Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

How We Got Here - Stuff To Read

Posted by Hemos on from the things-for-your-brane dept.

A reader writes:"Ever wonder why Michael Faraday, steam engines, Ezra Cornell, the Van de Beurses family and the Edison Effect were so important to today's computer business. Andy Kessler has a free download of a PDF of his new book, How We Got Here: A Slightly Irreverent History of Technology and Markets. It's a James Burke-style connect-the-dots of events and people from 1642 to this morning. Kessler's site takes you through a "poor man's DRM" process to get your very own PDF." Yeah, yeah - DRM. But the PDF/book is worth reading for understanding the history to tech. Speaking of good things to read, I also read this little ditty Not Proud, which was good. It's stuff from NotProud.com collected in dead tree form.

8 of 121 comments (clear)

  1. Ok, I'll try by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Ever wonder why Michael Faraday, steam engines, Ezra Cornell, the Van de Beurses family and the Edison Effect were so important to today's computer business.

    Is that a question, or a command?

  2. As we all know.... by notherenow · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is a paradox we're stuck in. On one hand, we have Darwin's theory. On the other hand, we have the controvery over the Intelligent Design movement. Now you're telling me that we have to give our e-mail address, just to find out the rest??? The world is still round, right?

    --
    We all dance, we all sing.
    -The Streets
    1. Re:As we all know.... by Raagshinnah · · Score: 3, Funny

      The world is still round, right?

      No, the world is like time: cubic.

  3. Re:mirror by Heian-794 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Kudos to the guy for offering it for free. Even if he signs me up for spam and I have to delete a hundred useless messages, 100 deletions x 1 sec/deletion x wage of 0.5c/sec > probable price of paper book.

    I myself will be signing up to read it.

  4. Slashdotted on their own petard! by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 4, Funny
    --we personalize the PDF with your name, and send the details to your e-mail address.) Depending on the load on our servers, this PDF may take an hour or to to generate. IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to very high demand, our servers are currently under heavy load. It might take a while to get to you, and you may experience some odd network errors due to the traffic.

    I'd say, given the circumstances, one hour is a very optimistic estimate!

  5. Faraday by Bootle · · Score: 5, Funny
    Do I ever wonder how electricity became so important to computers?

    NO. Honestly. Do you ever wonder how important water is for drinking?

  6. Re:Going, going . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    Our hosting provider, Verio.com, has disabled our fulfillment system.
    They cut off his cock!!
  7. Re:Summary by kpwoodr · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, No, No.

    We ripped off the indians. We threw a tea party for the British.

    --
    This sig has been removed pending an investigation.