Exploding the Phone

The Untold Story of the Teenagers and Outlaws Who Hacked Ma Bell

By: Phil Lapsley

Narrated by: Johann North

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

Before smartphones, back even before the Internet and personal computer, a misfit group of technophiles, blind teenagers, hippies, and outlaws figured out how to hack the world’s largest machine: the telephone system. Starting with Alexander Graham Bell’s revolutionary "harmonic telegraph", by the middle of the 20th century the phone system had grown into something extraordinary, a web of cutting-edge switching machines and human operators that linked together millions of people like never before. But the network had a billion-dollar flaw, and once people discovered it, things would never be the same.

Exploding the Phone tells this story in full for the first time. It traces the birth of long-distance communication and the telephone, the rise of AT&T’s monopoly, the creation of the sophisticated machines that made it all work, and the discovery of Ma Bell’s Achilles’ heel. Phil Lapsley expertly weaves together the clandestine underground of "phone phreaks" who turned the network into their electronic playground, the mobsters who exploited its flaws to avoid the feds, the explosion of telephone hacking in the counterculture, and the war between the phreaks, the phone company, and the FBI.

The product of extensive original research, Exploding the Phone is a groundbreaking, captivating book.

©2013 Philip D. Lapsley. Recorded by arrangement with Grove/Atlantic, Inc. (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Great Story along with Great Technical Research

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. A great book for anyone interested in technology and/or geek culture. This book does a great job of covering the phone network in the age of phone phreaking. The topic of network hacking with all its issues is well researched and expertly woven into the various story lines.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Exploding the Phone?

Finding out from many of the cases how proprietary technical details of the phone network were easily available to anyone

What does Johann North bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator was competent with technical terminology, both with respect to pronounciation and voice inflection.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

This remains one of my favorite books, in large part due to how well the author blends together research, technical material and a great story. I'm from this era and a lot of this information was new to me.

Phreaker 4 Lyfe

I'm a VoIP admin, and I firmly believe that you can't know where you're going without understanding your history.

This book illustrates the phreaker scene and telephone system vividly. I couldn't stop listening, and now I have to catch up on my podcasts.

A total blast!!!!

What I like about this book is that the author explains enough technical information, in a way that anyone can enjoy it. The stories of the people involved are detailed and fun. The history of telecommunications is really fun, going from the optical telegraph to the ESS (Electronic Switching System) of the late 1970’s. Although AT&T wasn’t the nicest kid on the block, I love hearing about the sneaky things they did to maintain monopolistic control of the phone system. Really fun book on the history of the phone system and the hackers who had fun with it!

Must Listen for Computer Enthusiasts

The narrator pronounces some words strangely and the book gets a little boring about two-thirds through, but it is really a must listen for any technology enthusiast.

absolutely astonished

listening to the history of phreaking gave me a newfound respect for those who were able to identify and explore a wired landscape.

Phonetastic! Great story of how the phone was!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this book to any of my friends who are technically inclined because it is fascinating history

What did you like best about this story?

The author covered the subject well and even did justice to the people he interviewed.

What about Johann North’s performance did you like?

Johann North is a former phone phreak who is familiar with the concepts discussed in this book, and, his narration reflects this very well.

Any additional comments?

This book discusses the telephone as it was when I, and, many of my contemporaries were growing up. As a blind person, I was fascinated with the phone and the various sounds it made. I would have loved to read this book back when I was a kid. Anyway, it brings back memories of the way I felt about the phone back then. There were so many cool things that could be done with the phone at the time.Great book, and, great narration.

Average book... yawn :0

I got through most of this book but it was a real push. It was just on and on. I would recommend Ghost in the Wires if you like this kind of topic. It is much better.

Difficult Listen

It's a great book with a lot of great information. Worth listening to it you can get past the narrator. Very robotic sounding, makes it's difficult to just sit and listen. Highly recommend "Ghost In The Wires" if you enjoy these types of books.

Phone History and Network Discovery in one book

Great book, giving phone history from telegraph to ma bells monopoly. A look into those who started phone freaking and their exploring of the network to finally exploiting of the system. With an emphasis on the how to technical look at phone system and the various colored boxes.

Down the rabbit hole…

Do you think you’ll like this book? Did you listen to it liked it? Do you know who the narrator is? If you don’t know, google ‘evan doorbell’ and, by all means, do find out. The rabbit hole will suddenly become much deeper for you. Chances are, you’ll be sucked in for years.
Thanks to the Author of this excellent book, the Publishers and Mr. North himself for offering us this surprise. It really made my day.

a really interesting and curious book

I'm partially sighted and grew up knowing geeky kids like the ones written about here so i totally got that. I'm somewhat geeky too so learning about the developement of the US phone network and the ways that curious people found to circumvent it was just so interesting. I've no interest in legal back and forth though it's a necessary part of the story being told. It's just not something i care for.

Johan North is outstanding and should do loads of books. His calming delivery is not without a hint of mischievousness and would be perfect for reading something like a Bill Bryson book.