"The Dream Machine" is billed as the story of J.C.R. Licklider, one of the main driving forces behind the research and engineering of personal computing. However, at least half of the book actually consists of general computer science history having little directly to do with Licklider, but which rather serves as context for Licklider's long and varied career. Well, it seemed to me that both aspects were handled very well by the author Mr. Waldrop and I am certainly much more educated now on computer science.
Though quite long at nearly 500 pages, the book was actually a page turner for me as the style of the prose is closer to that of a novel than of a textbook. I found the transformation of government funding from virtually unlimited in the '50s and '60s (e.g. the massive SAGE project) to greatly budget constrained in the '70s fascinating, as well as the various contractors' reactions to the changing federal priorities.
I give this 4.5 stars as it could have used a bit more focus on the purported subject, Licklider. Highly recommended for anyone with a strong interest in computers and software.
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The Dream Machine: J.C.R. Licklider and the Revolution That Made Computing Personal Paperback – August 1, 2002
by
M. Mitchell Waldrop
(Author)
| M. Mitchell Waldrop (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
A study of the evolution of the modern computer profiles the work of MIT psychologist J. C. R. Licklider, whose visionary dream of a "human-computer symbiosis" transformed the course of modern science and led to the development of the personal computer. Reprint.
- Print length512 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPenguin Books
- Publication dateAugust 1, 2002
- Dimensions5.54 x 1.13 x 8.4 inches
- ISBN-10014200135X
- ISBN-13978-0142001356
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About the Author
M. Mitchell Waldrop, formerly a science writer at Science magazine, is the author of Complexity and Man-Made Minds.
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Product details
- Publisher : Penguin Books; 1st edition (August 1, 2002)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 512 pages
- ISBN-10 : 014200135X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0142001356
- Item Weight : 1.1 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.54 x 1.13 x 8.4 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,763,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #506 in Computing Industry History
- #1,029 in C & C++ Programming
- #1,781 in Social Aspects of Technology
- Customer Reviews:
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4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
40 global ratings
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Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2008
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Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2014
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I found the book very informative, just the kind of details I was looking for about computing's history, and the pioneers behind it. However it wasn't an easy read for me. Not because it was too technical, but because it seems it gave a ton of details about every person, every organisation, entity, project, government program involved. I almost wish I had created a chart that kept track of how everything connected, since people moved around different companies, one company formed into another, one agency into another, one project spawned another, etc.. Also lots of acronyms to remember.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2016
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Because of this book, I have a completely newfound respect for the people that developed the internet and computing as we know it. I always viewed pre-21st century computing as a somewhat dull affair, but this book has forced me to view things differently. Ostensibly about Licklider, it's really a book about the history of computers from 1944-1980, and it covers Arpanet, Xerox PARC, DEC, university research labs, and the folks that moved between these organizations and made the world as we know it.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2017
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Book condition was much better than expected. Waldrop's research was masterful. J.C.R. Licklider was a true polymath and (sadly forgotten) prime mover in what now is a global resource. This deserves a place on every history of 20th Century technology bookshelf.
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2017
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Great reporting, and a vivid account of the ideas, people, and aspirations that led to the digital world that surrounds us today. Waldrop tells a gripping story, with human depth. He also understands the complexity and brilliance of the world these giants helped to build.
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2011
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Mitch Waldrop's book is simply a classic. It is the finest work on the intellectual and face-to-face history of the evolution of the computer revolution. Stop searching, this is the best; I assign this book to my students and they love it. It is both intellectually challenging and remarkably thoughtful on all sides of the IT transformation. It is also a fine biography of one of the great technological visionaries and vision-enablers of our time, Licklider. And it is the best picture of early DARPA, period. Throughout it all, it is highly readable, making both the technology history and the rich information theory of the time readily accessible. A remarkable book.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2004
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A graduate course in a book! A tour through historical theories, accounts, and events that made up the development of the modern computer and the Net. Far more extensive than just the story of Kicklider, a historical overview of many of the minds at that time and the events that converged to form the new informaton era.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2017
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A seminal work. Waldrop penned a refreshing, detailed and passionate account of what he and his protagonists knew would be most the important story ever told
Top reviews from other countries
Ronald R. G. Mitchell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2017Verified Purchase
Best history of the computer revolution I've ever seen. Seems to be only available on Kindle. Why isn't this masterpiece back in print?
Oscar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Una interesantísima historia de los ordenadores y de Internet
Reviewed in Spain on December 12, 2016Verified Purchase
Este libro está, sin duda, entre mis 10 libros favoritos. Creo que deberían leerlo los aficionados a la historia de la tecnología, y todos aquellos que tengan un trabajo relacionado con ordenadores o con Internet, para que disfruten de la narración que el autor ha hilado en torno a Licklider, uno de los protagonistas de la historia de los ordenadores e Internet, en la que aparecen los investigadores, las instituciones y los hechos más relevantes que han permitido que actualmente podamos disponer de ordenadores en nuestras casas, conectados a internet, y con una funcionalidad que, hace no muchas décadas, podría sonar a ciencia ficción.
Creo que me tendré que quedar con la pena de no llegar a ver este libro traducido al español (hace casi 7 años estuve intentando encontrar algún editor que se animase a publicarlo en español, pero no lo conseguí). Con la "lata" que le llevo dando al autor durante estos últimos cinco años, al menos he conseguido que lo publicara en formato de libro electrónico, porque desde hace mucho tiempo que en papel se podía conseguir casi exclusivamente de segunda mano (a menos que estés dispuesto a pagar por uno nuevo como si fuese jamón de pata negra...).
Para que os hagáis una idea que cuánto me gustó, os diré que tengo tres ejemplares en papel de este libro (más la versión como libro electrónico) para ir prestársela a amigos sin que tengan que comprarlo ellos (así no tienen disculpa para no leerlo).
Creo que me tendré que quedar con la pena de no llegar a ver este libro traducido al español (hace casi 7 años estuve intentando encontrar algún editor que se animase a publicarlo en español, pero no lo conseguí). Con la "lata" que le llevo dando al autor durante estos últimos cinco años, al menos he conseguido que lo publicara en formato de libro electrónico, porque desde hace mucho tiempo que en papel se podía conseguir casi exclusivamente de segunda mano (a menos que estés dispuesto a pagar por uno nuevo como si fuese jamón de pata negra...).
Para que os hagáis una idea que cuánto me gustó, os diré que tengo tres ejemplares en papel de este libro (más la versión como libro electrónico) para ir prestársela a amigos sin que tengan que comprarlo ellos (así no tienen disculpa para no leerlo).











