Call number
Publication
New York: Simon & Schuster, c1996.
Pages
304
Description
Twenty five years ago, it didn't exist. Today, twenty million people worldwide are surfing the Net. Where Wizards Stay Up Late is the exciting story of the pioneers responsible for creating the most talked about, most influential, and most far-reaching communications breakthrough since the invention of the telephone. In the 1960's, when computers where regarded as mere giant calculators, J.C.R. Licklider at MIT saw them as the ultimate communications devices. With Defense Department funds, he and a band of visionary computer whizzes began work on a nationwide, interlocking network of computers. Taking readers behind the scenes, Where Wizards Stay Up Late captures the hard work, genius, and happy accidents of their daring, stunningly successful venture.… (more)
Awards
ALA Outstanding Books for the College Bound (Non-fiction — 1999)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1996
Physical description
304 p.; 9.5 inches
ISBN
0684812010 / 9780684812014
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User reviews
LibraryThing member duhrer
On a recent trip, I finally finished "Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins of the Internet". Most times, I'll wade through historical nonfiction, and it seems unfamiliar, difficult to engage with. I've abandoned even well written books like "The Power Broker" and "Team of Rivals" because it just
Most of the technologies discussed in this book are so well established that their RFC (requests for coment) are commandments, well understood and inviolable. In this book, these RFCs are brought to life as the product of careful thought, ongoing and fierce debate, and even trial and error. In short, the technology we take for granted was crafted by sharp minds and strong personalities working through their differences and the inevitable technical hurdles. Most of us don't get to make this big a difference (connecting billions of people with each other), but their success should inspire us to try anyway.
Given how much I enjoyed this, I think it may finally be time to read up on the history of Computer Science a bit more, perhaps with a biography of Turing...
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wasn't enjoyable to keep on reading. I may finally have discovered what I've been doing wrong. In short, read what you know. Although broadening your interests is a worthy goal, you have to build on your current knowledge and understanding and branch out from there. Case in point: This book deals with the history of the internet, email, telnet, FTP, chat, all topics near to my heart, and that made this book a great departure point for me.Most of the technologies discussed in this book are so well established that their RFC (requests for coment) are commandments, well understood and inviolable. In this book, these RFCs are brought to life as the product of careful thought, ongoing and fierce debate, and even trial and error. In short, the technology we take for granted was crafted by sharp minds and strong personalities working through their differences and the inevitable technical hurdles. Most of us don't get to make this big a difference (connecting billions of people with each other), but their success should inspire us to try anyway.
Given how much I enjoyed this, I think it may finally be time to read up on the history of Computer Science a bit more, perhaps with a biography of Turing...
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LibraryThing member beatbox32
Very good history on the men (yes, only men) and events behind the origins of what we now know as the Internet. As a network engineer myself, it was interesting to read about the guys who thought up the tools and protocols that I now work with every day.
LibraryThing member tyroeternal
Not having had a proper introduction to the history of the internet and computing in general, this book was a fascinating look at how the Internet found its beginnings. Watching as the services many of us have come to know and love were slowly brought to life was actually fun. While certainly not
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riveting from cover to cover; it was informative and enjoyable. Show Less
LibraryThing member StuartW
I enjoyed reading this book. I always wondered how the Internet came about, and Hafner does a terrific job writing its story. I recommend Where Wizards Stay Up Late to those wondering how one of the most important inventions of the last century came about.
LibraryThing member workingwriter
This book is recognized as one of the seminal histories of the early Internet, and deservedly so. Starting with the origins of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in Eisenhower's Defense Department and walking through the Sixties and Seventies as the ARPANet is built, grows, and eventually
"Where Wizards Stay Up Late" is focused on the engineers, academics and government bureaucrats that built the machines that connect together. It is less about the human connections built as the Internet grew.
I could go on, but if you have any interest in this topic, this book should be at the top of your list.
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dismantled. Interviews with many of the pioneers make this book as entertaining as it is informative."Where Wizards Stay Up Late" is focused on the engineers, academics and government bureaucrats that built the machines that connect together. It is less about the human connections built as the Internet grew.
I could go on, but if you have any interest in this topic, this book should be at the top of your list.
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LibraryThing member Lyndatrue
It's addictive, picking up books I haven't read for a few years. I want to read all of them, all over again. Especially this one. What a long, strange trip it's been. Truly.
You should read this book. You really should.
You should read this book. You really should.
LibraryThing member Stbalbach
Awesome history of the invention of Internet up to about 1989. It probably will appeal more to the networking engineering as it requires some level of conceptual background about the technology, but wow what a great story. I knew some of it in bits and pieces through legends passed around but
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having it in a chronological narrative everything now fits in place. Although this book was first published in 1996, I read it for the first time in 2014 almost 20 years later and it hasn't lost much, this is a classic history. Show Less
LibraryThing member PatienceFortitude
we discussed this book in class tonight, and are moving on to other topics. I I think I'm going to need to come back to this book when I have a slower time to read it... I had to skim for the main points and didn't really get to dig in the way I might have wanted to. I do like that this was a
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character-driven portrayal of the start of the Internet. Which is easy to take for granted. Show Less
LibraryThing member PatienceFortitude
we discussed this book in class tonight, and are moving on to other topics. I I think I'm going to need to come back to this book when I have a slower time to read it... I had to skim for the main points and didn't really get to dig in the way I might have wanted to. I do like that this was a
Show More
character-driven portrayal of the start of the Internet. Which is easy to take for granted. Show Less
LibraryThing member PatienceFortitude
we discussed this book in class tonight, and are moving on to other topics. I I think I'm going to need to come back to this book when I have a slower time to read it... I had to skim for the main points and didn't really get to dig in the way I might have wanted to. I do like that this was a
Show More
character-driven portrayal of the start of the Internet. Which is easy to take for granted. Show Less
LibraryThing member kevn57
Solid introduction to the beginnings of computer networking and arpnet.