Where Wizards Stay Up Late

The Origins of the Internet

By: Katie Hafner, Matthew Lyon

Narrated by: Mark Douglas Nelson

Twenty-five years ago, it didn't exist. Today, 20 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 1960s, 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 listeners behind the scenes, Where Wizards Stay Up Late captures the hard work, genius, and happy accidents of their daring, stunningly successful venture.

©1996 Katie Hafner (P)2012 Katie Hafner

Love From a Techie

This book will appeal to technically versed people who are interested not only in the history of the internet but also in the inner-workings of networks and how the various protocols of the internet (TCP, TCP/IP, FTP, SMTP, etc) came into existence.

Okay

The book goes deep on the early days, but not so much on the resulting internet. I was expecting a little more.

Good story, but too long

Could have cut at least 4 chapters. Reads like a treatise. Voice was very dry.

Boring

Interesting topic, but everything could have been said in half the length. I did learn quite a bit, but it was a struggle to finish the book.

Everything you always wanted to know...

Everything you always wanted to know about ARPANET and the creation of the internet --plus the other 85%. WWSUL should be in every computer history buff's collection. (On the other hand, if this area of computing isn't of particular interest for you, try Isaacson's books instead.) Good nerd stuff!