can tell, there is no original research (e.g., interviews with actual participants in the events). This has led to a book that's off the mark in some ways:

* Ceruzzi accepts uncritically the statements of other authors.

* He also arrives at some odd conclusions - for example, his notion that the success of the Windows operating system is somehow due to the use of hungarian notation.

* He fails to give credit to the right people. He claims for example that DEC's TOPS-10 operating system was the result of work done by MIT. In fact, some of the key features of that OS were developed by students at Stevens Tech in New Jersey. Those students then went on to join the engineering staff at DEC.

So, for anyone with real background in computers - and especially for anyone who lived through the period Ceruzzi is describing - this book is a little bit like reading something written by an anthropologist from another planet. It's just "off".

On the positive side, the bibliography and reference notes in this book will give you an excellent starting point for your own research.
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4.0 out of 5 starsInsightful!
By Rolf Dobelli HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWER on June 27, 2001
Format: Hardcover
Paul E. Ceruzzi, curator of the National Air and Space Museum, describes the development of computing, starting with its earliest history. He examines the beginnings of commercial computing from 1945 to 1956 and traces the history of computer hardware and software, dividing these developments into five- to 10-year time periods. His book emphasizes technical development, rather than personalities or business dynamics, a focus that contributes to its fairly dry, academic style. With this caveat, we [...] recommend the book primarily to those with a technological bent, such as professionals in operations and computer sciences, and academics in the field. However, if you are interested in the subject, you'll love this. Ceruzzi provides an informative and comprehensive saga including extensive footnotes and a bibliography that runs about 80 pages.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsThe long, but complete, story of computing

I can't imagine how difficult it is to write a book on the history of computers. It is a history filled with filing cabinets and pocket protectors, pasty old white men and... Read more

Published 6 months ago by zeroKelvin
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great!!

Published 12 months ago by Andrey Antonov
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat read

Fascinating history of computers

Published 15 months ago by Jp
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

I WANT TO SEE THE TABLE CONTENTS OF AMAZON BOOKS!!!

Published 20 months ago by José Monserrat Neto
5.0 out of 5 starsAwesome time frame of impacting history.

I have not completely read this book, but what I can say so far is that it covers a very unique time in our History, a time that shaped a significant change in humanity. Read more

Published 24 months ago by John O
5.0 out of 5 starsThe premier computer history book

Paul Ceruzi is a premier historian with the Smithsonian. To understand in some depth how we got here to this computer age this is the indispensable work. Read more

Published on June 5, 2013 by Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 starsFascinating, but Incomplete

I really enjoyed this history of the computer industry - it provides insight into how programmers from previous eras would have perceived their tasks - running around with punch... Read more

Published on December 24, 2012 by Joshua Reuben
5.0 out of 5 starsThe newest used History book I ever seen

I'm a Brazilian and my english is not perfect, sorry. Anyway the book is like the description sad "Like new". Read more

Published on September 17, 2010 by Thiago Valadares Noleto Damasceno
4.0 out of 5 starsGreat read, great reference

I read this book first from the library and am now purchasing it! Used it as reference for a paper I wrote (as a doctoral student in education), looking for high-tech related... Read more

Published on January 2, 2010 by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsExtremely fun book for the geeks, of which I am one.

It reads like a novel, even though it's chock full of technical details. I especially like the author's effort to keep the book up to date. Read more

Published on May 27, 2009 by J. C. C. Castro

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